Seagrass Ecology

Hardback  310 pp, 62 diags, 21 illus, 12 tabs  ISBN 0521661846      £65.00

Seagrasses occur in coastal zones throughout the world, in the part of the marine habitat that is most heavily influenced by humans. Decisions about coastal management therefore often involve seagrasses, but despite a growing awareness of the importance of these plants, a full appreciation of their role in coastal ecosystems has yet to be reached. This book provides an entry point for those wishing to learn about their ecology, and gives a broad overview of the present state of knowledge, including recent progress in research and current research foci, complemented by extensive literature references to guide the reader t o more detailed studies. It will be valuable to students of marine biology wishing to specialise in this area and also to established researchers wanting to enter the field. In addition, it will provide an excellent reference for those involved in the management and conservation of coastal areas that harbour seagrasses.

Contents

Preface; 1. Taxonomy and distribution; 2. Seagrass architectural features; 3. Population and community dynamics; 4. Light, carbon and nutrients; 5. Elemental dynamics in seagrass systems; 6. Fauna associated with seagrass sytems; 7. Seagrasses in the human environment; Index.