Dynamic Aquaria: Building Living Ecosystems Book

This unique, respected book brings together the diverse modeling efforts of two decades of research in the Smithsonian Marine Systems Laboratory. Dynamic Aquaria, Second Edition integrates the fields of ecology and aquarium science to give readers a better understanding of simulated ecosystem function and ecological food webs. In a new larger format, the Second Edition presents the limitations imposed upon these webs by their compression into micro- and mesocosms. The book demonstrates mainstream ecological research alongside practical issues of aquaria construction, and successfully presents essential aspects of ecological systems in an accessible fashion. It describes the introduction and testing of numerous new techniques for simulating the functional and biodiversity of ecosystems in relatively small dimension. The Second Edition includes new advancements in the field and two new chapters on suspended particulates (inorganic and organic) and biomineralization. Approximately one-third of the photographs are entirely new. Key Features* Incorporates new information regarding simulated ecosystem function * Includes new photographs and two new chapters on suspended particulates (inorganic and organic) and biomineralization* Demonstrates the status of the science today and points out where newly developed techniques have worked and where they need improvement * Brings up to date the relationship between biological and ecological theory and practice and the expanding concepts of living model development* Demonstrates the potential and requirements needed to provide laboratory ecosystems with hands on ecological instruction* Contains an inexhaustible source of organisms and their chemical products* Points the way to affordable, large scale techniques to achieve exceptional waste water purities for a wide variety of domestic and industrial needs* Provides a guide to the culture and display of organisms in their rightful milieu, the ecosystemRead More