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Dive deep to explore the ocean
From how most of our oxygen is created by phytoplankton, to how currents control our climate, to the marine food chain and the importance of coral, this is the holy grail of ocean books that's easy for everyone to digest.
It features fun facts about some of the most incredible, bizarre, and fascinating creatures in the ocean, from mantis shrimp that can strike things with the speed of a .22 caliber bullet to fish with clear heads that can see out of the top of their skulls. The ocean is full of wonders and there is still so much left to explore and understand.
How our oceans work
What creatures live in the ocean
Find out how the ocean regulates our climate and weather patterns
How growing pollution threatens our ocean and its inhabitants
Oceans For Dummies is perfect for anyone with an interest in the ocean, including kids, adults, students, ocean lovers, surfers, fishermen, conservationists, sailors, and everyone in between.
Auteur
Ashlan and Philippe Cousteau are world-renowned environmental advocates, filmmakers, and authors with a passion for adventure. Philippe is the founder of EarthEcho International, a leading global voice for ocean conservation. Ashlan is a journalist and storyteller who has explored all seven continents.
Texte du rabat
Take an adventure into our planet's most exciting frontier...the ocean Where can you find the tallest mountain, the deepest trench, the largest mammal, and the most venomous animal on the planet? In the ocean! As land-dwellers, we're in the minority here on Earth, and we have a lot to learn about the fantastic water-world that surrounds us. Explore the ocean from surface to seafloor, meet some of its most fascinating creatures, and discover the vital role it plays in our very existence. From geology and ecology to ocean conservation and the ever-astounding varieties of sea life, strap on your scuba gear and dive right in! Inside. . . A tour of oceanic ecosystems Aquatic plants and animals How the ocean regulates our climate Tides, currents, and trade winds Deep-sea exploration Resources of the Blue Economy Strategies for ocean conservation and restoration
Résumé
Dive deep to explore the ocean
From how most of our oxygen is created by phytoplankton, to how currents control our climate, to the marine food chain and the importance of coral, this is the holy grail of ocean books that's easy for everyone to digest.
It features fun facts about some of the most incredible, bizarre, and fascinating creatures in the ocean, from mantis shrimp that can strike things with the speed of a .22 caliber bullet to fish with clear heads that can see out of the top of their skulls. The ocean is full of wonders and there is still so much left to explore and understand.
Contenu
Introduction 1
About This Book 2
Foolish Assumptions 3
Icons Used in This Book 3
Beyond the Book 4
Where to Go from Here 4
Part 1: Getting Started with Your Ocean Voyage 5
Chapter 1: Brushing Up on Ocean Fundamentals 7
Taking a Nickel Tour of the Ocean(s) 8
Dividing the ocean into oceans or not 8
Recognizing the ocean zones 9
Dropping in on the different ecosystems 10
Going with the Flow: The Physical Properties of the Ocean 10
Getting up to speed on the water cycle 11
Checking out what's at the bottom of the ocean (and below) 13
Riding waves, tides, and currents 13
Recognizing the ocean's role in climate control and weather 14
Meeting the Ocean's Inhabitants 14
Recognizing strength in numbers: Marine microorganisms 15
Going green with marine plants and plant-like organisms 15
Grouping the ocean's animals 16
Exploring the Complex and Evolving Human-Ocean Relationship 17
Chapter 2: Appreciating the Ocean's Many Gifts 19
Supplying Over Half of the World's Oxygen 20
Playing a Key Role in Regulating Climate and Weather 20
Producing Protein for Billions of People 22
Contributing Trillions to the Global Economy 23
Serving as a Source of Mystery and Wonder 24
Stimulating our imaginations 25
Increasing our knowledge of the world around us 26
Getting in touch with our emotional connection to the sea 27
Chapter 3: Looking Back at the Ocean's History (and Prehistory) 29
Discovering How the Ocean Got Its Start 30
The wet planet theory 30
The water delivery truck theory 31
Tracing the Evolution of Ocean Life 31
Getting the evolutionary ball rolling 32
Going cellular 32
And now for a word about metabolism 33
All together now: Multicellular organisms 34
Taking evolution to the next level in the Paleozoic era 35
Gaining momentum in the Mesozoic era 41
Increasing sophistication in the Cenozoic era 44
Taking the Earth's Present Evolutionary Pulse 48
Looking Ahead: What's in Store for the Ocean's Future? 51
Part 2: Finding Your Way Around 55
Chapter 4: Mapping the Ocean by Zones 57
Dividing the Ocean into Three Horizontal Zones 58
Where land meets sea: The intertidal zone 58
Wading through the neritic zone 60
Heading out to sea: The oceanic zone 61
Exploring the Five Vertical Zones of the Water Column 62
Skimming the surface: The epipelagic zone 62
Dimming the lights in the mesopelagic zone 63
Taking a deeper, darker dive into the bathypelagic zone 65
Delving into the abyss: The abyssopelagic zone 67
How low can you go? The hadalpelagic zone 69
Acknowledging the Existence of Other Zones 71
From light to dark: The photic and aphotic zones 71
From top to bottom: The pelagic and benthic zone 72
Chapter 5: Checking Out the Neighborhoods: The Ocean's Ecosystems 73
Hugging the Shore 74
Digging life in the sand 74
Living life on the rocks 75
Mixing it up in the estuaries 77
Muddling through the mudflats 78
Settling down in salt marshes 80
Meandering through the mangroves 81
Swimming through Kelp Forests 83
Swirling in Sargasso: A Sea without Borders 85
Grazing in the Seagrass Meadows 87
Building Their Own Communities: Reefs 88
Coral reefs 88
Oyster reefs 92
Chilling Out at the Poles 92
Living Under Extreme Conditions: Deep Ocean Ecosystems 95
Hydrothermal vents 95
Deep-sea coral reefs 95 Cold seeps 97</p...