Lake Issyk-Kul is a closed lake located in the Tien Shan mountain belt of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. It is the world's fifth deepest lake (668 m) and the second largest high altitude lake in the world (1607 m above sea level). The lake is affected by several environmental threats of both anthropogenic and natural origin: decline of the lake level resulting in progressively increasing salinity, incomplete vertical water exchange, and risk of contamination by past and present industrial activity.
Although the lake has been intensively studied, the information is only available in unpublished reports or local scientific journals. This book presents for the first time to an international audience the main physical, chemical, biological and geological characteristics of the lake, the fruits of many years of observations, complemented by recent results of international projects. Case studies of similar problems in other parts of the world are presented, together with ethical aspects of the environmental protection of the lake.

This study explores how the emissions of acidifying gases in the atmosphere have caused the acidification of large freshwater areas in Europe and North America, and induced major changes in the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems. It focuses on the causes and consequences of this acidification, the links between terrestrial and aquatic effects, the prospects for reversing the damage and the prognosis for the future.

Reviews: Methods and Technology in Fish Biology and Fisheries published by Kluwer Academic Publishers is a book series dedicated to the publication of information on advanced, forward-looking methodologies, technologies, or perspectives in fish and is especially dedicated to relevant topics addressing global, fisheries. This series international concern in fish and fisheries. Humans continue to challenge our environments with new technologies and technological applications. The dynamic creativity of our own species often tends to place the greatest burden on our supporting ecosystems. This is especially true for aquatic networks of creeks, lakes, rivers and ocean environments. We also frequently use our conceptual powers to balance conflicting requirements and demands on nature and continue to develop new approaches and tools to provide sustainable resources as well as conserve what we hold most dear on local and global scales. This book series will provide a window into the developing dynamic among humans, aquatic ecosystems (both freshwater and marine), and the organisms that inhabit aquatic environments. There are many reasons to doubt the increasing social and economic value technology has gained over the last two centuries. Science and technology represent stages in human development. I agree with Ernst Mayer when he said in Toward a New Philosophy of Biology (1988) that "endeavors to solve all scientific problems by pure logic and refined measurements are unproductive, if not totally irrelevant.

Rivers have traditionally been revered by the people of the Indian subcontinent, though in recent decades, the region's rivers have deteriorated dramatically due to economic progress and gross mismanagement. Dams and ill-advised embankments strangle the Ganges and its sacred tributaries. Rivers have become sewage channels for a burgeoning population. Dirty, Sacred Rivers explores South Asia's looming water crisis, tracing a journey through the vast watershed of the Ganges, one of the great rivers of South Asia and to many people the holiest. To tell the story of this river basin, Cheryl Colopy treks to high mountain glaciers with hydrologists; bumps around the rough embankments of India's poorest state in a jeep with social workers; and takes a boat excursion through the Sundarbans, the mangrove forests at the end of the Ganges watershed. She lingers in key places and hot spots in the debate over water: * Delhi-a megacity on the banks of one the Ganges' most revered tributaries, the Yamuna-and a paradigm of water mismanagement * Bihar, where the Buddha gained enlightenment. It's now India's poorest, most crime-ridden state, thanks largely to the blunders of engineers who tried to tame powerful Himalayan rivers with embankments but instead created annual floods * Kathmandu-the home of one of the most elegant and ancient traditional water systems on the subcontinent, now the site of a water development boondoggle * The Nepal Himalaya, whose sweeping glaciers are starting to melt, threatening villagers in the high mountains A first-person narrative holds together disparate places and issues. The reader meets a cast of characters, ranging from the most humble members of South Asian society to engineers and former ministers. Some of these men and women are heroes, bucking current trends, trying to find rational ways to manage rivers and water. They are reviving ingenious methods of water management that thrived for centuries in South Asia and may point the way to water sustainability and healthy rivers.

