The title says it all. Oceans are indeed incredible and find out why. Do not confuse this book with one that just lists facts, fun indeed, however this publication not only delivers fantastic facts about everything that is the oceans and the life it contains, but most importantly explanations on how these facts occur. We look at the oceans themselves, well one body of water surrounding the planet Earth, how that came to be, how they move, mind-blowing chemistry and currents. Then we start to look at the life and exactly what happens, quite simply, you won't believe! The plankton are studied, locomotion and migrations are followed, amazing feeding strategies unearthed, reproduction and life spans are uncovered, the marine housing shortage explained, relationships between species are digested, then we take a look at what's going to kill you and how they do it. Lastly, we look at the human destruction of the ocean environment and sadly look at some frightening facts. This book is perfect for anyone who wants to know more about the life under the waves, amateur naturalists, conservationists, divers and snorkelers, and is often used as a steppingstone for those about embark in the next chapter of their life, as a student of marine biology. THE MARINE LIFE SERIES - 3 BOOKS BY ANDREW CAINE MARINE BIOLOGY FOR THE NON-BIOLOGIST THE BASIS OF LIFE IN THE OCEANS.
SOFT-BODIED ANIMALS - THE CNIDARIANS: jellyfish, hydroids, anemones, soft corals, stony corals.
SHELLFISH - THE MOLLUSCS: gastropods, mesogastropods, archeogastropods, neogastropods, nudibranchs (sea slugs) bivalves, cephalopods, squids, cuttlefish and octopi.
ANIMALS WITH EXOSKELETONS - THE CRUSTACEANS: decapods, crabs, lobsters and shrimps, barnacles.
ANIMALS WITH SPINY SKINS - THE ECHINODERMS: starfish, brittle stars, urchins, sea cucumbers.
CORAL REEF ARCHITECTURE: how they are made.
MARINE INVERTEBRATE TOXINS: the deadly seaweed of Hana, shellfish poisoning. Ciguatera, cone shells, sea snakes, venomous fish.
HYDROTHERMAL VENTS AND VENT BIOLOGY: the discovery, the physical environment, vent biology. MARINE ECOLOGY FOR THE NON-ECOLOGIST ECOLOGY - THE BASIC FACTS: The physical and biological environments, food chains, webs and energy flow. Random 1 - The immortal Jellyfish.
THE PHYSICAL ASPECTS THAT SHAPE THE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT: Water movement, waves, tides and currents, temperature, salinity. Random 2 - The Blue Dragon
THE ROCKY SHORE: The physical environment, high and low