There is now an increased awareness of the importance of polar regions in the Earth system, as well as their vulnerability to anthropogenic derived change, including of course global climate change. This new edition offers a concise but comprehensive introduction to polar ecology and has been thoroughly revised and updated throughout, providing expanded coverage of marine ecosystems and the impact of humans. It incorporates a detailed comparison of the Arctic and Antarctic systems, with a particular emphasis on the effects of climate change, and describes marine, freshwater, glacial, and terrestrial habitats. This breadth of coverage is unique in the polar biology literature.
As with other titles in the Biology of Habitats series, particular emphasis is placed on the organisms that dominate these extreme environments although pollution, conservation and experimental aspects are also considered. This accessible text is suitable for both senior undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in polar ecology, often as part of a wider marine biology degree programme. It will also be of value and use to the many professional ecologists and conservation biologists requiring a concise overview of the topic.
An accessible supplementary text suitable for both senior undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in polar ecology, often as part of a wider marine biology degree programme. It will also appeal to the many professional ecologists and conservation biologists requiring a concise overview of the topic. A secondary market will exist amongst physical geographers.
This book is a revision of G.E. (Tony) Fogg’s Biology of Polar Habitats published in 1998. The fact that a major revision is needed in such a short period of time, and that an additional eight authors are needed to update the material, is a reflection of just how fast progress is being made in our exploration of polar regions and in our understanding of how life survives in these extremes.
Professor David N. Thomas is a marine scientist at the University of Wales, Bangor and has been on five expeditions to the Antarctic and two to the Arctic. He has written features for Science, BBC Wildlife Magazine and New Scientist, and is author of Seaweeds (Natural History Museum) and Frozen Oceans (Natural History Museum).
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Authors, Contributors and Editors
D.N. Thomas, University of Wales, Bangor, UK
G.E. Fogg, University of Wales, Bangor, UK. Deceased 2005
P. Convey, British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK
C.H. Fritsen, Desert Research Institute, Nevada, USA
J.-M. Gili, Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Spanish National Research Council, Spain
R. Gradinger, University of Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
J. Laybourn-Parry, University of Tasmania, Australia
K. Reid, Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, Tasmania, Australia, and
D.W.H. Walton, British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK
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Book Details
Published by Oxford University Press (March 2008)
Paperback, 416pp
ISBN: 978-0-19-929813-6
Contents:
- Preface
- Introduction to the polar regions
- Stress, adaptation and survival in polar regions
- Periglacial and terrestrial habitats in polar regions
- Glacial habitats in polar regions
- Inland waters in polar regions
- Open oceans in polar regions
- Frozen oceans in polar regions
- Marine benthos in polar regions
- Birds and mammals in polar regions
- Climate change in polar regions
- Human impact on polar regions
- Some conclusions
- Further reading & web resources
- References
- Index