Cyanobacteria make a major contribution to world photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation, but are also notorious for causing nuisances such as dense and often toxic blooms' in lakes and the ocean. The Ecology of Cyanobacteria: Their Diversity in Time and Space is the first book to focus solely on ecological aspects of these organisms. Its twenty-two chapters are written by some thirty authors, who are leading experts in their particular subject. The book begins with an overview of the cyanobacteria - or blue-green algae, for those who are not specialists - then looks at their diversity in the geological record and goes on to describe their ecology in present environments where they play important roles. Why is one of the key groups of organisms in the Precambrian still one of the most important groups of phototrophs today? The importance of ecological information for rational management and exploitation of these organisms for commercial and other practical purposes is also assessed. Accounts are provided of nuisances as well as the ecology of the commercially successful Spirulina and the role of cyanobacteria in ecosystem recovery from oil pollution. Many chapters include aspects of physiology, biochemistry, geochemistry and molecular biology where these help general understanding of the subject. In addition there are three chapters dealing specifically with molecular ecology. Thirty-two pages of colour photos incorporate about seventy views and light micrographs. These features make the book valuable to a wide readership, including biologists, microbiologists, geologists, water managers and environmental consultants. The book complements the highly successful The Molecular Biology of Cyanobacteria already published by Kluwer.

The coelacanth (see-lo-canth) is no ordinary fish. Five feet long, with luminescent eyes and limb like fins, this bizarre creature, presumed to be extinct, was discovered in 1938 by an amateur icthyologist who recognized it from fossils dating back 400 million years. The discovery was immediately dubbed the "greatest scientific find of the century," but the excitement that ensued was even more incredible. This is the entrancing story of that most rare and precious fish -- our own great-uncle forty million times removed.

Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Handbook is the ultimate instruction manual for mitigation measures to minimise man-made acoustical and physical disturbances to marine mammals from industrial and defence activities. Based on more than two decades of offshore experience, and a decade of supplying MMO and PAM services (commercial and scientific), the Handbook is a long-overdue reference guide that seeks to improve standards worldwide for marine operations such as seismic and drilling exploration, wind farm and civil engineering piling, dredging, trenching, rock-dumping, hydrographical surveys, and military/defence exercises. By popular request, this manual will also form an accompaniment to MMO and PAM courses. The Handbook consolidates all aspects of this discipline into one easily accessible resource, to educate all stakeholders (e.g. MMOs, PAM operators, suppliers, recruitment agencies, clients, contractors, regulators, NGOs, consultants, scientists, academia and media), regardless of experience. Topics include worldwide legislation, compliance, anthropogenic noise sources and potential effects, training, offshore life, visual and acoustic monitoring (theory and practice), marine mammal distribution, hearing and vocalisations, and report writing. Advice is provided on implementing sensible and practical mitigation techniques, appropriate technologies, data collection, client and regulator liaison, and project kick-off meetings. "The Handbook is an indispensable How To guide to the growing and increasingly important occupation of marine mammal monitoring, written with clarity and humor by scientists who have extensive experience in this field." -Dr Phillip J. Clapham, world-renowned cetologist and Director of the Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory in Seattle.

The ocean teems with life that thrives under difficult situations in unusual environments. "The Extreme Life" of the Sea takes readers to the absolute limits of the ocean world--the fastest and deepest, the hottest and oldest creatures of the oceans. It dives into the icy Arctic and boiling hydrothermal vents--and exposes the eternal darkness of the deepest undersea trenches--to show how marine life thrives against the odds. This thrilling book brings to life the sea's most extreme species, and tells their stories as characters in the drama of the oceans. Coauthored by Stephen Palumbi, one of today's leading marine scientists, "The Extreme Life of the Sea" tells the unforgettable tales of some of the most marvelous life forms on Earth, and the challenges they overcome to survive. Modern science and a fluid narrative style give every reader a deep look at the lives of these species.

"The Extreme Life of the Sea" shows you the world's oldest living species. It describes how flying fish strain to escape their predators, how predatory deep-sea fish use red searchlights only they can see to find and attack food, and how, at the end of her life, a mother octopus dedicates herself to raising her batch of young. This wide-ranging and highly accessible book also shows how ocean adaptations can inspire innovative commercial products--such as fan blades modeled on the flippers of humpback whales--and how future extremes created by human changes to the oceans might push some of these amazing species over the edge.

