Seaweed Biology, 2012 Novel Insights into Ecophysiology, Ecology and Utilization Ecological Studies Series, Vol. 219

Seaweeds, also known as macroalgae, are among the most important primary producers and act as ecological engineers on rocky coasts of the world?s oceans. In addition to their extreme ecological importance they are also of high economic relevance. Complementing available textbooks with its more research-oriented approach, this volume contains 22 chapters by renowned experts, grouped in five parts. In Part I fundamental processes and acclimation strategies of seaweeds towards the abiotic environment are covered. Part II focuses on the multitude of biotic interactions in seaweed communities, and in Part III the reader is introduced to the structure and function of the main seaweed systems of the world. The chapters of Part IV highlight and discuss the effects of global and local environmental changes on seaweeds and their communities. In the final Part V a comprehensive overview of developments in seaweed aquaculture, industrial applications and the overall economic importance of seaweeds is provided. Summarizing the advances in seaweed biology achieved within the last few decades, this book also identifies gaps in the present knowledge and needs for future research.

Part I: Fundamental processes and acclimation to abiotic environmental variables

1 Hanelt D. and F.-L.-Figueroa: Physiological and photomorphogenic effects of light on marine macrophytes

2 Gómez I. and P. Huovinen: Morpho-functionality of carbon metabolism in seaweeds

3 Eggert, A.: Seaweed responses to temperature

4 Gordillo, F.: Environment and algal nutrition

5 Karsten, U.: Seaweed acclimation to salinity and desiccation stress

6 Bischof, K. and R. Rautenberger: Seaweed responses to environmental stress: reactive oxygen and antioxidative strategies

 Part II: Biotic interactions

7 Edwards, M.S. and S. D. Connell: Competition, a major factor structuring seaweed communities

8 Iken, K.: Grazers on benthic seaweeds

9 Amsler, C.: Chemical ecology of seaweeds         

10 Friedrich, M: Prokaryotic microbial communities on macroalgae

11 Potin, P.: Intimate associations between epiphytes, endophytes and parasites of seaweeds

12 Andreakis, N. and B. Schaffelke: Invasive marine seaweeds: Pest or prize?

 Part III: Structure and function of the world’s main seaweed systems

14 Huovinen, P. and I. Gómez: Cold temperate seaweed communities of the southern Hemisphere

15 Flores-Moya, A.: Warm temperate seaweed communities: A case study of deep water kelp forests from the Alboran Sea (SW Mediterranean Sea) and the Strait of Gibraltar

16 Mejia, A.Y, G.N. Puncher and A.H. Engelen: Macroalgae in tropical marine coastal systems

17 Rothäusler, E., L. Gutow and M. Thiel: Floating seaweeds and their communities

 Part IV: Effects of global and local changes on the performance of seaweeds

18 Bartsch, I., C. Wiencke and T. Laepple: Global seaweed biogeography under a changing climate: the prospected effects of temperature

19 Roleda, M.Y and C.L. Hurd: Seaweed responses to Ocean Acidification

20 Bischof, K. and F.S. Steinhoff: Impacts of ozone depletion and solar UV-B radiation on seaweeds

21 Teichberg, M., P, Martinetto and S.E. Fox: Bottom-up versus top-down control of macroalgal blooms

 Part V: Aquaculture and economical importance of seaweeds

22 Buchholz, C.M., G. Krause and B.H. Buck: Seaweed and man

Provides a timely update on the field

Points to gaps in our present knowledge and identifies future research priorities

Of interest not only to marine biologists, but also to industrialists and policymakers

Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras