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The marine red algae of the Hawaiian Islands, and indeed of the islands and parts of continents in the warm Pacific, are presented here as a comprehensive unit in a single volume. The book presents descriptions and illustrations of 343 species of Rhodopohyta found in Hawaiian waters, along with keys and remarks about them. These species represent perhaps 85% of the warm-water red taxa in the Pacific. The number and composi-tion of Hawaiian Rhodophyta have turned out to be far richer than had been expected, including many one-of-a-kind geographic distribution records, giving the flora a large number of unexpected taxa previously described only from the Caribbean Sea, Indian Ocean, or Australian coast and Great Barrier Reef. ... Read more

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Very comprehensive text for physiology (algae) and/or limnology (freshwater biology) courses at the junior/senior/grad level. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

used book is as expected in GOOD Condition for it's age
As described, well packaged, quick delivery (I am in Afganistan on a US MILITARY Base), and Great Customer Service.

Algae, algae, algae
This reference provides an easy to read introductory chapter about the algae, followed by detailed sections on the Cyanophyta (blue-green 'algae', or, cyanobacteria), Prochlorophyta, Chlorophyta (green algae), Charophyta (stoneworts), Euglenophyta, Phaeophyta (brown algae), Chrysophyta, Pyrrhophyta (dinoflagellates), Rhodophyta (red algae) and Cryptophyta (cryptomonads) (some of these organisms not actually algae, of course). ... Read more

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Nongeniculate coralline red algae, which constitute one of the most widely distributed and ecologically important groups of marine benthic algae, are the focus of this comprehensive treatment covering both fossil and non-fossil genera.Keys for identification of genera and 82 plates of photographic figures are included.Detailed analyses of diagnostic criteria, general descriptions of morphology and anatomy, and relevant taxonomic literature are also provided, along with a glossary of technical terminology, an extensive bibliography, and full nomenclature documentation.This book represents the culmination of 12 years' work on systematic concepts in the group by the author. ... Read more

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Algae and Human Affairs provides the only current comprehensive survey of the major roles of algae in present and future human life.This detailed, up-to-date synthesis is divided into four sections.The first reviews the natural roles of algae as sources of oxygen, organic carbon compounds, and as bases of food-chains for higher trophic levels.The second group of chapters deals with the commercial and economic value of algae to industry, energy, waste treatment, and agriculture (i.e. algae as an important source of food and food additives, such as the carageenan used in dairy products).The third section discusses the detrimental, sometimes disastrous, effects of algae in the form of red-tide organisms, weeds, producers of freshwater toxins, and marine biofouling.The final section considers current applications and future potential of algae to industry, in general, and, in particular, to space exploration and genetic engineering. ... Read more

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Acting as titans in global control of the biosphere and colonizing virtually all corners of the earth, algae, extremely diverse and numerous oxygenic, photosynthetic organisms, can be major players in and drivers of environmental change. For hundreds of years, since their evolutionary origins by endosymbiosis, when a protozoan enslaved a cyanobacterium, fascinated scientists strove to uncover the mysteries of their diversity, interactions, taxonomy, and classification. Today, new molecular tools and technologies like chromatography and genetic fingerprinting reveal the innermost secrets of algal ancestry and phylogeny and open new possibilities to answering age-old questions.

Unravelling the algae: the past, present, and future of algal systematics brings together the most respected minds in the field to review the state-of-the-science and assess the impact of molecular tools on the taxonomy of algal groups. Emphasizing that a range of traditional and molecular approaches are required, along with other techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, to support full interpretation of the data, the book discusses the extent to which these tools broaden our understanding of the immense diversity of algae and revolutionize ideas of taxonomy and classification. Divided into three parts, the book introduces the very latest ideas on the evolution of algae and the concept of classification and illustrates contrasting viewpoints. The second section addresses systematics and covers virtually all algal groups ranging from microalgae to ultraplankton with individual chapters devoted to each. The final section explores the impact of genomics on algal systematics and concludes with a discussion of future directions for research.

