Marine Interstitial Ciliates


Book Description




Biogeography and Ecology of Bulgaria


Book Description

From single-celled organisms in Black Sea sand to endemic cave crustaceans, from mountain glacial relict insects to the most diverse bird fauna in Europe, the fauna of Bulgaria has been a subject of study for more than a century. This is the first English language survey of all vertebrate and many key invertebrate groups of Bulgaria, their faunistics, origin, geographical and ecological distribution, and conservation issues.




Meiofauna Biodiversity and Ecology


Book Description

Sedimentary habitats cover the vast majority of the ocean floor and constitute the largest ecosystem on Earth. These systems supply fundamental services to human beings, such as food production and nutrient recycling. It is well known that meiofauna are an abundant and ubiquitous component of sediments, even though their biodiversity and importance in marine ecosystem functioning remain to be fully investigated. In this book, the meiofaunal biodiversity trends in marine habitats worldwide are documented, along with the collection of empirical evidence on their role in ecosystem services, such as the production, consumption, and decomposition of organic matter, and energy transfer to higher and lower trophic levels. Meiofaunal activities, like feeding and bioturbation, induce changes in several physico-chemical and biological properties of sediments, and might increase the resilience of the benthic ecosystem processes that are essential for the supply of ecosystem goods and services required by humans. As a key component of marine habitats, the taxonomical and functional aspects of the meiofaunal community are also used for the ecological assessment of the sediments’ quality status, providing important information on the anthropogenic impact of benthos.




Meiobenthology


Book Description

This is a comprehensive treatise on meiobenthology, the science of small animals which live, often disregarded even by zoologists, in huge numbers in all aquatic sediments. Covering all the scientific literature on the subject, particular emphasis is placed on ecological and systematic aspects. After a survey of the biotope conditions and important methods, the animals are introduced in a systematic account. This is followed by a report on the meiobenthos in relevant biotopes. The book concludes with an analysis of the productive role and the position of meiofauna in the food web and perspectives for future research.




The Encyclopedia of Marine Resources


Book Description

Signed articles by specialists on the most significant aspects of the ocean's resources and closely related topics. Oceanography and marine engineering are given only brief treatment. Many entries include bibliographicl references. Cross references; index.




Pleistoannelida, Sedentaria III and Errantia I


Book Description

This book is the third volume in a series of 4 volumes in the Handbook of Zoology series treating morphology, anatomy, reproduction, development, ecology, phylogeny, systematics and taxonomy of polychaetous Annelida. It is devoted to the remaining Sedentaria and the first branches of Errantia. These sedentary polychaetes are Terebellida and Arenicolida, all of which are tube-dwelling and deposit feeders. The tubes may be simple burrows stabilized by mucus or the tubes are highly sophisticated often really aesthetic structures build-up of sediment grains glued together by their secretion. Although the former possess anterior appendages used for collecting food particles, these are likely not modified palps rather than a new acquisition. Many of these species are adapted to occur within environments characterized by low oxygen supply and so many members of these taxa possess elaborated branchiae, usually positioned on a number of anterior body segments except for Maldanidae which look like bamboo sticks and thus earned their common name bamboo worms. Members of Arenicolida and Maldanida may occur in high abundance and as such they create biogenically graded sediment beds. The Errantia part starts with Myzostomida, a group of symbiotic animals associated with echinoderms which have been variously placed within the tree of life. As such they show numerous adaptations to this specific mode of life. The next group discussed within Errantia is Protodrilida, a taxon comprising four families of the former archiannelids which belong to the interstitial fauna. Most likely they evolved by miniaturization from larger ancestors. In contrast to typical errants they do not possess well-developed parapodia and antennae. This taxon is followed by Eunicida characterized by possession of a specific jaw apparatus situated ventrally in the foregut and associated with specific musculature. Also being a species rich group showing various feeding modes some of the smallest and the largest members belong to this taxon.




Functional Biology of Clonal Animals


Book Description

Clonal animals, that is those that are genetically identical, are of great importance in biology. The supposed evolutionary advantages of sexual versus asexual reproduction are one of the central paradoxes of current evolutionary theory. The evolved strategy of asexual reproduction includes a large number of diverse species in many different groups, for example aphids, guppies, planktonic rotifers and others.




Zoological Catalogue of Australia


Book Description

The published works are derived from the Zoological catalogue of Australia database. Taxa in the Australian fauna are divided among volumes to form sets of about 1800-2000 species available names, such that each volume comprises the whole or part of one or more major groups.




The Invertebrate Tree of Life


Book Description

The most up-to-date book on invertebrates, providing a new framework for understanding their place in the tree of life In The Invertebrate Tree of Life, Gonzalo Giribet and Gregory Edgecombe, leading authorities on invertebrate biology and paleontology, utilize phylogenetics to trace the evolution of animals from their origins in the Proterozoic to today. Phylogenetic relationships between and within the major animal groups are based on the latest molecular analyses, which are increasingly genomic in scale and draw on the soundest methods of tree reconstruction. Giribet and Edgecombe evaluate the evolution of animal organ systems, exploring how current debates about phylogenetic relationships affect the ways in which aspects of invertebrate nervous systems, reproductive biology, and other key features are inferred to have developed. The authors review the systematics, natural history, anatomy, development, and fossil records of all major animal groups, employing seminal historical works and cutting-edge research in evolutionary developmental biology, genomics, and advanced imaging techniques. Overall, they provide a synthetic treatment of all animal phyla and discuss their relationships via an integrative approach to invertebrate systematics, anatomy, paleontology, and genomics. With numerous detailed illustrations and phylogenetic trees, The Invertebrate Tree of Life is a must-have reference for biologists and anyone interested in invertebrates, and will be an ideal text for courses in invertebrate biology. A must-have and up-to-date book on invertebrate biology Ideal as both a textbook and reference Suitable for courses in invertebrate biology Richly illustrated with black-and-white and color images and abundant tree diagrams Written by authorities on invertebrate evolution and phylogeny Factors in the latest understanding of animal genomics and original fossil material




Contaminated Sediments


Book Description

With contributions by numerous experts




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