Oceans

The Ecosystems series is the only source that offers a complete understanding of global ecology. Illustrated with beautiful full-colour photographs, each volume combines the "hard sciences," such as biology and chemistry, with history, economics, and environmental studies. Each ecosystem is presented in its entirety with details on its history, biology, wildlife, beauty, problems, and influence on culture. This interdisciplinary approach emphasizes the complex, interrelated nature of each biome - giving readers the most integrated portrayal of the natural world available. Each volume spans Europe, Asia, Australia, Antarctica, and the Americas to present a particular ecosystem. Coverage offers a basic introduction to ecological concepts and demonstrates how these concepts influence the complex relationship between humans and the environment.

VOYA

Each book in this ten-volume series considers the range, geography, geology, biodiversity, history, and uses of the biome and its possible future. There is no comprehensive index for the set, which limits the connection of various topics across the entire series. The information provided is quite extensive and inclusive and is enhanced with well-chosen color photographs, maps, and charts. Three authors are individually responsible for writing different books while conforming to the series guidelines. This series is designed to encourage interest in and concern for the natural world that sustains all. Oceans looks at the salty seas that cover two-thirds of the Earth's surface and considers the geography and geology of oceans. The author also explains their chemistry and physics, atmospheric influences that affect oceans and ocean currents, ecology, biology, the history of oceanographic exploration, and the effects on today's oceans of human exploitation and carelessness. The book is, in fact, a readable and quite comprehensive introduction to the subject of marine studies and oceanography. Consider just a few of the topics touched on: food chains and webs, salinity, El Ni o, phytoplankton, plate tectonics, the Coriolis effect, Katrina, and sea lions. It is disappointing to see, however, under a section on climate change, "The big question is, is it happening?" Because the author elsewhere discusses present and potential effects of global warming-coral bleaching, changing sea levels, greenhouse gases-it is doubly surprising to find this phrase in a current high school text. Also the last cited reference used to answer that provocative question is dated 2001, hardly acceptable in a fieldin which research is ongoing and intense. Aside from this caveat, the book has a lot to offer biology and ecology students, a number of whom dream of being marine biologists. In general though, this excellent and detailed overview of the topic will appeal especially to more advanced students. Other books in the series discuss agricultural and urban areas, deserts, grasslands, lakes and rivers, Taiga, temperate forests, tropical forests, and tundra.