About Book

Marine ecology is the study of the different marine organisms, their environment, population and their interactions with each other and their surroundings. It is a subset of the study of marine biology and includes observations at the biochemical, cellular, individual, and community levels as well as the study of marine ecosystems and the biosphere. The study of marine ecology also includes the influence of geology, geography, meteorology, pedology, chemistry, and physics on marine environments. The impact of human activity such as medical research, development, agriculture, fisheries, and forestry is also studied under marine ecology. Marine ecology is more complex than the relatively straightforward study of a particular organism or environment because of the numerous interconnections, symbiotic relationships, and influence of many factors on a particular environment. This book attempts to understand the multiple branches that fall under the discipline of marine ecology and how such concepts have practical applications. It explores marine bivalves, marine trophic networks, marine fish and marine microorganisms. It also deals with marine microalgae, marine ecosystems and marine-derived fungi. Different approaches, evaluations and methodologies and advanced studies on this subject have been included in the book. Coherent flow of topics, student-friendly language and extensive use of examples make this book an invaluable source of knowledge. As this field is emerging at a rapid pace, the contents of this book will help the readers understand the modern concepts and applications of the subject.

Preface............................................................................................................ v

Chapter 1 Seabirds as Bioindicators of Marine Ecosystems...............................1

Abstract...................................................................................................1

1. Introduction............................................................................................2

2. Seabirds...................................................................................................6

3. Seabirds as bioindicators of marine ecosystem............................11

4. Foraging behaviour of seabirds.......................................................12

5. Threats to seabirds..............................................................................13

6. Conclusion ...........................................................................................14

7. Recommendation for future research and conservation ............15

Chapter 2 Screening of Marine-derived Fungi Isolated from the sponge

Didemnun ligulum for Biodegradation of Pentachlorophenol.......23

Abstract.................................................................................................23

1. Introduction..........................................................................................24

2. Materials and Methods .....................................................................35

3. Results and Discussion .....................................................................39

4. Conclusions and perspectives .........................................................46

Acknowledgements ...........................................................................47

Chapter 3 What Flow Cytometry Can Tell Us About Marine Micro-Organisms–

Current Status and Future Applications ............................................59

1. Introduction..........................................................................................59

2. Autofluorescence analyses.................................................................63

3. Total cell counting..............................................................................67

4. Detection of viruses............................................................................70

5. DNA content........................................................................................71

6. Physiological states.............................................................................72

7. Bacteria identification with antibodies and nucleic acid probes

(FISH)....................................................................................................76

8. Conclusions..........................................................................................78

Chapter 4 The Growth of Chalcedony (Nanocrystalline Silica) in Electric

Organs from Living Marine Fish..........................................................97

1. Introduction..........................................................................................97

2. Biomineralization by silica in electric fish.....................................98

3. Autofluorescent crystalline silica detected by using a LSCM..102

4. Conclusion..........................................................................................109

5. Acknowledgment..............................................................................111

Chapter 5 Changes to Marine Trophic Networks Caused by Fishing.........115

1. Introduction ......................................................................................115

2. Effects of fishing on trophic networks ........................................116

3. Case study .........................................................................................132

4. Conclusions .......................................................................................144

5. Acknowledgments ...........................................................................145

Chapter 6 Effects of Pesticides on Marine Bivalves: What Do We Know and

What Do We Need to Know?..............................................................164

1. Introduction ......................................................................................164

2. Pesticides in the marine environment .........................................166

3. Lethal effect of pesticides on marine bivalves ..........................168

4. Genotoxicity in marine bivalves ...................................................169

5. Immunotoxicity in marine bivalves and susceptibilty to infectious

diseases ..............................................................................................170

6. Other effects of pesticides on marine bivalves ..........................173

7. Conclusions and perspectives .......................................................174

Chapter 7 Checklist, Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Marine

Microalgae from Offshore Visakhapatnam, Bay of Bengal, India

for Biofuel Potential .............................................................................185

Abstract...............................................................................................185

1. Introduction ......................................................................................186

2. Materials and methods ...................................................................186

3. Results ................................................................................................189

4. Discussion...........................................................................................195

5. Conclusion..........................................................................................198

Acknowledgements .........................................................................198

A. Species composition of microalgae along the Visakhapatnam

offshore region..........................................................................................199

CITATION................................................................................................213

INDEX........................................................................................................215

About Author

Daniel Roberts obtained his Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the Public University of Science, Athens. He has wide-ranging areas of academic and research interests, which include seagrass meadows, estuaries and cetaceans. He serves as an Assistant Professor at Community College, Florence. Roberts has authored and edited a number of academic periodicals, journal papers, articles and books in the field of marine biology. He has won over 10 awards and recognitions for his researches and services. He has also attended numerous conferences and symposiums; and has presented 5 papers on marine biology.