Marine Biodiversity Patterns and Processes [Paperback]

Investigates patterns and processes of biodiversity in the poorly understood, but vital marine ecosystem.The biodiversity of many habitats is under threat and although seas cover the majority of our planet's surface, far less is known about the biodiversity of marine environments than that of terrestrial systems.his book brings together key studies from the deep sea and open ocean, to tropical shores and polar regions to consider how comparable the patterns and processes underlying diversity are in these different ecosystems. Marine biodiversity will be a major resource for all those interested in biodiversity and its conservation.The biodiversity of many habitats is under threat and although seas cover the majority of our planet's surface, far less is known about the biodiversity of marine environments than that of terrestrial systems.his book brings together key studies from the deep sea and open ocean, to tropical shores and polar regions to consider how comparable the patterns and processes underlying diversity are in these different ecosystems. Marine biodiversity will be a major resource for all those interested in biodiversity and its conservation.Until we have a firmer idea of the diversity of a wide range of marine habitats and what controls it, we have little hope of conserving biodiversity, or determining the impact of human activities such as mariculture, fishing, dumping of waste and pollution. This book brings together key studies from the deep sea and open ocean, to tropical shores and polar regions, to consider how comparable the patterns and processes underlying diversity are in these different ecosystems.Foreword: the value of diversity Crispin Tickell; 1. Marine biodiversity in its global context M. H. Williamson; 2. Gradients in marine biodiversity J. S. Gray; 3. Pelagic biodiversity M. V. Angel; 4. Biological diversity in oceanic macrozooplankton: more than counting species A. C. Pierrot-Bults; 5. Large scale patterns of species diversity inlcä