BOOKS FOR UNDERWATER EXPLORERS
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BOOKS FOR UNDERWATER EXPLORERS
The Lives of Seaweeds : A natural history of our planet ’ s seaweeds & other algae by Julie A Phillips
PUBLISHED BY : Princeton University Press ISBN : 978-0-691-22855-6
PRICE : £ 30
Of the various sub-categories of diving interest , the plant life of the aquatic world is the one that tends to go under the collective radar . But then again , we are now in a world where seagrass is recognised as hugely productive and important habitat , and kelp forests are regarded as one of the planet ’ s most important resources . Marine plants matter , and this book explains why , alongside a beautifully illustrated catalogue of the major species .
In addition to serving as an i-d resource , the author demonstrates the sheer importance of photosynthetic organisms in the oceans . Seaweed and other algae transfer billions of tons of carbon globally
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from the atmosphere to the deep ocean each year . From bio-luminescent singlecelled algae to the giant kelp of California , these organisms have been touted as a biofuel of the future and also hold promise for use in packaging , as a sustainable food source and in the medical world .
For divers , many of the species described in these 290 pages will be familiar sights . It ’ s just very satisfying to put a name to something we encounter so often , and to get an idea of its place in the scheme of things . For instance , the curly , ear-shaped seaweed I see growing on dead coral all over the tropics is revealed as the brown ( it looks green to me ) seaweed Padina australis , its fan-shaped fronds dusted with deposits of white calcium carbonate .
This volume will not enthral every diver , but I recommend it to SeaSearchers , serious naturalists and those of an enquiring mind . Its high production values and hardback format make it an ideal reference for a well curated marine bookshelf . Even a cursory read will leave you significantly more knowledgeable than the average diver .
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The Lives of Sharks : A natural history of shark life by Daniel C Abel and R Dean Grubbs
PUBLISHED BY : Princeton University Press ISBN : 978-0-691-24431-0 PRICE : £ 30
I
’ m naturally well-disposed to any shark book that does justice to its subject , but even I must admit there is a dizzying number of them doing the rounds . When I was new to diving , there were only three or four , including the notorious photobook with a ridiculously outsize reproduction of a set of Megalodon jaws . Jason Statham would have blushed .
Fast forward to 2023 , and Princeton steps up to the plate with this thoroughly modern shark book . It doesn ’ t try to be completely exhaustive ; for that you need to buy the hefty Collins guides , which are truly comprehensive , albeit samey . Instead , this book balances its populist sensitivities with a strong sense of scientific discipline .
The authors walk us through the evolution and development of sharks before embarking on a chapter on how our own lives intersect with theirs . After this , we get sections devoted to a choice of species , mostly the iconic sharks , but with a few curveballs such as the salmon shark and the open ocean cookiecutter , Isistius brasiliensis , known for its bold feeding technique of chomping a plug of flesh from much larger animals .
I enjoyed the later chapter on estuarine and river sharks , the species which have adapted to tolerate low salinity habitats . There ’ s also lively material on life history characteristics , open ocean sharks and of course the range of threats that sharks face today .
This is a very readable book with all a diver needs to know about sharks , presented in an accessible style with good up-to-date photographs . Young and would-be divers in particular will love it , if you haven ’ t finished your Christmas shopping just yet . �