Excellent survey of the Earth's largest ecosystem, which explains how its inhabitants - many of which are regarded as bizarre aliens when exposed to view - are exquisitely adapted to survive and flourish within it. It is based on the author's unique deep-sea experience in all the world's oceans. As he points out, oceanography and its associated technology have dismantled barriers between classical disciplines. The organisms of the deep ocean cannot be isolated from their environment, which in turn is related to processes nearer the surface. The book is designed to be accessible to all marine scientists, student and professional.
'... an excellent introduction for undergraduates and teachers wanting a better overview of this fascinating area.' BTEG News
1. The Deep-Sea Dimension; 2. Living, Growing and Daylight; 3. Life at the Bottom; 4. Patterns and Changes; 5. On Being Efficient; 6. Feeling and Hearing; 7. Chemical Messages; 8. Seeing in the Dark; 9. Camouflage, Colour and Lights; 10. Size, Sex and Seasonality; 11. A Wonderful Variety of Life: Biodiversity of the Deep-Sea Fauna; Appendix: The Marine Phyla
... written with clarity and in a readable style ... The book is a timely contribution from an eminent deep-sea biologist. I applaud Peter Herring for inspiring students and scholars with a classical book on deep-sea biology. Limnology & Oceanography ... Strongly recommended. Biologist