Plankton : wonders of the drifting world /

The usual line drawings and photos in invertebrate biology and plankton books rarely hint at how bizarre and colorful these tiny creatures can be. The truly spectacular photographs in this beautiful book reveal the diversity of the free-floating organisms so critical to food webs throughout the world's oceans, from microscopic plants and invertebrate larvae to huge jellyfish and salps. Although it seems like (and would serve admirably as) a coffee table book, do not be deceived by its good looks: the introductions to the different groups and the extended captions that accompany the photographs contain a wealth of natural history information. This book would be a valuable addition to any library that deals with marine topics and will hopefully inspire more students to take an interest in these often-overlooked but essential parts of marine ecosystems. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels. --Gregory C. Jensen, University of Washington

Sardet (emeritus research director, Laboratory of Cell Biology at the Marine Station of Villefranche-sur-Mer, Paris; Plankton Chronicles project) educates readers on the diverse world of plankton, largely invisible organisms that make up 95 percent of ocean life. Sardet describes plankton, its relation to humans and its roles and behavior, offering a chronological history of life and the ocean, and taxonomy and phylogeny. He discusses plankton in different parts of the world, then continues to explain particular types, including unicellular creatures, ctenophores and cnidarians, crustaceans and mollusks, worms and tadpoles. A list of books and websites about plankton, zooplankton, and protists is supplied for readers who wish to learn more. Spectacular color images of plankton are abundant in this work; the large images are visually appealing and allow readers to see great detail. VERDICT A fascinating book that will cause readers to think deeply about plankton and its importance to human and animal life. A biology or general science background is not necessary to read this book; the reader needs only a desire to learn more about these intriguing organisms.-Tina Chan, SUNY at Oswego © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.