Sea Urchins: Biology and Ecology, Fourth Edition, Volume 43 expands its coverage to include the entire class of Echinoidea, making this new edition an authoritative reference of the entire class of species. This is a valuable resource that will help readers gain a deep understanding of the basic characteristics of sea urchins, the basis of the great variation that exists in sea urchins, and how sea urchins are important components of marine ecosystems. Updated coverage includes sections on reproduction, metabolism, endocrinology, larval ecology, growth, digestion, carotenoids and disease.

This fully revised and expanded edition of "Sea Urchins" provides a wide-ranging understanding of the biology and ecology of this key component of the world's oceans. Coverage includes reproduction, metabolism, endocrinology, larval ecology, growth, digestion, carotenoids, disease and nutrition. Other chapters consider the ecology of individual species that are of major importance ecologically and economically, including species from Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa. In addition, six new contributions in areas such as immunology, digestive systems and community ecology inform readers on key recent developments and insights from the literature.

Sea urchins are ecologically important and often greatly affect marine communities. Because they have an excellent fossil record, they are also of interest to paleontologists. Research on sea urchins has increased in recent years, stimulated first by recognition of their ecological importance and subsequently their economic importance. Scientists around the world are actively investigating their potential for aquaculture and fisheries, and their value as model systems for investigations in developmental biology continues to increase.
Continues the series "Developments in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science" with a newly revised volume

Collects and synthesizes the state of knowledge of sea urchin biology and ecologyExpanded from previous edition to include non-edible species, providing the needed basis for broader evolutionary understanding of sea urchins

This study is part of a series dedicated to the publication of reviews by experts of important topics in all areas of echinoderm studies, from molecular biology to ecology, palaeontology, biology and taxonomy. It addresses a range of topics in depth. The reviews seek to provide access to the field and to give direction to further study and research.

This work consists of seven plenary lectures read at an international conference in Tampa, USA.

This volume contains abstracts of all papers presented at the International Echinoderms Conferences, and complete papers of those which were submitted for publication and accepted upon recommendation of referees.

The purpose of this book is to present the state of knowledge concerning nutrition and point out directions for future work for the Echinodermata, an ancient group which shows great diversity in form and function, and whose feeding activities can have great environmental impact.

Among the most fascinating animals in the world's oceans are the more than 2,000 species of starfish. Called "Asteroids" by scientists who study them (after their taxonomic name, Asteroidea)--or sea stars in some parts of the world--starfish are easily recognized because of their star-like form. "Starfish" is a comprehensive volume devoted to the integrative and comparative biology and ecology of starfish.

Written by the world's leading experts on starfish, the integrative section covers topics such as reproduction, developmental biology and ecology, larval ecology, and the ecological role of starfish as a group. The comparative section considers the biology and ecology of important species such as "Acanthaster planci," "Heliaster helianthoides," "Asterias amurensis," and "Pisaster ochraceus."

Replete with detailed, scientifically accurate illustrations and the latest research findings, "Starfish" examines the important role of these invertebrates in the marine environment, a topic of great interest because of their impact on the food web. As major predators that are able to evert their stomach and wrap it around their prey, starfish can have a significant impact on commercial fisheries.

Starfish are of interest not only to echinoderm specialists but also to marine biologists and invertebrate zoologists in general and, increasingly, to the medical community. A starfish's ability to regenerate body parts is almost unequalled in the animal world, making them ideal models for basic science studies on the topic.

Contributors: Charles D. Amsler, Bill J. Baker, Mario Barahona, Michael F. Barker, Maria Byrne, Juan Carlos Castilla, Katharina Fabricius, Patrick Flammang, Andrew S. Gale, Carlos F. Gaymer, Jean-Francois Hamel, Elise Hennebert, John H. Himmelman, Michel Jangoux, John M. Lawrence, Tatiana Manzur, James B. McClintock, Bruce A. Menge, Annie Mercier, Anna Metaxas, Sergio A. Navarette, Timothy D. O'Hara, John S. Pearse, Carlos Robles, Eric Sanford, Robert E. Scheibling, Richard L. Turner, Carlos Renato R. Ventura, Kristina M. Wasson, Stephen A. Watts