As the most up-to-date, authoritative source for classifying algae, this bookprovides unparalleled access to the encyclopedic information revealed by the use of the latest in molecular tools. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Wonderful Review of the Classification of Algae
Classification systems are by their very nature artificial.Whales, for example, were once classified as fish because they had fins and were marine.They are now known to be mammals, as it was recognized that the presence of mammary glands, lungs, and bone structure were more consistent with a mammalian identity than it would be for a piscean. In modern times the discovery of the structure of DNA led to methodologies that allow more exact placement of some, if not most, organisms.However, even with DNA analysis we are left with many problems and comparative morphology, physiology, ecology and behavior can still offer some evidence that may help determine phylogeny and thus give us a more accurate picture.

Juliet Brodie and Jane Lewis, the editors of "Unravelling the Algae: The Past, Present, and Future of Algae Systematics", as well as the various chapter authors, have taken this very sensible approach.Although the main focus is on molecular techniques (indispensable to the modern systematist) the editors and authors of this symposium book are by no means slaves to the molecules. The need for a broad approach for the training of future algal (and I might add those of all biological organisms) systematists is emphasized again at the end of the last chapter.

This is an indispensable volume for anyone working in the field of algal systematics, which (along with systematics of living things in general) is becoming unbelievably complex, especially to the layman, with the "algae" being found in several Kingdoms of life.One suggestion in the book is that we keep a six Kingdom system for general consumption, while the experts wangle out the details.I favor such an approach, but would use Animalia, Fungi, Plantae, Protista, Archaea, and Eubacteria, as opposed to Animalia, Fungi, Chromista, Plantae, Protozoa and Bacteria, suggested by Thomas Cavalier-Smith in Chapter 3. It is my understanding that Archaea is quite different from Eubacteria and that lumping them together may not give a very accurate picture.However, this is a quibble as Protista is also a pretty artificial concept and we are not yet sure how this will all play out. Some have preferred to scrap the whole Kingdom, Class, Order, idea and go with clades (see Lecointre and Guyader 2006 "The Tree of Life: A Phylogenetic Classification"), but I think the hierarchy is a useful, if somewhat archaic, construct. However, I can well understand the reasoning for dropping these hierarchies given the current muddle.

The chapters of "Unravelling the Algae" are generally well written andthey give a unusually clear account of the current triumphs and difficulties in trying to define the various groups within this mixed up"group." I recommend it highly, not just to algae specialists, but to anybody trying to understand the current problems of classification and how molecular techniques are helping us see the true complexity of life. ... Read more

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Since the advent of the electron microscope, there has been a dramatic increase in our understanding of the microalgae.With contributions from leading researchers from around the world, this book presents a completely up-to-date survey of the prymnesiophyte algae. Ubiquitous in their distribution--particularly as members of the marine phytoplankton--the prymnesiophyte algae has long been recognized for production of fish toxins and for its importance as geological markers via the preservation of their mineralized remains. But the Prymnesiophyta have achieved considerable notoriety in recent years not only because they have they been responsible for disastrous ichthyotoxic blooms in Scandinavian coastal waters, but because it now appears that their production of volatile sulphur compounds and calcifying mineralization may be adversely affecting our climate. This volume is the first book to bring together the scattered literature on this group and covers all the main aspects of Prymnesiophyte biology--including taxonomy, structure, ecology, biochemistry, origins, and evolution.Students and marine biologists studying algae, plankton, and ecology, as well as botanical microbiologists will want to read this important volume. ... Read more

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Illustrated and indexed. ... Read more

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The author attempts to fill a gap in the literature for researched and consolidated reference work on Indian Chlorophycota. The book is intended as a reference for students and senior phycologists. The occurrence and distribution of the chlorophycota belonging to 11 orders have been compiled. ... Read more

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Algae are of central importance in marine and freshwater ecosystems. Recent molecular sequence analyses show that the algae are of polyphyletic origins and that their evolution is best explained by tracing the endosymbiotic events that have resulted in the origins of their plastids. This volume provides a highly readable, thorough and up-to-date account of the major findings in algal, cyanobacterial and plastid phylogeny. All major algal groups (e.g., green, red, heterokont, dinoflagellate algae) are treated in separate chapters by leading experts on these groups. ... Read more