Fishes of the Eastern Mediterranean is the newest and most comprehensive guide to all known fish species of this important region. The Eastern Mediterranean is a dynamic marine environment due to the many migrant species invading the Mediterranean from the Red Sea. This book includes over 470 species, migrant and indigenous, of all habitats from tidal pools to deepwater. Both amateur fish enthusiasts and scientists will find essential information on habitats and life history.

This book contains the papers presented at a NATO Advanced Research Institute on "Mediterranean Marine Ecosystems", held at Heraklion-Crete, Greece, from September 23-27, 1983. A workshop rather than a conference, it was sponsored by the Eco-Sciences Special Programme Panel, in cooperation with the Marine Science Panel. The third of its kind, it was scheduled in the framework of a project on a multidisciplinary integrated approach to the study of the Mediterranean. This Sea and the surrounding land was not only the cradle of many civilizations but is, up to the present time, one of the major world areas of marine traffic, communication and exchanges, fisheries and aquacultures, inshore human activities and ••• pollu tion. To a certain degree it constitutes a gigantic natural labo ratory, where the fate of threatened aquatic and terrestrial eco systems including the human one, is tested. The Mediterranean Sea, with its geological history and present day geographic, hydrological and climatic conditions is believed to form an ecological entity. Important exchanges and mutual influences take place with the surrounding land area and the water masses, naturally (Atlantic, Black Sea) or artificially (Red Sea), connected to the Mediterranean. Therefore, a better and in-depth knowledge of the various ecosystems, benthic, planktonic and nektonic, neritic or pelagic, in the Western or the Eastern Basin seems to be a pre requisite to any action in preserving, upgrading and managing the natural resources of the area.

Deel 1 van een serie van 3 bevat een determinatietabel en een beschrijving van soorten uit 64 families. De 3 delen zullen totaal 1256 soorten van 218 families omvatten

Richly illustrated, backed-up by an abundance of maps and bibliographic references, this entirely revised Atlas presents the current geography, biology, mode of introduction, distinct taxonomic characteristics of 188 exotic fishes that have reached the Mediterranean since the piercing of the Suez Canal. A majority of these species (107) are new to the 2nd edition, having reached the Basin in the last twenty years, from both the Indo-Pacific region and the tropical Atlantic. The reader will find as well a description of 88 additional taxa that are often (mistakenly) listed as exotic in the scientific literature.

Recent decades have seen significant changes in the biota of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea due to the introduction of non-indigenous species. Reliable scientific data on the dynamics of their distribution and abundance are essential to understand their ecological and economic effects. This review – in addition to providing images and descriptions of relevant species to aid in identification – presents a unique historical and regional perspective on these species’ impacts, based on many years’ worth of research. The Black Sea’s primary invaders come from the Mediterranean. Species like the comb jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi have caused major declines in biodiversity in the region by crippling key segments of the food chain. Similar results have been noted in the Marmara Sea, a crucial water exchange point located between the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea. Infiltration into the Mediterranean comes from both the east and west – with Lessepsian species passing through the Suez Canal and fish and invertebrate species originating from the Atlantic expanding their ranges. As of the publication of this review, over 900 non-indigenous species have been reported in the Mediterranean and almost 300 in the Black Sea, with these numbers expected to rise in the future. Numerous Lessepsian fishes are commercially relevant and have been absorbed into local markets, particularly in the eastern Mediterranean region. While these species are targeted through various fishing techniques, many others are simply discarded due to a lack of value and there are even some, such as lionfishes, pufferfishes and several species of jellyfishes, that present immediate dangers to human health. Stewardship of native species, regional cooperation on the enforcement of legal measures, increased public awareness and the creation of marine protected areas are thus essential to minimize and reduce the impacts of non-indigenous species both in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

The Eastern Mediterranean region supports just over 4.4% of the global human population yet contains only 1.1% of its renewable water resources, which are under constant threat from the impacts of unsustainable water withdrawal, dam development and climate change. This IUCN report and accompanying dataset represents a major advance in the provision of information to help incorporate biodiversity needs into water development planning processes within an Integrated River Basin Management framework. This volume includes species information compiled for each river and lake sub-basin and incorporates information from the assessment conducted by IUCN's Global Species Programme, in collaboration with its partners, of the status and distribution of all described species of freshwater fishes, molluscs, odonates, and plants from across the Eastern Mediterranean with existing information for species of freshwater dependent amphibians, birds, crustaceans, and mammals. This work represents the most comprehensive assessment yet of freshwater biodiversity at the species level for this part of the world.

THE DIVERSITY OF FISHES The third edition of The Diversity of Fishes is a major revision of the widely adopted ichthyology textbook, incorporating the latest advances in the biology of fishes and covering taxonomy, anatomy, physiology, biogeography, ecology, and behavior. Key information on the evolution of various fishes is also presented, providing expansive and conclusive coverage on all key topics pertaining to the field. To aid in reader comprehension, each chapter begins with a summary that provides a broad overview of the content of that chapter, which may be particularly useful for those using the text for a course who don’t intend to address every chapter in detail. Detailed color photographs throughout the book demonstrate just some of the diversity and beauty of fishes that attract many to the field. A companion website provides related videos selected by the authors, instructor resources, and additional references and websites for further reading. Sample topics covered and learning resources included in The Diversity of Fishes are as follows: How molecular genetics has transformed many aspects of ichthyology The close relationship between structure and function, including adaptations to special environments Many physical and behavioral adaptations reflecting the fact that many fishes are both predators and prey Fish interactions with other species within fish assemblages and broader communities, plus their impacts on ecosystems Global maps that more accurately represent the comparative sizes of oceans and land masses than maps used in prior editions For students, instructors, and individuals with an interest in ichthyology, The Diversity of Fishes is an all-in-one introductory resource to the field, presenting vast opportunities for learning, many additional resources to aid in information retention, and helpful recommendations on where to go to explore specific topics further.