• Rich pedagogy ensures that key concepts and principles are crystal clear and fully supported by illuminating examples, making the text easy to understand and learn from
• Coverage of a diverse range of marine systems makes it a valuable text for a broad range of marine-based courses
• Careful structuring into well-defined, logical sections facilitates ease and flexibility of use
• A modern perspective places emphasis on those factors impacting upon the marine environment which are of particular global importance and concern so that students become familiar with those issues which most concern marine ecologists today
• Online Resource Centre features images from the book available to download to make lecture preparation easier, and a web link library of all web sites cited in the text for ease of access by students

Readership: Advanced undergraduates studying a core or optional course on marine biology or marine ecology.

Michel Kaiser, School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, UK, Martin Attrill, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, UK, Simon Jennings, Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, Lowestoft Laboratory, UK, David N Thomas, School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, UK, David Barnes, British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK, Andrew Brierley, Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St. Andrews, UK, Nicholas Polunin, Marine Science and Technology, University of Newcastle, UK, David Raffaelli, The Environment Department, University of York, UK, and Peter Le B Williams, School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, UK.

"This book is an original and well-integrated approach to the discipline, providing a fresh perspective to what is already a very popular scientific area. It breaks the traditional formats of previous textbooks and has put some careful thought into how to approach the subject from a more modern and realistic viewpoint. ... an excellent introductory text which students will find easy to assimilate and will stimulate their interest in marine ecology." - Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

"Marine Ecology: Processes, Systems, and Impacts will be of interest to all whose research involves any aspect of aquatic photosynthesis and will be invaluable for advanced undergraduates and postgraduates entering this area." - Photosynthetica, 2006

"The text is sprinkled with discussions of bygone hypotheses or methods. Each discussion further impresses upon the reader science's fluid nature. Good! Texts of all levels should reinforce the idea that knowledge is dynamic. As science and scientists move away from the ivory tower and become more engaged in policy making, it is gratifying to see ecology texts such as this one with a heavy emphasis on environmental impacts; as it should be, fully 20% of the book is devoted to human imprints in the marine environment." - Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin, Volume 15 (3), September 2006, p53-54

"This book is an excellent addition to the range of available marine ecology text books and has many advantages over its competitors, not least the fact that it is international in its covergae and not USA centered! I will certainly be using it as the main text book for basic marine biology courses from now on." - Chris L.J. Frid, University of Liverpool, in Environmental Conservation, Vol 33 (2), 2006

"I would thoroughly recommend the text to fellow marine scientists and educators as it provided me with some much needed revision of subjects I had picked up incorrectly in the past. A major strength of this work, and one that sets it apart from the approach adopted by older marine ecology textbooks, is the emphasis on human-induced impacts to the marine realm. This book will be of use to current practitioners and inform a new generation of marine scientists about major ways in which we are influencing the ecology of our seas." - Fish and Fisheries, Volume 7 Page 228 - September 2006

Marine Ecology: An Introduction
1: Patterns in the Marine Environment
Processes
2: Primary Production Processes
3: Microbial Production and the Decomposition of Organic Material
Systems
4: Estuarine Ecology
5: Rocky and Sandy Shores
6: Pelagic Ecosystems
7: Continental Shelf Seabed
8: The Deep Sea
9: Mangrove Forests and Seagrass Meadows
10: Coral Reefs
11: Polar Regions
Impacts
12: Fisheries
13: Aquaculture
14: Disturbance, Pollution, and Climate Change
15: Conservation
References
Appendix