Sealife: A Complete Guide to the Marine Environment

Abstract

Part 1 Oceanography and marine biology: historical introduction evolution of the planet, life and oceanographic processes the physical and chemical nature of oceans water movements and oceanic circulation patterns. Part 2 Biology of marine environments: the pelagic environment plaktonic systems of surface waters other aspects of pelagic life benthic environments coastal sealife ecology shoreline environments estuaries and saltmarshes mangroves kelp forests seagrass meadows coral reefs summary - the marine ecosystem. Part 3 Identifying marine life - Part One - invertebrates (plates 1-8). Part 4 Marine invertebrates: structural support locomotion feeding defence and camouflage parasitism, commensalism and symbiosis sensory perception reproduction larvae and settlement evolution. Part 5 Identifying marine life - part two - vertebrates (plates 9-56). Part 6 Evolution of the vertebrates: the chordates and vertebrate ancestry early-palaeozoic vertebrates evolution of cartilaginous fishes evolution of bony fishes evolution of other vertebrates. Part 7 Marine fishes: jawless or cyclostome fishes (agnatha) cartilaginous fishes (chondrichthyes) sharks and rays chimaeras bony fishes (osteichthyes) cartilaginous fishes factsheet bony fishes factsheet. Part 8 Marine reptiles: crocodiles turtles and terrapins marine lizards marine snakes turtle factsheet. Part 8 Seabirds: taxonomy distribution and movements physiology and adaptations morphology and plumage food and feeding breeding status and conservation seabird factsheet. Part 9 Cetaceans: evolution taxonomy habitats and distribution food and feeding swimming respiration and diving senses life history stranding whales and man whale factsheet. Part 10 Sirenians: taxonomy and distribution swimming and diving diet behaviour and orientaton reproduction conservation. Part 11 Pinnipeds: evolution, natural history seal factsheet. Part 12 Marine otters. Part 13 Polar bear. Part 14 Reference section. Part 15 Observing, recording equipment collecting and sampling equipment observations and record-keeping other observational methods equipment list recording sheets. Appendices: the metric system and conversion factors SI units and scientific notation roots, prefixes and suffixes Beaufort wind scale.