Many organisms in deep-sea environments are extremophiles thriving in extreme conditions: high pressure, high or low temperature, or high concentrations of inorganic compounds. This book presents the microbiology of extremophiles living in the deep sea and describes the isolation, cultivation, and taxonomic identification of microorganisms retrieved from the Mariana Trench, the world's deepest point. Also explained are techniques for recovering pressure-loving bacteria, the barophiles (piezophiles), and for whole genome analysis of "Bacillus halodurans" C-125. Physiological analysis of the pressure effect in "Saccharomyces cerevisiae" and "Escherichia coli" is used to answer the question of how deep-sea organisms survive under high hydrostatic pressure. These research results are useful in both basic science and industrial applications. Readers discover a new microbial world in the ocean depths, with state-of-the-science information on extremophiles.

The Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, Third Edition covers the ecology, behavior, conservation, evolution, form and function of whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, manatees, dugongs, otters and polar bears. This edition provides new content on anthropogenic concerns, latest information on emerging threats such as ocean noise, and impacts of climate change. With authors and editors who are world experts, this new edition is a critical resource for all who are interested in marine mammals, especially upper level undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and managers, and is a top reference for those in related fields, from oceanographers to environmental scientists.

The multidisciplinary character of this Encyclopedia of Marine Sciences (biology, chemistry, geology, physics in oceanography) is reflected in some 1980 up-to-date alphabetically listed keywords, and many illustrations, to give scientists, teachers, and students a helpful and time-saving aid when studying marine scientific literature. The brief explanation of the concepts, terminology and methods makes this book more valuable than just a glossary or dictionary.

The Black Sea presently faces severe ecological disequilibrium due primarily to eutrophication and other types of contaminants, from atmospheric, river and landbased sources. Major contaminants include nutrients, pesticides, hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Among the most critical contemporary concerns are eutrophication and associated deterioration of water quality, plankton blooms, hypoxia and anoxia, loss of biodiversity and decline of living resources. A better understanding of conditions leading to eutrophication and of the associated changes during the last four decades, is being carried out at national, regional and international levels. High quality scientific research has been conducted in all Black Sea riparian countries (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Turkey, Ukraine). In addition, several successful regional research programmes (e.g., CoMSBlack, NATO-TU Black Sea, NATO-TU Waves, EC-EROS 2000 Phase III, IOC Black Sea Regional Center with Pilot Projects 112) and one major environmental management program (GEF-BSEP) have been successfully launched. New international efforts like the Black Sea Commission, the Black Sea Program Coordination Unit, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (all situated in Istanbul), together with the Convention for the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution (Bucharest, 1992) and the Odessa Interministerial Decleration (1993) attest to the economic and political importance of these problems and the attention presently paid to this endangered sea."

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This topical and exciting textbook describes fisheries exploitation, biology, conservation and management, and reflects many recent and important changes in fisheries science. These include growing concerns about the environmental impacts of fisheries, the role of ecological interactions in determining population dynamics, and the incorporation of uncertainty and precautionary principles into management advice. The book draws upon examples from tropical, temperate and polar environments, and provides readers with a broad understanding of the biological, economic and social aspects of fisheries ecology and the interplay between them. As well as covering 'classical' fisheries science, the book focuses on contemporary issues such as industrial fishing, poverty and conflict in fishing communities, marine reserves, the effects of fishing on coral reefs and by-catches of mammals, seabirds and reptiles. The book is primarily written for students of fisheries science and marine ecology, but should also appeal to practicing fisheries scientists and those interested in conservation and the impacts of humans on the marine environment.

* particularly useful are the modelling chapters which explain the difficult maths involved in a user-friendly manner
* describes fisheries exploitation, conservation and management in tropical, temperate and polar environments
* broad coverage of 'classical' fisheries science
* emphasis on new approaches to fisheries science and the ecosystem effects of fishing
* examples based on the latest research and drawn from authors' international experience
* comprehensively referenced throughout
* extensively illustrated with photographs and line drawings

Lakes and rivers of the tropics are rich with variety and human relevance, yet do not figure prominently in surveys of general freshwater biology and limnology. The fruits of their scientific exploration are largely embodied in regional and specialist descriptions and analyses. In this book the authors take a generalized view, on a world-wide scale, that is dynamic and quantitative in outlook. They set out to integrate events and processes under tropical conditions, not only geographically but also within a continuum of physics, chemistry and biology, so providing a foundation that will be of value to all who study and work with tropical inland waters.

