The Living Ocean: Understanding and Protecting Marine Biodiversity

by Boyce Thorne-Miller

Book Overview

The importance of biodiversity to planetary health and even human survival is now undisputed, yet little information exists about the importance of marine biodiversity. The world's oceans are... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1559636785
• ISBN13: 9781559636780
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Island Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Great book, but may need some marine science knowledge

This book clearly summarizes all the threats our oceans face today from human activities. I have a BS in Marine Science and I found that this book shows the reader how complex and inter-related the oceanic systems are and how many of our activities can, AND DO, adversely affect those ecosystems. I feel this book would be a great way for anyone interested in protecting the ocean to become familiar with the spectrum of destructive activities affecting the one element that allows for life to live on this planet. Chapter by chapter there is a different ecosystem and how it is in danger of losing its marine biodiversity. In addition, the author does a great job defining many of the science terms. However, not all casual readers may find this book an easy read because they may not have the understanding of the various oceanic ecosystems.

Not an easy read or pretty picture book

There are many pretty books which do a good job cataloging threats to our ocean environment. If you want a brief, graphic outline effective at stirring your emotion and imagination stay away from this book. If you want in depth and have the time... check this out.Boyce Thorne-0Miller took a interesting approach to a difficult assignment. She sets out to catalogue man's negative impacts of the sea and threats to oceanic biodiversity. She begins by outlining the definitions and necessity of biodiversity. Then chapter by chapter, topic by topic gives us the potential for various human-ocean interaction to damage it. She backs up her conclusions well with explanation and statistics and goes to great length to explain her deductive reasoning. This book would only be a bore to a person who doesn't have a serious interest in the subject and a little bit of a biology background. I would use this as a text for an undergraduate course on marine conservation biology. I would also suggest it for people with more than a cursory interest in marine conservation. It is wordy and thought provoking, but it presents information, it does not tell you what to think.