This is the first part of a comprehensive two-volume treatise that describes and illustrates over 2,000 marine species, ranging from protozoans to fishes, native to the coastal waters of the British Isles and north-western Europe. The most complete account available of its kind, the books cover all benthic habitats, from the intertidal zone to a depth of approximately 30 meters. Each major animal group is covered, with information on the morphology, biology, ecology of representative species, and techniques for their collection and study. Estuarine and supralittoral faunas are also described. Identification is facilitated by dichotomous keys to families and then to genera and species. Short diagnostic accounts are given for each family and higher taxon, and descriptions of all species are followed by notes on their ecological and geographical distribution. Line drawings are also included to help clarify the material presented in the text.

This exhaustive reference provides rapid identification of all but the rarest of the marine animals found on the sea shores and shallow sublittoral zones of North-West Europe. Searching is made possible by the provision of simple dichotomous keys and many drawings and illustrations.

Describes and illustrates more than 2000 species, from selected protozoans to fishes, found in the coastal waters of the British Isles and north-western Europe. The text will benefit research workers in marine biology and ecology, amateur marine biologists and participants in field courses.

The book aims at synthesizing our current knowledge of Acipenser sturio and its management. This species, one of the most widespread sturgeon species all over Western Europe ranging from the Black Sea to the Baltic, is now on the verge of extinction. Major aspects of its biology and management, including mismanagement, are provided in a historic perspective. Similarly, the changes in the restoration programs (in situ and ex situ) initiated in France and Germany are presented. As the species occurred in sympatry with Acipenser oxyrinchus in Germany and Poland and very recently in France as well, a brief outlook on restoration-management programs of A. oxyrinchus are also provided for both North America and Northern European countries, namely Germany and Poland. As conservation-restoration actions go beyond scientific issues, non-governmental stakeholders and marine professional fishermen’s organizations have also been asked to contribute, and the key role of a French-German cooperation plan is underlined. A part of the book is devoted to perspectives. Illustrations of the European sturgeon, mainly in photographs, but also in stamps and paintings, are presented.

Immerse yourself in the beachcombing experience; the wind in your face, the smell of salt spray, the roar of the ocean; it’s an assault on the senses, the perfect tonic. From time immemorial people have been drawn to the beach to collect practical resources as well as mysterious objects that have fuelled myth and folklore – it is our inherent hunter-gatherer instinct. The beach strandline is also a wildlife habitat, home to a unique community of plants and animals, many found nowhere else. They create a rich and ever-changing oasis of life in the otherwise harsh environment of the beach. Whether you are a seasoned beachcomber, a casual visitor or an enthusiastic naturalist, this book is for you. It will satisfy your curiosity about each treasure found cast up on the beach, be it a pretty seashell or an exotic ocean voyager. ​​​​​​​• Descriptions of common and rare beach finds, both natural and man-made • Clear photographs showing objects and species as found on the strandline and in their natural habitat • Suggestions for family activities related to beachcombing • A comprehensive account of the living flora and fauna of the beach strandline • Information on threats and conservation measures for the marine and coastal environment

Essential guide to the specialist literature for the identification of British insects and arachnids.

A new edition of this thorough, comprehensive and respected review source for oceanographers and marine biologists. A must for every station, institute and university involved with marine biology.