Elements of Marine Ecology, Fifth Edition focuses on marine ecology as a coherent science, providing undergraduate students with an essential foundation of knowledge in the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems. The text reflects ecological groupings such as the pelagic lifestyle vs. the benthic lifestyle. In addition, background oceanographic material, previously in various chapters, is consolidated in the first chapter. The broad definition of ecology is the study of organisms in relation to their surroundings. This book presents marine ecology as a coherent science, providing undergraduate students with an essential foundation of knowledge in the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems. This new edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to meet the needs of today’s courses and now includes worldwide examples, all thoroughly updated with brand new chapters. Presents marine ecology as a coherent science, providing undergraduate students with an essential foundation of knowledge on the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems - Includes fully updated, color images to enhance the text - Provides a new chapter on Marine Nekton to increase coverage of habitat and ecology of water column organisms Offers students a firm grounding in the fundamentals of marine ecology, ecological studies and ecosystems Now in its 5th edition, Elements of Marine Ecology is considered by many as the premier text on Marine Ecology. Comprehensive in its coverage, this new edition focuses on presenting marine ecology as a coherent science, providing undergraduate students with an essential foundation of knowledge in the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems. The text now reflects ecological groupings such as pelagic lifestyle versus benthic lifestyle. Also, background oceanographic material, currently found in various chapters, has now been consolidated into the first chapter. The broad definition of ecology is the study of organisms in relation to their surroundings. This book presents marine ecology as a coherent science, providing undergraduate students with an essential foundation of knowledge in the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems. The fifth edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to meet the needs of today’s courses and now includes worldwide examples, thoroughly updated and brand new chapters. Dr. Frances Dipper is an author, lecturer and independent marine consultant and has spent a lifetime happily observing and studying marine organisms the world over. A naturalist at heart, she has always loved the sea and has a passion for writing books about the ocean both for adults and for children. This has culminated recently in her major work ‘The Marine World: A Natural History of Ocean Life’. Her Dorling Kindersley children’s book, ‘Guide to the Oceans’ won the Royal Society Aventis Prize for junior Science Books in 2003. Although interested in anything that swims, slithers, glides, flaps or simply sways under water, she has a particular love of fishes and as well as writing books about them, she runs marine fish identification courses for marine consultancies and for Seasearch, a recording project for volunteer sports divers.