Absolutely captivating creatures, seahorses seem like a product of myth and imagination rather than of nature. They are small, elusive, and are named for their heads, which are shaped like miniature ponies with tiny snouts. They swim slowly upright by rapidly fanning their delicate dorsal fin, coil their tails to anchor themselves in a drift, and spend days in a dancing courtship. Afterward, it is the male who carries the female's eggs in his pouch and hatches the young. Seahorses are found worldwide, and they are highly sensitive to environmental destruction and disturbance, making them the flagship species for shallow-water habitat conservation. They are as ecologically important as they are beautiful. Seahorses celebrates the remarkable variety of seahorse species as well as their exquisiteness. 57 species, including seadragons and pipefish, are presented in lush, life-size photographs alongside descriptive drawings, and each entry includes detailed and up-to-date information on natural history and conservation. Sara Lourie, a foremost expert on seahorse taxonomy, presents captivating stories of species that range from less than an inch to over a foot in height, while highlighting recent discoveries and ecological concerns. Accessibly written, but comprehensive in scope, this book will be a stunning and invaluable reference on seahorse evolution, biology, habitat, and behavior. Masters of camouflage and rarely seen, seahorses continue to be a fascinating subject of active research. This visually rich and informative book is certain to become the authoritative guide to these charming and unusual wonders of the sea, beloved at aquariums the world over.

Dieses Lehrbuch gibt dem Studenten einen UEberblick uber alle wichtigen Lebensraume des Meeres: von den Kustengebieten bis hin zur Tiefsee und dem Meeresboden, von den Packeiszonen bis zu den Korallenriffen. Es setzt den Schwerpunkt auf diejenigen Lebensraume im Meer, die die grossen Flachen der Erdoberflache ausmachen und eine entsprechend grosse Bedeutung fur die Biosphare der Erde haben - z.B. bei der aktuellen Diskussion daruber, wieviel Kohlendioxid die Weltmeere aufnehmen koennen. Fur Studenten im 2. Studienabschnitt, Hochschullehrer, Lehrer der gymnasialen Oberstufe

Artist Josie Iselin celebrates the diversity and beauty of nature with her exquisite portraits of seashells. Like her extremely popular Beach Stones and Leaves & Pods, Seashells is not a field guide but an artful and informative portrayal of a beloved part of our natural world. While it draws upon unparallelled shell collections, Seashells balances the exotic with the familiar, from tropical corals and rare fossils to everyday clamshells and barnacles. As in her previous books, Iselin arranges these precious natural objects into striking images, which she produces on a flatbed scanner. In her introduction and captions, marine geologist and paleontologist, Sandra J. Carlson introduces the reader to seashells in all their variety, explaining why they look as they do. Both an art book and a contemplation of nature, Seashells combines aesthetic delight in natural things with scientific fact and philosophical wonder.

Introduces readers to the roles of sharks in ocean ecosystems, as well as threats to shark populations and conservation efforts. Eye-catching infographics, clear text, and a "That's Amazing!" feature make this book an engaging exploration of the importance of sharks.

"Cephalopods are often misunderstood creatures. Three biologists set the record straight."--Science News Largely shell-less relatives of clams and snails, the marine mollusks in the class Cephalopoda--Greek for "head-foot"--are colorful creatures of many-armed dexterity, often inky self-defense, and highly evolved cognition. They are capable of learning, of retaining information--and of rapid decision-making to avoid predators and find prey. They have eyes and senses rivaling those of vertebrates like birds and fishes, they morph texture and body shape, and they change color faster than a chameleon. In short, they captivate us. From the long-armed mimic octopus--able to imitate the appearance of swimming flounders and soles--to the aptly named flamboyant cuttlefish, whose undulating waves of color rival the graphic displays of any LCD screen, there are more than seven hundred species of cephalopod. Featuring a selection of species profiles, Octopus, Squid, and Cuttlefish reveals the evolution, anatomy, life history, behaviors, and relationships of these spellbinding animals. Their existence proves that intelligence can develop in very different ways: not only are cephalopods unusually large-brained invertebrates, they also carry two-thirds of their neurons in their arms. A treasure trove of scientific fact and visual explanation, this worldwide illustrated guide to cephalopods offers a comprehensive review of these fascinating and mysterious underwater invertebrates--from the lone hunting of the octopus, to the social squid, and the prismatic skin signaling of the cuttlefish.

Silver Nautilus Book Award Winner "Best Book About the Environment" by Chicago Review of Books An ode to marine life and the natural world, these essays reveal the elusive lives of whales in the Pacific Ocean-home to orcas, humpbacks, blue, gray, and sperm whales Leigh Calvez has spent a dozen years researching, observing, and probing the lives of the giants of the deep. Here, she relates the stories of nature's most remarkable creatures, including the familial orcas in the waters of Washington State and British Columbia; the migratory humpbacks; the ancient, deep-diving blue whales, the largest animals on the planet. The lives of these whales are conveyed through the work of dedicated researchers who have spent decades tracking them along their secretive routes that extend for thousands of miles, gleaning their habits and sounds and distinguishing peculiarities. Calvez author invites the reader onto a small research catamaran maneuvering among 100-foot long blue whales off the coast of California; or to join the task of monitoring patterns of humpback whale movements at the ocean surface: tail throw, flipper slap, fluke up, or blow. To experience whales is breathtaking. To understand their lives deepens our connection with the natural world.

It's different when it's your daughter. DI Gravel's daughter Emily has landed her dream job working for high profile solicitor Charles Turner. But the job turns deadly when she attracts the attention of a serial killer. Gravel is already on the case, the bodies are piling up and the killer's sick fantasies are enough to give the detective nightmares. However, the killer's obsession with Emily raises the stakes. Can Gravel and Emily survive the case? This is the third book in the dark, edge-of-your-seat Carmarthen Crime thriller series set in the stunning West Wales countryside. *Previously published as A Cold Cold Heart*

For centuries whales have captured our imaginations and ignited our emotions. We have revered and mythologised them, hunted them to the brink of extinction and passionately protected them. But how much do we really know about whales? Based on the hugely popular, internationally touring exhibition Whales Tohora (a.k.a. Whales: Giants of the Deep), this all-new book brings these majestic marine mammals and their underwater world to life, with a special focus on the whales and dolphins of the South Pacific. From the first richly illustrated, entertaining chapter, readers are immersed in the salty sea, the home of the whales, to explore their amazing diversity, biology and adaption to life in the oceans. Throughout the book, literally hundreds of breath-taking photographs, historical pictures, astonishing facts and figures and informative illustrations and diagrams bring the whale world to life. Here, too, are stories from people whose lives have been inextricably linked with whales - from legendary South Pacific whale riders to international whale scientists to conservationists to former whalers and their families.Powerfully, Whales Tohora combines storytelling, science, and culture to tell the story of the relationship between the humans and these fascinating creatures throughout history and into the future.