The Marine World - (Wild Nature Press) by Frances Dipper (Hardcover)

About the Book

The marine world is an immense, three-dimensional living space inhabited by marine life that varies from the mundane to the bizarre. Its salty influence extends up river estuaries, over seashores and inland with brine-laden spray. The Marine World covers all those organisms that live in, on and around the ocean bringing together in a single text everything from the miniscule to the immense. With chapters on marine bacteria, plants, fungi and protozoa, as well as all the major groups of marine invertebrates, plus fish, reptiles, mammals and birds, it provides an insight into the existence and way of life of almost everything living in the ocean. Each animal or plant is found in its own particular place and The Marine World encompasses principal ocean habitats and ecosystems including open water, seashores, deep sea, coral reefs and many more. Written with clear, accessible text and illustrated throughout with photographs and detailed drawings, The Marine World provides in depth information to provide answers for each group on 'what?' 'where?' and 'how?', via sections on identification, distribution, structure, biology, classification and conservation.

Book Synopsis

The Marine World is a book for everyone with an interest in the ocean, from the marine biologist or student wanting expert knowledge of a particular group to the naturalist or diver exploring the seashore and beyond.

With colour illustrations, line drawings, more than 1,500 colour photographs, and with clear accessible text, this book encompasses all those organisms that live in, on and around the ocean, bringing together in a single text everything from the minuscule to the immense. It includes sections on all but the most obscure marine groups, covering invertebrate phyla from sponges to sea squirts, as well as plants, fungi, bacteria, fish, reptiles, mammals and birds. It incorporates information on identification, distribution, structure, biology, ecology, classification and conservation of each group, addressing the questions of 'what?', 'where?' and 'how?'.

Today global warming, overfishing, ocean acidification and pollution are just a few of the ever increasing number of threats and challenges faced by ocean life. Without knowledge of the animals, plants and other organisms that live in the marine world, we cannot hope to support or implement successful conservation and management measures, nor truly appreciate the incredible wealth and variety of marine life.

The Marine World is the product of a lifetime spent by Frances Dipper happily observing and studying marine organisms the world over. It has been brought to colourful life by a myriad of enthusiastic underwater photographers and by Marc Dando, the renowned natural history illustrator.

Review Quotes

"From marvellous descriptions of oceanographic basics, to fascinating nuggets of animal behaviour, there is something here for everyone. . . . here is one book that really should be by the side of every marine biologist."---Paul Naylor, The Marine Biologist

"It is authoritative and well-presented, with easy-to-read text, beautiful images from all over the world and superb line and coloured illustrations."---Keith Hiscock, Diver Magazine

"This authoritative and beautiful book tells you all about the world's seas and shorelines, and the plant and animal life they suipport. Clear and concise yet detailed and accurate, The Marine World will be enjoyed by amateur enthusiasts and marine biologists alike."---Lindsey Chapman, BBC Wildlife

About the Author

Frances Dipper is an author, lecturer and marine consultant, she is a naturalist at heart and has been studying marine life round the world for nearly 40 years. Drawing on her experiences, she has written many books for both children and adults.