Global climate change affects productivity and species composition of freshwater and marine aquatic ecosystems by raising temperatures, ocean acidification, excessive solar UV and visible radiation. Effects on bacterioplankton and viruses, phytoplankton and macroalgae have farreaching consequences for primary consumers such as zooplankton, invertebrates and vertebrates, as well as on human consumption of fish, crustaceans and mollusks. It has affected the habitation of the Arctic and Antarctic oceans the most so far. Increasing pollution from terrestrial runoff, industrial, municipal and household wastes as well as marine transportation and plastic debris also affect aquatic ecosystems.

Coral reef communities are among the most complex, mature and productive ecosystems on earth. Their activity resulted in the creation of vast lime constructions. Being extremely productive and having the function of a powerful biofilter, coral reefs play an important role in global biogeochemical processes and in the reproduction of food resources in tropical marine regions. All aspects of coral reef science are covered systematically and on the basis of a holistic ecosystem approach. The geological history of coral reefs, their geomorphology as well as biology including community structure of reef biota, their functional characteristics, physiological aspects, biogeochemical metabolism, energy balance, environmental problems and management of resources are treated in detail.

Sea turtles have existed for millions of years, making them fascinating subjects of study. In the last 20 years, the science of sea turtle biology has expanded at an exponential rate, leading to major advances in many areas. This book synthesizes the results of these advances and focuses on how these endangered marine reptiles operate in, adapt to, and are dependent upon particular features of their marine environment. New technology in data gathering, such as DNA analyses, remote sensing, and physiological monitoring techniques, has led to a much greater understanding of the biology of the sea turtle at all stages of their life history.
Areas of advancement discussed in The Biology of Sea Turtles include:
o Population genetics and phylogeny
o Sensory biology
o Migration and orientation hatchling behavior
o Age and growth
o Reproduction and endocrinology sex determination
o Diving physiology
o Osmoregulation
The book also addresses the endangered status of sea turtles and deals with threats to their survival posed by man-made changes to ocean and coastal zones. The first book of its kind, The Biology of Sea Turtles fills a substantial void in the literature, and will be of great value and interest to marine biologists, environmentalists, and conservationists.

This is the first book to provide a detailed treatment of the field of larval ecology. The 13 chapters use state-of-the-art reviews and critiques of nearly all of the major topics in this diverse and rapidly growing field. Topics include:
o patterns of larval diversity
o reproductive energetics
o spawning ecology
o life history theory
o larval feeding and nutrition
o larval mortality
o behavior and locomotion
o larval transport
o dispersal
o population genetics
o recruitment dynamics
o larval evolution
Written by the leading new scientists in the field, chapters define the current state of larval ecology and outline the important questions for future research.

Seascape Ecology provides a comprehensive look at the state-of-the-science in the application of landscape ecology to the seas and provides guidance for future research priorities. The first book devoted exclusively to this rapidly emerging and increasingly important discipline, it is comprised of contributions from researchers at the forefront of seascape ecology working around the world. It presents the principles, concepts, methodology, and techniques informing seascape ecology and reports on the latest developments in the application of the approach to marine ecology and management. A growing number of marine scientists, geographers, and marine managers are asking questions about the marine environment that are best addressed with a landscape ecology perspective. Seascape Ecology represents the first serious effort to fill the gap in the literature on the subject. Key topics and features of interest include: * The origins and history of seascape ecology and various approaches to spatial patterning in the sea * The links between seascape patterns and ecological processes, with special attention paid to the roles played by seagrasses and salt marshes and animal movements through seascapes * Human influences on seascape ecology includes models for assessing human-seascape interactions * A special epilogue in which three eminent scientists who have been instrumental in shaping the course of landscape ecology offer their insights and perspectives Seascape Ecology is a must-read for researchers and professionals in an array of disciplines, including marine biology, environmental science, geosciences, marine and coastal management, and environmental protection. It is also an excellent supplementary text for university courses in those fields.

