Deep-sea biology
Subtitle: a natural history of organisms at the deep-sea floor
By: John D. Gage, Paul A. Tyler.
Contributors: Tyler, Paul A.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 1991
Place of publication: Cambridge; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 504
Subjects: Benthos.; Deep-sea animals -- Ecology.; Deep-sea biology.
Description: Deep-Sea Biology provides a comprehensive account of the natural history of the organisms associated with the deep-sea floor, and examines their relationship with this remote and inhospitable environment. In the initial chapters, the authors describe the physico-chemical nature of the deep-sea floor and the methods used to collect and study its fauna. They then go on to discuss the ecological framework by exploring spatial patterns of diversity, biomass, vertical zonation and large-scale distributions. Subsequent chapters review current knowledge of feeding, respiration, reproduction and growth processes in these communities. The unique fauna of hydrothermal vents and seeps are considered separately. Finally, there is a discussion of man's exploitation of deep-sea resources and his use of this environment for waste disposal on the fauna of this, the earth's largest ecosystem. Annotation Published: September 2013.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [407]-488) and indexes.