Elements of Pelagos Biology With Focus on the Mediterranean Sea

About this book

Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth's surface, with an average depth of approximately 3,800 meters. Humanity is largely excluded from this vast world of saltwater, which remains mostly unexplored and unknown. The goal of this book is to introduce readers to this unfamiliar and mysterious realm.

It delves into various species and communities in great detail, emphasizing that the taxonomy, life cycles, and ecological dynamics differ significantly from what is typically taught in basic biology and natural science courses, which often focus on terrestrial or freshwater environments, and occasionally, benthic habitats. The pelagic lifestyle in open water away from the shore, by contrast, is rarely emphasized in marine biology textbooks. This book aims to shift that perspective, highlighting the pelagic way of life for marine organisms.

As a teaching method, species, geographical locations, and key topics are repeatedly revisited throughout the text to enhance their visibility and reinforce their understanding in the minds of students.

Contents

Preface
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Plankton, why so many species co-exist in the same water volume?
Chapter 3. Mediterranean Sea biodiversity
Chapter 4. Nekton
Chapter 5. Pelagic lifestyles in confined environments
Chapter 6. Pelagic lifestyles in the open sea
Chapter 7. Pelagic lifestyles in the dark
Chapter 8. Diving of lunged animals
Chapter 9. Human interactions with pelagos

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Biography

Genuario Belmonte is first professor of Zoology at the University of Salento (Italy), where he founded in 2014 and still manages the course "Pelagos Biology" in the frame of the international master's degree "Coastal and Marine Biology and Ecology". He is the author of more than 200 scientific articles (more than 100 in international journals) on the ecology of plankton and on the life cycles of plankton organisms. He described five species and one genus of pelagic Crustacea new to science. At the present time, he is responsible for the research vessel Pelagia (University of Salento), and President of the Museal System (eight structures) of the University of Salento.