Life in the World's Oceans: Diversity, Abundance and Distribution is a true landmark publication.

Comprising the synthesis and analysis of the results of the Census of Marine Life this most important book brings together the work of around 2000 scientists from 80 nations around the globe.

The book is broadly divided into four sections, covering oceans past, oceans present, oceans future and a final section covering the utilisation of the data which has been gathered, and the coordination and communication of the results.

Edited by Professor Alasdair Mcintyre, Marine Life is a book which should find a place on the shelves of all marine scientists, ecologists, conservation biologists, oceanographers, fisheries scientists and environmental biologists. All universities and research establishments where biological, earth and fisheries science are studied and taught should have copies of this essential book on their shelves.

• A true landmark publication
• One of the most important marine science books ever published
• Contributions from many world leading researchers
• Synthesis of a huge amount of important data
• Represents the culmination of 10 years' research by 2000 scientists from 80 countries

Foreword.

Introduction.

Acknowledgments.

Contributors.

The Scientific Steering Committee of the Census of Marine Life.

PART I Oceans Past.

1 Marine Animal Populations: A New Look Back in Time.

PART II Oceans Present – Geographic Realms.

2 Surveying Nearshore Biodiversity.

3 Biodiversity Knowledge and its Application in the Gulf of Maine Area.

4 Coral Reef Biodiversity.

5 New Perceptions of Continental Margin Biodiversity.

6 Biodiversity Patterns and Processes on the Mid- Atlantic Ridge.

7 Life on Seamounts.

8 Diversity of Abyssal Marine Life.

9 Biogeography, Ecology, and Vulnerability of Chemosynthetic Ecosystems in the Deep Sea.

10 Marine Life in the Arctic.

11 Marine Life in the Antarctic.

PART III Oceans Present – Global Distributions.

12 A Global Census of Marine Microbes.

13 A Census of Zooplankton of the Global Ocean.

PART IV Oceans Present – Animal Movements.

14 Tracking Fish Movements and Survival on the Northeast Pacific Shelf.

15 A View of the Ocean from Pacific Predators.

PART V Oceans Future.

16 The Future of Marine Animal Populations.

PART VI Using the Data.

17 Data Integration: The Ocean Biogeographic Information System.

Index.

“The handsome, beautifully illustrated book is a lasting tribute to its late editor (Alasdair D. McIntyre), the organizing committee, and the 2600 scientists who contributed to the project.”  (The Quarterly Review of Biology, 1 September 2012)

"The multi-author work is well crafted and edited with a logical overall structure, consistency in form and tone among chapters, useful citations and Web addresses, and high-quality illustrations . . .Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals/practitioners. " (Choice, 1July 2011)

 

"Although some chapters are technical and present a fair amount of data, most of the chapters appear to be intended for a non-specialist audience. It is a handsome volume but regrettably over-priced for a non-academic readership." (Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin, 2011)

"Comprising the synthesis and analysis of the results of the Census of Marine Life this most important book brings together the work of around 2000 scientists from 80 nations around the globe." (World News, 15 February 2011)

"This comprehensive book is aimed at marine scientists, ecologists, conservation biologists, oceanographers, fisheries scientists and environmental biologists". (In Practice, 1 December 2010)

"The ambitious project involved thousands of scientists and led to the discovery of novel creatures such as the hairy yeti crab. The volume addresses the biodiversity of oceans past, present and future, including microorganisms and zooplankton." (Nature, September 2010)

Professor Alasdair McIntyre is based at the Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen, Scotland, UKLife in the World’s Oceans is a true landmark publication, distilling the efforts of thousands of marine biologists, ecologists, oceanographers and statisticians worldwide who have been involved in the first decadal Census of Marine Life.

Broadly divided into six parts, Life in the World’s Oceans commences with a look at life in oceans past, followed by in-depth chapters covering the current oceans’ realms, including coral reefs, seamounts, the deep sea and the polar regions. Coverage of global distributions of microbes and zooplankton is followed by a section reviewing animal movements within the oceans. The book concludes with chapters covering the future of marine animal populations, and the utilization of the data contained within the Census’ database, the Ocean Biogeographic Information System.

Life in the World’s Oceans:

• provides a huge wealth of distilled information, vitally important in future marine studies;
• reports on the total richness of the oceans’ biodiversity;
• represents the work of thousands of scientists involved in the Census;
• puts marine biodiversity in the foreground of the scientific landscape.

Thoroughly edited by the late Professor Alasdair McIntyre, who was a world leader in marine sciences, and beautifully produced in full color throughout, Life in the World’s Oceans is an essential purchase for all libraries in universities and research institutions throughout the world. All those involved in scientific work on the oceans, including biological scientists, oceanographers, marine and environmental scientists, should have copies of this exceptional book on their shelves.