Citizens of the Sea: Wondrous Creatures From the Census of Marine Life - Hardcover

Knowlton, Nancy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1426206437 ISBN 13: 9781426206436

Publisher: National Geographic, 2010

Synopsis

National Geographic underwater photographers and the Census of Marine Life capture the astonishing diversity and the most intriguing organisms in the ocean in this riveting book, by marine scientist Nancy Knowlton. 

As you read lively vignettes about sea creatures’ names, defenses, migration, mating habits, and more, you’ll be amazed at wonders like . . .

· The almost inconceivable number of creatures in the marine world. From the bounty of microbes in one drop of seawater, we can calculate that there are more individuals in the oceans than stars in the universe.
· The sophisticated sensory abilities that help these animals survive. For many, the standard five senses are just not enough.
· The incredible distances that seabirds and other species cover. Some will feed in both Arctic and Antarctic waters within a single year.
· The odd relationships common in the marine world. From a dental hygienist for fish to a walrus’s one-night stand, you’ll find beauty, practicality, and plenty of eccentricity in sea-life socialization.

Brilliantly photographed and written in an easygoing style, Citizens of the Sea will inform and enchant you with close-up documentation of the fascinating facts of life in the ocean realm.

About this title

Review:

From Citizens of the Sea
Click on the images or captions below to open larger versions.

Coral reefs are full of hungry creatures, but the coloration of this poisonous sea slug (Phyllidia ocellata) warns predators that it is off the menu. (Darlyne A. Murawski/NationalGeographicStock.com, p. 37)	This baby slipper lobster is completely transparent before growing a thick shell. Its bizarre eyes may confuse predators while it floats in the plankton. (Peter Parks/SeaPics.com, p. 39)	Fast-growing giant kelps (Macrocystis pyrifera) form cold-water forests that many fish, invertebrates, and mammals call home. (Phillip Colla/SeaPics.com, p. 79)	"Smiling" for the camera, this colorful ember parrotfish (Scarus rubroviolaceus) shows off its impressive chops, which can easily pulverize coral. (Paul Sutherland/NationalGeographicStock.com, p. 148)

About the Author:

Nancy Knowlton is the Sant Chair for Marine Science at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and a scientific leader of the Census of Marine Life. She founded the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography of the University of California, San Diego. Knowlton has devoted her life to studying, celebrating, and striving to protect the multitude of life-forms that call the sea home. She lives with her family in Washington, D.C.

About this edition

• Publisher: National Geographic
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1426206437
• ISBN 13: 9781426206436
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 216