Light and Life in the Sea

The theme of this 1990 book is central to our understanding of the interaction between living organisms and their environments.

Peter J. Herring (Edited by), Anthony K. Campbell (Edited by), Michael Whitfield (Edited by), Linda Maddock (Edited by)

9780521105484, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 March 2009

368 pages
24.4 x 17 x 1.9 cm, 0.59 kg

Without light there would be no life in the sea. Since the seas were the cradle for the evolution of all life forms, the theme of this book is central to our understanding of the interaction between living organisms and their environments. To express the breadth of research in this area, leading experts in topics as diverse as satellite imagery and molecular biology have contributed to this collection of essays on light and life in the sea, first published in 1990. Intended for all with an interest in the marine environment, this book aims to present the reader with a sampler of the exciting research that is underway and to provide an introduction to its broad compass.

Part I. Introduction M. Whitfield
Part II. Physics of Light in the Sea: 1. The light field in the ocean: its modification and exploitation by the pelagic biota S. Sathyendranath and T. Platt
2. Remote sensing - information from the colour of the seas I. S. Robinson
3. Optical oceanography: an assessment of a towed method J. Aiken and I. E. Bellan
Part III. Photosynthesis and Development: 4. The photic zone P. Tett
5. Light harvesting and pigment composition in marine phytoplankton and macroalgae M. J. Dring
6. The response of picophytoplankton to light I. R. Joint
7. Light and development: cellular and molecular aspects of photomorphogenesis and brown algae C. Brownlee
Part IV. Vision: 8. Light and vision at depths greater than 200 metres E. J. Denton
9. Optics of the eyes of marine animals M. F. Land
10. The colour sensitivity and vision of fishes J. C. Partridge
11. Messengers of transduction and adaptation in vertebrate photoreceptors H. R. Matthews
12. Photoreception in squid H. R. Saibil
Part V. Behaviour: 13. Herring behaviour in the light and dark J. H. S. Blaxter and R. S. Batty
14. Crepuscular behaviour of marine fishes G. W. Potts
15. Light and the capture of marine animals P. L. Pascoe
Part VI. Bioluminescence: 16. Bioluminescent communication in the sea P. J. Herring
17. The chemistry of bioluminescence: origins and mechanism F. McCapra
18. Living light: from the ocean to the hospital bed A. K. Campbell
Part VII. Summary and Perspectives
Part VIII. Bibliography
Part IX. Index.

Subject Areas: Environmental science, engineering & technology [TQ]