Book Description

The first of two books in the series Marine Life by Andrew Caine, the second being the long awaited 'Marine Ecology for the Non-Ecologist' now available on Amazon.For years the only textbooks available for anyone who has an interest in marine biology have laid in the realms of the academic texts or identification guides for the diver, aquarium keeper, or for those exploring the seashore. Fantastic books indeed, however, there are none that bring the real biology of marine life to the general public.For the first time, this fascinating topic has been described in a way that anyone who loves the life residing in the marine environment, can not only understand but really enjoy, in an easy to read, informative text. The book describes the major groups of animals present in the sea, the soft-bodied animals the cnidarians (jellyfish anemones, corals etc.), the crustaceans, (shrimps, crabs, lobsters, etc.) the molluscs, (the shellfish and squid etc.), the echinoderms (starfish, urchin etc). Detailing their life histories, reproductive strategies, adaptations, predator avoidance and how they grab a meal, plus much more. which collectively makes them successful as a species today. Then we examine coral reef architecture, hydrothermal vent biology, life in the polar sea and marine invertebrate toxins (what's going to kill you in the sea). The book is crammed with amazing facts that make this subject such a wonderful topic to understand.Such has been the success of this publication Andrew Caine has released the second book in the series - Marine Life - Marine Ecology for the Non-Ecologist- detailing as ever, in an easy to understand manner, the different habitats found mainly around the coastline of the earth and how as species the animals described in this volume exploit each individual habitat to form the ecosystems we see today. In this book, we explore and discover what exactly ecology is, the physical aspects and biological processes of ecology. We look at the rocky coast, the sandy shore, the estuaries, the mangroves, the coral reefs, and more.Andrew Caine has managed to produce a highly readable masterpiece which takes the reader on a magical and sometimes scary journey into the world of the planet's marine life, looking at the complex ecosystems with algae, plankton, shellfish, coral reefs and even whales. Andrew describes in fascinating detail and in a humorous and light-hearted manner the secret lives of our many different sea creatures--or beasties as he likes to call them. The book is crammed full of interesting facts and is written in a straightforward way making it easy for the layman to read and understand.He delves into the lives of jellyfish, limpets, mussels and many other species, uncovering their often bizarre behaviour and sometimes scary predatory techniques and feeding habits which most ordinary people could barely imagine existed. Who would guess a whelk slowly drills into the shell of its unfortunate victims, or that some creatures harpoon their victims with poison-bearing teeth?Andrew also dispels many myths and misunderstandings. For example, that the Portuguese Man o'War is not even a jellyfish at all, but instead a colony of connected creatures! These are just some of the many fascinating facts which Andrew uncovers in his book.Throughout the book, the reader is kept entertained by Andrew's unique writing style and amusing turn of phrase. On a more serious note, Andrew also discusses the importance of coral reefs and their vital role in supporting human livelihoods. Andrew also reveals his true passion for marine biology and his deep concern that many of our species could be under threat due to overfishing of the humble krill.Andrew's work may well motivate people to take a more active interest in the study and preservation of our rich and diverse marine life.