INTRODUCTION TO MARINE BIOLOGY, 4E, International Edition sparks curiosity about the marine world and provides an understanding of the process of science. Taking an ecological approach and intended for non-science majors, the text provides succinct coverage of the content while the photos and art clearly illustrate key concepts. Studying is made easy with phonetic pronunciations, a running glossary of key terms, end-of-chapter questions, and suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter. The open look and feel of INTRODUCTION TO MARINE BIOLOGY, 4E, International Edition and the enhanced art program convey the beauty and awe of life in the ocean. Twenty spectacular photos open the chapters, piquing the motivation and attention of students, and over 60 photos and pieces of art are new or redesigned.

The oceans are our planet's most distinctive and imposing natural habitat. They cover 71 percent of its surface; support a remarkably diverse and exquisitely adapted array of life forms, from microscopic viruses, bacteria, and plankton to the largest existing animals; and possess many of Earth's most significant, intriguing, and inaccessible ecosystems. In an era in which humans are significantly altering the global environment, the oceans are undergoing rapid and profound changes. The study of marine biology is thus taking on added importance and urgency as people struggle to understand and manage these changes to protect our marine ecosystems. Healthy oceans produce half of the oxygen we breathe; stabilize our climate; create ecosystems that protect our coasts from storms; provide us with abundant food; and host diverse organisms that provide us with natural products for medicine and biotechnology. In this Very Short Introduction, marine biologist Philip Mladenov provides an accessible and up-to-date overview of marine biology, offering a tour of marine life and marine processes that ranges from the unimaginably abundant microscopic organisms that drive the oceans' food web to the apex predators that we exploit for food; from polar ocean ecosystems to tropical coral reefs; and from the luxurious kelp beds of the coastal ocean to deep-ocean hydrothermal vents where life exists without the energy of the sun. Throughout the book he considers the human impacts on marine life including overfishing, plastic and nutrient pollution, the spread of exotic species, and ocean warming and acidification. He discusses the threats these pose to our welfare, and the actions required to put us on a path to a more sustainable relationship with our oceans so that they can be restored and protected for future generations. Mladenov concludes with a new chapter offering an inspiring vision for the future of our oceans in 2050 that can be realised if we are wise enough to accelerate actions already underway and be bold with implementing new approaches. The next decade will decide the state of the oceans that we leave behind for future generations. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

The new edition of An Introduction to the Biology of Marine Life is designed to reach your introductory students with effective and interesting learning tools. Its design and content are focused on capturing the attention of your students-- and focused on helping you teach. In the sixth edition, author James Sumich has maintained the text's readability and balanced approach, while incorporating several exciting new features:

Oceanography and Marine Biology preserves the basic elements of the physical, chemical, and geological aspects of the marine sciences, and merges those fundamentals into a broader framework of marine biology and ecology. Existing textbooks on oceanography or marine biology address the companion field only cursorily: very few pages in oceanography texts are devoted to marine biology, and vice versa. This new book overcomes that imbalance, bringing these disparate marine science text formats closer together, giving them more equal weight, and introducing more effectively the physical sciences by showing students with everyday examples how such concepts form the foundation upon which to build a better understanding of the marine environment in a changing world. Lecturer supplements will also be available.

This established textbook continues to provide a comprehensive and stimulating introduction to marine ecological concepts and processes. Based on a wealth of international teaching expertise, An Introduction to Marine Ecology is written to be the basis for an entire undergraduate course in marine biology or ecology. It covers the trophic, environmental and competitive interactions of marine organisms, and the effects of these on the productivity, dynamics and structure of marine systems. The strength of the book lies in its discussion of core topics which remains at the heart of the majority of courses in the subject, despite an increasing emphasis on more applied aspects. The authors maintain the tradition of clarity and conciseness set by previous editions, and the text is extensively illustrated with colour plates, photographs and diagrams. Examples are drawn from all over the world. In this edition, the scientific content of the text has been fully revised and updated. An emphasis has been placed on human impacts, and completely new chapters have been added on fisheries, marine ecosystems, and human interference and conservation. Completely revised and updated with a twofold increase in the number of illustrations. Adopts a more applied approach in keeping with current teaching. New chapters on fisheries, the marine ecosystem, conservation and pollution. Based on a proven and successful course structure.

Is that white growth a coral? Is it an animal or a plant? What is the difference between a shrimp and a prawn? These and many other common questions reveal our lack of familiarity with the seas. For many, their first experience of marine environments is amazement at the bewildering variety of life in the oceans. Sea anemones and corals, sea stars and sea urchins, octopuses and squids are just a few marine creatures that we never encounter on land or in fresh water. Many other creatures are even less familiar, and it is often difficult for those interested in marine life to learn more about them. The examples selected here focus on Victoria and on southern Australia. The emphasis is on animals and plants that are commonly seen by divers, snorkellers, beachcombers and by anyone with an interest in marine life.

Appeal to every students's natural curiosity about the oceans! - Complete content review and answer key that links every chapter in the student book with its corresponding lab - Tips on preparing and setting up each of the labs - A list of aquariums, marine-science centers, web sites, and other helpful teaching resources - Tried-and-true methods to ensure that students get the most from every lab and project See the companion Marine Biology lab manual and Marine Biology student book