The ecology of the marine fishes : California and adjacent waters

Marine fishes have been intensively studied, and some of the fundamental ideas in the science of marine ecology have emerged from the body of knowledge derived from this diverse group of organisms. This unique, authoritative, and accessible reference, compiled by 35 luminary ecologists, evolutionary biologists, and ichthyologists, provides a synthesis and interpretation of the large, often daunting, body of information on the ecology of marine fishes. The focus is on the fauna of the eastern Pacific, especially the fishes of the California coast, a group among the most diverse and best studied of all marine ecosystems. A generously illustrated and comprehensive source of information, this volume will also be an important launching pad for future research and will shed new light on the study of marine fish ecology worldwide. The contributors touch on many fields in biology, including physiology, development, genetics, behavior, ecology, and evolution. The book includes sections on the history of research, both published and unpublished data, sections on collecting techniques, and references to important earlier studies. CONTENTS PART I. Introduction 1 Biogeography 2 Phylogeography 3 Evolution 4 Ecological Classification PART II. Habitats and Associated Fishes SOFT SUBSTRATA 5 Bays and Estuaries 6 Surf Zone, Coastal Pelagic Zone, and Harbors 7 Continental Shelf and UpperSlope HARD SUBSTRATA 8 Rocky Intertidal Zone 9 Rocky Reefs and Kelp Beds 10 Deep Rock Habitats PELAGIC HABITATS 11 Ichthyoplankton 12 Surface Waters 13 Deep Sea PART III. Population and Community Ecology 14 Feeding Mechanisms and Trophic Interactions 15 Recruitment 16 Predation 17 Competition 18 Disturbance PART IV. Behavioral Ecology 19 Reproduction 20 Movement and Activity Patterns 21 Symbiotic Relationships PART V. Spatial and Temporal Change 22 Subsistence, Commercial, and Recreational Fisheries 23 Pollution 24 Alien Fishes 25 Climate Change and Overexploitation "Fundamental ideas in marine ecology have emerged from the study of marine fishes. This unique, authoritative, and accessible reference, compiled by 35 luminary ecologists, evolutionary biologists, and ichthyologists, provides the first-ever synthesis and interpretation of the large, often daunting, body of information on the ecology of marine fishes. Comprehensive and generously illustrated, this volume focuses on the fauna of the eastern pacific, paying particular attention to the California coast, which is among the most diverse and best studied of all marine ecosystems."--Jacket The marine environment of the northeastern Pacific is a complex and dynamic system that offers a daunting challenge for any distributional analysis of its fish fauna, either of the entire region or a portion, such as the waters along the approximately 10 of latitude (32-42N) that border the state of California and that form the focus of this chapter.