Product Description
Mangroves and seagrasses form extensive and highly productive ecosystems that are biologically diverse and economically valuable. This new edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to provide a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of the biology and ecology of mangroves and seagrasses, using a global range of examples. It deals with the adaptations of these plants to their exacting environment, the rich and diverse communities of organisms that depend on mangrove forests and seagrass meadows (including tree-climbing shrimps, synchronously flashing fireflies and 'gardening' seacows), the links between mangrove, seagrass, and other habitats, the evolution, biodiversity and biogeography of mangroves and seagrasses, and the likely effects of global climate change. The economic value of mangroves and seagrasses is also discussed, including approaches to rational management of these vital resources, and techniques for the restoration of degraded habitats. As with other titles in the Biology of Habitats Series, particular emphasis is placed on the organisms that dominate these aquatic environments although pollution, conservation and experimental aspects are also considered. The book is intended for students, naturalists and professionals and assumes no previous knowledge of mangrove or seagrass ecology.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 5.0 based on 1 review)

Good science by algo41 (cinnaminson, nj United States)

5 Stars
February 27, 2008
I took this book out of a vacation spot library, and was very pleasantly surprised. It is good, careful science nicely presented. The focus is on questions, the answers or possible answers, and the evidence. It covers the entire ecology of mangrove areas, including flora and fauna. Surprisingly, the term mangrove refers to plants which do well in tidal, brackish area, and covers a wide range of species and even families. Not just the plants, but the fauna exhibit convergent evolution; thus, there are even two species of shrimp which spend their lives on trees above the water line in the mangroves. Some other interesting facts: young tadpoles are vegetarians, whereas frogs are totally carnivorous. Some epiphytes get a significant portion of their nutrients from ant droppings. There are parallel chapters on sea grasses and mangroves, but I did not have time to read the sea grass chapters.

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