Marine Plankton A practical guide to ecology, methodology, and taxonomy

A thorough understanding of planktonic organisms is the first step towards a real appreciation of the diversity, biology, and ecological importance of marine life. A detailed knowledge of their distribution and community composition is particularly important since these organisms are often very delicate and sensitive to change, and can be used as early indicators of environmental change. Natural and man-induced modification of the environment can affect both the distribution and composition of plankton, with important ecological and economic impacts. Marine Plankton provides a practical guide to plankton biology with a large geographic coverage spanning the North Sea to the north-eastern Atlantic coast of the USA and Canada. The book is divided into three sections: an overview of plankton ecology, an assessment of methodology in plankton research covering sampling, preservation, and counting of samples, and a taxonomic guide richly illustrated with detailed line drawings to aid identification. This is an essential reference text suitable for senior undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in marine ecology (particularly useful for fieldwork) as well as for professional marine biologists. It will also be of relevance and use to environmental scientists, conservation biologists, marine resource managers, environmental consultants, and other specialised practitioners.

Claudia Castellani is a marine biologist at the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (SAHFOS) where she teaches and conducts research on plankton ecology, physiology, and taxonomy. Her research focuses on the biological mechanisms determining the spatial and temporal changes in marine zooplankton species abundance and productivity through the combined study of their morphology, eco-physiology and genetic. Claudia is also a member of the ICES Working Group of Zooplankton Ecology (WGZE) and the co-editor of the ICES plankton taxonomy leaflets. In her spare time Claudia enjoys playing recreational and competitive tennis. Martin Edwards is a marine macroecologist whose primary research interests are on environmental change impacts on marine ecosystems ranging from marine biodiversity, biogeographical and phenological changes to whole ecosystem regime shifts. He is currently Chief Scientist at the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (SAHFOS) and Professor of Ocean Ecology at Plymouth University.