A wealth of natural treasures remains to be discovered throughout our world's oceans. This lavishly illustrated book takes the reader on an underwater journey in the nearshore waters of Alaska's remote and pristine Aleutian Islands. It features 115 color photos of the astoundingly diverse and beautiful undersea world of the Aleutians, recorded by research divers from 2004 to 2007. Authors provide fascinating natural history information and an overview of the geography, geology, and oceanography of the 1200-mile archipelago. In addition to sharing the awe-inspiring experience of the divers as they encountered the spectacular beauty of the underwater Aleutians ecosystems, the photographs in this book are a powerful means of educating others about science and the need to preserve nature's splendor.
Table of Contents v
Dedication vi
Foreword viii
Introduction 1
The Setting 4
About the Authors 10
Fox Islands 12
Islands of Four Mountains 58
Andreanof Islands 72
Rat Islands 104
Near Islands 128
Literature Resources 140
Acknowledgments 142
Index 144
Sea Life of the Aleutians is unlike any Alaska book before it. It's a vicarious journey into a world that's not just remote, but unreachable for all but a few, the last frontier of the Last Frontier. It's a gorgeous production that beautifully showcases just one aspect of the work being done by Alaska Sea Grant. It shouldn't be missed.
- David A. James, Fairbanks Daily News Miner (full book review)
"Just as in tropical coral reefs, the waters of the Aleutian Islands are home for species representing most of the major divisions of the earth's animals, plants, and microbes. Beautifully illustrated here are a dozen major animal forms, from sponges and anemones, to arthropods, echinoderms, mollusks, and fishes. Thanks to these intrepid authors, anyone who wishes to experience the world of the living treasures that grace the depths along the Aleutian Islands can vicariously do so."
- Sylvia Earle, Ph.D., Chairman of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research, and Explorer in Residence, National Geographic Society
"This book presents an outstanding opportunity for all of us to get up close and personal with some very rare and certainly rarely seen critters. I especially appreciate all the algae in the photos. The high quality of the photos belies the difficulty of capturing them in the remote and harsh environment of the Aleutian Islands."
- Sandra Lindstrom, Ph.D., Research Associate, Department of Botany, University of British Columbia
"The pictures in this book are amazing and a great representation of what lives in the nearshore waters of the Aleutians, and what that environment actually looks like. This book puts Alaska on the map for great dive spots!" - Brenda Konar, Ph.D., Professor of Marine Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks