Seaweeds, also known as macroalgae, are among the most important primary producers and act as ecological engineers on rocky coasts of the world s oceans. In addition to their extreme ecological importance they are also of high economic relevance. Complementing available textbooks with its more research-oriented approach, this volume contains 22 chapters by renowned experts, grouped in five parts. In Part I fundamental processes and acclimation strategies of seaweeds towards the abiotic environment are covered. Part II focuses on the multitude of biotic interactions in seaweed communities, and in Part III the reader is introduced to the structure and function of the main seaweed systems of the world. The chapters of Part IV highlight and discuss the effects of global and local environmental changes on seaweeds and their communities. In the final Part V a comprehensive overview of developments in seaweed aquaculture, industrial applications and the overall economic importance of seaweeds is provided. Summarizing the advances in seaweed biology achieved within the last few decades, this book also identifies gaps in the present knowledge and needs for future research."

Seaweeds, also known as macroalgae, are among the most important primary producers and act as ecological engineers on rocky coasts of the world's oceans. In addition to their extreme ecological importance they are also of high economic relevance. Complementing available textbooks with its more research-oriented approach, this volume contains 22 chapters by renowned experts, grouped in five parts. In Part I fundamental processes and acclimation strategies of seaweeds towards the abiotic environment are covered. Part II focuses on the multitude of biotic interactions in seaweed communities, and in Part III the reader is introduced to the structure and function of the main seaweed systems of the world. The chapters of Part IV highlight and discuss the effects of global and local environmental changes on seaweeds and their communities. In the final Part V a comprehensive overview of developments in seaweed aquaculture, industrial applications and the overall economic importance of seaweeds is provided. Summarizing the advances in seaweed biology achieved within the last few decades, this book also identifies gaps in the present knowledge and needs for future research.

In coastal seas, from the tropics to the poles, seaweeds supply the energy required to support diverse coastal marine life and provide habitat for invertebrates and fish. Retaining the highly successful approach and structure of the first edition, this is a synthesis of the role of seaweeds in underpinning the functioning of coastal ecosystems worldwide. It has been fully updated to cover the major developments of the past twenty years, including current research on the endosymbiotic origin of algae, molecular biology including 'omics', chemical ecology, invasive seaweeds, photobiology and stress physiology. In addition to exploring the processes by which seaweeds, as individuals and communities, interact with their biotic and abiotic environment, the book presents exciting new research on how seaweeds respond to local and global environmental change. It remains an invaluable resource for students and provides an entry into the scientific literature of a wide range of topics.

In diesem Buch berichten 95 Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler uber ihre Forschung im Ozean und an den Kusten. Sie fuhren den Leser von den eisbedeckten Polarmeeren uber die Nord- und Ostsee bis zu den Seegraswiesen, tropischen Mangroven und Korallenriffen. Die Beitrage veranschaulichen die Vielfalt der Lebensgemeinschaften zwischen Strand und Tiefsee. Das Groessenspektrum der Organismen reicht von Walen und Fischen uber Planktonkrebse und Muscheln bis zu Kieselalgen und Bakterien. Die globalen - vom Leben im Meer bestimmten - Stoffkreislaufe werden ebenso behandelt wie die molekularbiologischen Anpassungen der Mikroorganismen, und hier sind auch die groessten methodischen Fortschritte zu verzeichnen. Zu den spannenden Themen der angewandten Meeresforschung gehoeren die UEberfischung und die nachhaltige Nutzung der Meere, die Gefahrdung durch Schad- und Nahrstoffeintrage, das Einschleppen fremder Organismen und die Zerstoerung von Lebensraumen. Vielfaltig und bereits deutlich nachweisbar sind die Einflusse des globalen Klimawandels auf das Leben im Meer. Forschungsschiffe, Unterwasser-Roboter, Gensonden und Datenbanken, aber auch mathematische Modelle und naturnahe Experimente sind wichtige Werkzeuge der Meeresbiologen. Exkurse uber die Geschichte und Struktur der meeresbiologischen Forschung in Deutschland runden die UEbersicht ab. In 48 selbstandigen Beitragen fugt sich die Vielfalt moderner, meeresoekologischer Forschung zu einem faszinierenden Gesamtbild zusammen. Das Buch richtet sich an Lehrende und Lernende und an alle, die sich fur das Meer und seine Bewohner, fur modernes Ressourcenmanagement und marinen Naturschutz interessieren.