This is intended as an introduction for advanced undergraduates and postgraduates in marine ecology, freshwater ecology, fish biology, fisheries ecology and aquaculture. It adopts a habitat-based approach, ranging from head waters to ocean depths, and from tropics to polar regions, thereby loosely reflecting the organization of general ecology textbooks and demonstrating how the principles of contemporary ecology can be applied to fishes.

This is the first complete systematic treatment of the marine algae (seaweeds) of California. The 726 species treated are each illustrated by a detailed line drawing made from an actual specimen. 'This book has long been anticipated by the phycological world, and the wait has been rewarded by an outstanding and scholarly account of the fascinating marine algae flora of California. ' Phycologia 'Two phycologists whose research reputations are worldwide have produced a truly superb guide to the marine benthic algae of the entire California coast. ' Bulletin of Marine Science 'The phycological community has long awaited a definitive treatment of benthic marine algae for the California coast. With the publication of this handsomely executed volume, a monumental project of compilation, synthesis, and interpretation has been achieved. It is indeed worth the wait.' Plant Science Bulletin

In August 1988. the Sixth International Coral Reef Symposium was held in Townsville resulting in an influx of most of the world's coral reef sCientists to the city. We seized this opportunity at the Australian Institute of Marine Science to run a small workshop immediately before the symposium on the outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish. Aeanthaster planei. We invited that small band of mathematicians who had been modelling the phenomenon, (and who may not have normally attended an international meeting so thoroughly dedicated to natural science) to meet with those SCientists who had been been actively working on the phenomenon in the field. John Casti notes in his delightful new book Alternate Realities (Wiley, 1989): 'If the natural role of the experimenter is to generate new observables by which we know the processes of Nature, and the natural role of the mathematician is to generate new formal structures by which we can represent these processes. then the system SCientist finds his niche by serving as a broker between the two. ' I think our book shows the fruits of that brokerage through the wide range of models explored within its pages. the high level of collaboration and interaction across disciplines evident in the individual papers, and in the emerging synthesis that reflects a far deeper understanding of this complex phenomenon than was possible even a few years ago.

Proceedings of the Joint Congress of Limnology and Oceanography held in Marseilles, June 26-29, 1989

In the decade since the first edition of this book was published advances have been made in our knowledge of the fresh waters of the world, espe cially in understanding many of the processes involved in their functioning as systems and in countering the problems created by human activities. New problems too, many of an international nature, have loomed during this period-of which global warming and the acidification of fresh waters in many parts of the world are notable examples. In addition, much has now been published concerning the aquatic flora, fauna and ecology of previously poorly known geographic areas, notably Australasia. The second edition of this book is a revision which updates the text in the light of recent advances in our knowledge of freshwater biology. Inevitably, in an elementary volume such as this, the treatment of many of the basic principles and processes remains the same. However, several new sections are included covering a range of topics such as acid deposition and the acidification process, bacterial decomposition and aquaculture. The book includes many new references and suggestions for up-to-date reading in particular topics. The objective of the second edition remains the same as that of the first. It is intended as a basic introduction to the major aspects of freshwater biology at a level suitable for undergraduates. It should also prove useful, as apparently did the first edition, to professional workers in related fields, e.g. water engineers and chemists, aquaculturists and planners."

Underwater exploration is a fascinating activity because of the richness of sea life, the beautiful colors, and the contrast with terrestrial life. It can be done by diving or snorkeling -today there is fine equipment for diving and taking underwater pictures and, apart from being a source of pleasure, it forms the basis of modern ecological and behavioral marine studies. Diving is an emotional activity. The silence of the submarine world, only interrupted by breathing, has more than once evoked the monsters of the fabulous tales of my youth. Maybe because, although much time has elapsed since then, I still have a youth's ability to evaluate everything for the fascination it conveys. However, no more than that can be gained from underwater watehing. I am not saying that this is destined to be a futile exercise. Picasso watched sea urchins much in the same way while revealing their quintessence in his paintings at the Castle of Antibes. What I mean is that today marine life can also be viewed from the perspective of the natural products involved. This knowledge, subsequent to Picasso's time, adds much to the overall picture."