Reproduction of Marine Invetebrates, Volume IV Molluscs: Gastropods and Cephalopods describes the wide range of structural complexity and diverse modes of reproduction of gastropods and cephalopods. Each chapter discusses the asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction capacity, and developmental stages of different group of gastropods and cephalopods, including prosobranchia, opisthobranchia, pulmonata, nautiloidea, decapoda, and octopoda. Gastropods are among the most conspicuous sea animals, and species of limpets, snails, and slugs are found in all marine habitats. Cephalopods are active and important marine predators, ranging from archaic nautiloids to more recent pelagic decapods and benthic octopods, which are often considered to be one of the apexes of invertebrate evolution. They are all gonochoric and reproduce only by sexual means. All have intricate courtship behavior and derived developmental patterns. Marine biologists and researchers, scientists, and developmental biologists will find this book invaluable.

This reference work is designed to provide background information on an array of northeastern Pacific marine invertebrate species so that they can be more easily included in comparative studies of morphology, cell biology, reproduction, embryology, larval biology, and ecology. It is meant to serve biologists who are new to the field as well as experienced investigators who may not be familiar with the invertebrate fauna of the northern Pacific Coast. The species discussed in this volume are mostly from the cold temperate waters of the San Juan Archipelago, near Puget SOund and the Strait of Georgia, but the information and methods given will be useful in laboratories from Alaska to central California and applicable to some extend in other coastal or inland facilities. An introductory chapter discusses basic prodcedures for collecting and maintaining mature specimens, for initiating spawning, and for culturing embryos and larvae in the laboratory. Subsequent chapters summarize reproduction and development in thirty different invertebrate groups and provided ercent references through which additional information can be traced, cite monographs or keys needed to identify species, and give methods useful for studying an array of selected species. Available information on habitat, diet, reproductive mode, egg size, developmental pattern, developmental times, larval type, and conditions for settlement and metamorphosis is reported for over 450 species.

Reproduction of Marine Invertebrates, Volume II: Entoprocts and Lesser Coelomates focuses on the reproduction of smaller groups of marine metazoans. It is organized into nine chapters; each chapter is devoted to a specific marine metazoan. The asexual and sexual reproduction and developmental stages of entoprocta, tardigrada, priapulida, sipuncula, pogonophora, chaetognatha, hemichordata, tunicata, and cephalochordate are discussed. This book is ideal for marine invertebrate researchers, scientists, and reproduction experts.

Reproduction of Marine Invertebrates Volume V, Molluscs: Pelecypods and Lesser Classes presents valuable insights on the early evolution of molluscan reproductive biology. It discusses the asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction capacity, and developmental stages of pelecypods and the remaining smaller classes, including aplacophora, polyplacophora, and monoplacophora. One chapter in this volume provides a broad overview of the knowledge and problems on oyster reproductive biology. This book is ideal for marine biologists and researchers, reproductive biologists, and developmental biologists.