This is the first book to provide a detailed treatment of the field of larval ecology. The 13 chapters use state-of-the-art reviews and critiques of nearly all of the major topics in this diverse and rapidly growing field. Topics include: patterns of larval diversity, reproductive energetics, spawning ecology, life history theory, larval feeding and nutrition, larval mortality, behavior and locomotion, larval transport, dispersal, population genetics, recruitment dynamics and larval evolution. Written by the leading new scientists in the field, chapters define the current state of larval ecology and outline the important questions for future research.

Atlas of Marine Invertebrate Larvae, Second Edition covers the origins and history of marine larval science, contemporary state-of-the-art approaches to larval development and biology, and the highest-quality images and schematics showing the broadest diversity of marine larvae in the animal tree of life. This book illustrates larval body plans, the anatomy of their organ systems (muscular, sensory, digestive), including distinct ciliation patterns that facilitate swimming, and the complex metamorphic changes they undergo between different larval and growth stages. Each chapter contains in-text references that direct readers to both historical and contemporary research on the forms, functions, behaviors and biogeographical distributions of marine larvae.This book is a valuable and foundational resource for biologists across various disciplines, including biodiversity, biogeography, and developmental biology. Ecologists, taxonomists, oceanographers, and environmental scientists also benefit from the complete coverage of marine larval forms offered by this book. Additionally, the broad scope and phyletic coverage of marine biodiversity presented in this atlas is ideal for students in oceanography and marine biology, animal development, biological oceanography and invertebrate zoology. - Covers every major marine invertebrate clade within the Metazoa - Includes an expanded introductory chapter on the biology, ecology and roles of larvae in marine food webs and the movements of marine invertebrate species within the world's oceans - Provides complete updates to each chapter, including condensed, comparative background information on taxon-specific development and life-history patterns - Features detailed anatomical schematics and drawings, accompanied by compound, confocal and scanning electron micrographs for multiple recognized clades within each phylum

"More than seventy percent of the earth's surface is covered by the ocean which is home to a staggering and sometimes overwhelming diversity of organisms, the majority of which reside in pelagic form. Marine invertebrate larvae are an integral component of this pelagic diversity and have stimulated the curiosity of researchers for centuries. This accessible, upper-level text provides an important and timely update on the topic of larval evolution and ecology, representing the first major synthesis of this interdisciplinary field for more than 20 years. The content is structured around four major areas: evolutionary origins and transitions in developmental mode; functional morphology and ecology of larval forms; larval transport, settlement, and metamorphosis; larval ecology in extreme and changing environments. This novel synthesis integrates traditional larval ecology with life history theory, evolutionary developmental biology, and modern genomics research to provide a research and teaching tool for decades to come." -- from the rear cover.

The second volume in the Fauna Malesiana book series gives an extensive overview of the larval development of 124 families of fishes, many of them of importance for both fishery and from ecological perspectives. The families that are described originate from the center of global marine biodiversity: the tropical Indo-Pacific Oceans, a region rich in coral reefs, as well as mangrove, estuarine, and coastal shelf habitats. The identification guide not only documents the ontogeny of these fishes but also provides the means to identify these extraordinarily diverse larvae to the level of family. The book offers a wealth of instructive and detailed figures and illustrations (219 plates, each consisting of approximately 4 figures) for enabling the identification of these families and their larval specialization.

Marine environment is a habitant for several species and significantly plays an essential role in the food cycle and climate regulation. Several species including fish and invertebrates that are used as food for humans. Marine larvae species also contain metabolites and are useful for protection and cure of several diseases. This book provides information on aquaculture production, larval feeding, early stage of marine invertebrate’s bioassay and zebrafish model for drug toxicity. This book will interest scientists in the field of marine biotechnology, life sciences, materials scientists, aquaculture companies, and natural product researchers.

The study of larval invertebrates is a vital and growing field in contemporary marine science. The key ecological role of larvae in determining adult population sizes has been recognized for decades and has inspired extensive research. This volume, the first of its kind, is an identification guide to the planktonic larvae of shallow subtidal and intertidal invertebrates common to the Pacific Northwest coast.Each chapter provides a brief background to the larval biology of an invertebrate group; keys, drawings, and descriptions for the identification of larvae; a list of the species present in the Pacific Northwest; and a reference section. The geographic range covered is roughly from southeast Alaska to northern California; however many of the species are found along the entire coast of California, as far south as Baja California.An essential reference for anyone attempting to identify larval invertebrates from zooplankton samples, this working manual is intended for students as well as scientists and researchers. It offers an important new resource for marine biologists, biological oceanographers, marine and intertidal ecologists, and especially larval biologists.

The marine coastal plankton community supports a diverse selection of fascinating organisms. Many of these planktonic fauna are unique and beautiful. This text is designed to assist students, naturalists and researchers in collecting and identifying living plankton. A valuable tool in the classroom and laboratory, this guide conveys to biology teachers all the information necessary to introduce their students to the world of marine plankton. Also included are brief overviews of the ecology and maintenance of plankton, as well as valuable references for more information. A Guide to Marine Coastal Plankton and Marine Invertebrate Larvae provides the curious beginner and the experienced investigator with assistance on their journey into the realm of marine coastal plankton.