This book emphasises the important role that protozoa play in many natural ecosystems. To shed new light on their individual adaptive skills, the respective chapters examine the ecology and functional biology of this diverse group of eukaryotic microbes. Protozoa are well-established model organisms that exemplify many general problems in population ecology and community ecology, as well as evolutionary biology. Their particular characteristics, like large population sizes, life cycles and motile sensory behaviour, have a profound impact on their survival, distribution, and interaction with other species. Thus, readers will also be introduced to protozoan habitats in a broad range of environments. Even though this group of unicellular organisms is highly diverse, the authors focus on shared ecological patterns. Students and scientists working in the areas of eukaryotic microbiology and ecology will appreciate this updated and revised 2nd Edition as a valuable reference guide to the “lifestyles” of protozoa.

Recent years have seen a surge of interest in the role of protozoa in the ecology of the world's oceans. In addition to their vital role in global nutrient cycles, marine protozoa also exhibit some of the most interesting symbiotic associations presently known, ranging from parasitism to mutualism, contributing greatly to our knowledge of eukaryote evolution. Additionally, stratigraphic examination of extinct forms provides important keys to past world climate and ocean conditions, while the study of extant forms yields major insights into present-day ocean conditions and circulation patterns. This volume provides a general overview of the ecology of marine protozoa. It features contributions from eleven internationally known oceanographers and marine biologists on such important topics as protozoan growth and nutrition, physiology, feeding activities, symbiosis, taxonomy, and paleobiology. The editor has helpfully organized the text on the basis of ecological function. It is intended for use by research scientists and graduate students in the fields of marine ecology, biological oceanography, and marine biology, as well as by microbiologists, cell biologists, mathematical ecologists, paleontologists, marine geologists, and marine chemists seeking an update on the field or who are considering work in this area.

This guide is designed to provide a simple means of identifying the main groups of protoza found in aquacultre ponds through photographs and drawings. This is supplemented with information on the likely effects of protoza on water quality and the health of the cultured species.

The third edition of this bestselling text has been rigorously updated to reflect major new discoveries and concepts since 2011, especially progress due to extensive application of high-throughput sequencing, single cell genomics and analysis of large datasets. Significant advances in understanding the diversity and evolution of bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, and viruses are discussed and their importance in marine processes is explored in detail. Now in full colour throughout, all chapters have been significantly expanded, with many new diagrams, illustrations and boxes to aid students’ interest and understanding. Novel pedagogy is designed to encourage students to explore current high-profile research topics. Examples include the impacts of rising CO2 levels on microbial community structure and ocean processes, interactions of microbes with plastic pollution, symbiotic interactions, and emerging diseases of marine life. This is the only textbook addressing such a broad range of topics in the specific area of marine microbiology, now a core topic within broader Marine Science degrees. A Companion Website provides additional online resources for instructors and students, including a summary of key concepts and terminology for each chapter, links to further resources, and flashcards to aid self-assessment.

In the summer of 1988, under NATO sponsorship, approximately 80 scientists lived and worked together in Plymouth for two weeks to evaluate the ecological role of protozoa in the sea. Through the convivial surroundings, close working conditions and special facilities that had been brought together for NATO ASI 604/87 a 'melting pot' of ideas was formed, which stimulated the multidisciplinary creativity which is expressed in this book and in a second series of papers which will be published in Marine Microbial Food Webs under the title - "Protozoa and their Role in Marine Microbial Food Webs". Discussions of the role of protozoa in the microbial food web, in the cycling of carbon and nitrogen and the extent to which this web acts as a link or sink to metazoa in the water column were major themes of the ASI. Structured sessions covering oral and poster presentations, field work, model 1 ing, laboratory practicals and demonstrations of techniques such as image analysis and flow cytometry, formed the core of the meeting. Participants took part enthusiastically in the practical sessions developing new concepts and obtaining new insights into their work. The practicals included a 'protozoo' and some beautiful films and videos. Field excursions were made to a range of sites including a unique marine sewage farm at Looe in Cornwall, (Jones this volume). Interactive workshops allowed scientists with no modelling experience to input their results to three simulation models and a flow analysis package.