The Effects of an Environmental Stress (temperature) on the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Higher Plants

Download The Effects of an Environmental Stress (temperature) on the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Higher Plants PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 60 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (61 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Effects of an Environmental Stress (temperature) on the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Higher Plants by : Rachel Nechushtai

Download or read book The Effects of an Environmental Stress (temperature) on the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Higher Plants written by Rachel Nechushtai and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Photosynthesis, Productivity, and Environmental Stress

Download Photosynthesis, Productivity, and Environmental Stress PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 1119501822
Total Pages : 425 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (195 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Photosynthesis, Productivity, and Environmental Stress by : Parvaiz Ahmad

Download or read book Photosynthesis, Productivity, and Environmental Stress written by Parvaiz Ahmad and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2019-09-16 with total page 425 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A guide to environmental fluctuations that examines photosynthesis under both controlled and stressed conditions Photosynthesis, Productivity and Environmental Stress is a much-needed guide that explores the topics related to photosynthesis (both terrestrial and aquatic) and puts the focus on the basic effect of environmental fluctuations. The authors—noted experts on the topic—discuss photosynthesis under both controlled and stressed conditions and review new techniques for mitigating stressors including methods such as transgeneics, proteomics, genomics, ionomics, metabolomics, micromics, and more. In order to feed our burgeoning world population, it is vital that we must increase food production. Photosynthesis is directly related to plant growth and crop production and any fluctuation in the photosynthetic activity imposes great threat to crop productivity. Due to the environmental fluctuations plants are often exposed to the different environmental stresses that cause decreased photosynthetic rate and problems in the plant growth and development. This important book addresses this topic and: Covers topics related to terrestrial and aquatic photosynthesis Highlights the basic effect of environmental fluctuations Explores common stressors such as drought, salinity, alkalinity, temperature, UV-radiations, oxygen deficiency, and more Contains methods and techniques for improving photosynthetic efficiency for greater crop yield Written for biologists and environmentalists, Photosynthesis, Productivity and Environmental Stress offers an overview of the stressors affecting photosynthesis and includes possible solutions for improved crop production.

Effects of Stress on Photosynthesis

Download Effects of Stress on Photosynthesis PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 9400968132
Total Pages : 377 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (9 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Effects of Stress on Photosynthesis by : R. Marcelle

Download or read book Effects of Stress on Photosynthesis written by R. Marcelle and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 377 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume contains the papers, presented during a conference, organized jointly by the "Opzoekingsstation van Gorsem" and the "Limburgs Universitair Centrum", Belgium from 22 to 27 August 1982. For this third meeting, the chosen topic was the effect of different stresses on photosynthesis. Most of the research in this field is realized on water stress and temperature stress; this situation is refllected in the conference programme. However, the imp- tance of the other factors such as light, CO , salinity, anaerobiosis, was 2 also emphasized especially during the important discussion sessions. We express our gratitude to Drs. J. Gale, P. Jarvis, G.H. Krause, P.E. Kriedemann and P.S. Nobel for their excellent leadership during the discussion sessions. Particular thanks are also due to Dr. H.~i. Woolhouse who gave us an excellent inaugural address and whose erudition largely contributed to the interest of the discussions. For the first time in our experience of editors, we decided to use camera ready copies in order to publish more rapidly the proceedings and at a lower price. For a lot of reasons (among other things the bad choice of type of letter to be used and the choice of instructions to authors which were not perfectly followed by the authors), the technical presentation of this book will appear as non homogeneous; we accepted this lack of homogeneity with the hope tbat the publication time would be shorter in spite of the fact that, some authors delivered their manuscript with delay.

Regulation of Photosynthesis

Download Regulation of Photosynthesis PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 0306481480
Total Pages : 624 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (64 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Regulation of Photosynthesis by : Eva-Mari Aro

Download or read book Regulation of Photosynthesis written by Eva-Mari Aro and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2006-04-11 with total page 624 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book covers the expression of photosynthesis related genes including regulation both at transcriptional and translational levels. It reviews biogenesis, turnover, and senescence of thylakoid pigment protein complexes and highlights some crucial regulatory steps in carbon metabolism.

Practical Applications of Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Plant Biology

Download Practical Applications of Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Plant Biology PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1461504155
Total Pages : 271 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (615 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Practical Applications of Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Plant Biology by : Jennifer R. DeEll

Download or read book Practical Applications of Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Plant Biology written by Jennifer R. DeEll and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 271 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The technique of chlorophyll fluorescence has a relatively short history, beginning with the observations by Kautsky (Kautsky and Hirsch, 1931). Since that time there have been several· reviews devoted to the subject, with most of them highly theoretical (Bohlar-Nordenkampf and Oquist, 1993; Dau, 1994; Schreiber et aI. , 1994). There have also been many books devoted to generalized spectrophotometric and microscopic fluorescence techniques. However, to the best of our knowledge there has not been a book completely devoted to the practical applications and uses of chlorophyll fluorescence in plant biology. As techniques mature, applications multiply and so do their potential advantages. The chlorophyll fluorescence technique is maturing as can be seen in the increasing numbers of publications that are devoted to its use. Therefore, we considered that now was a good time to compile the existing knowledge for the applied use of this technique and provide a single volume to which a novice or experienced user could refer. Highly trained experts in the field of photobiology have primarily used the chlorophyll fluorescence technique in the past. In that work, understanding the mechanisms and controls of the photosynthetic processes was the main focus of activity and discussion. Much of the equipment used was highly specialized and expensive, or in some cases one-of-a-kind lab designed units. However, the development of several reliable commercially available chlorophyll fluorescence monitoring instruments has changed the potential user base for the technique.

Stress Responses of Photosynthetic Organisms

Download Stress Responses of Photosynthetic Organisms PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Elsevier
ISBN 13 : 0444597727
Total Pages : 269 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (445 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Stress Responses of Photosynthetic Organisms by : Kimiyuki Satoh

Download or read book Stress Responses of Photosynthetic Organisms written by Kimiyuki Satoh and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2012-12-02 with total page 269 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sixteen topics from the results of the research project "Molecular Mechanisms for Responses of the Photosynthetic Apparatus to the Environment," are documented in this excellent and timely work. Photosynthesis research has a long history in Japan, and many Japanese laboratories working in this field have been very active and productive. Based on the foundation established by these laboratories, the research reflected in this book focuses on elucidating the interactions between photosynthesis and the environment, with special emphasis on the molecular aspects of these interactions. The major purpose of the research was to identify specific genes required for (a) repair of the organisms from stress-induced damage to the photosynthetic machinery and (b) acclimation of photosynthetic processes to specific changes in environmental conditions. Once specific genes were identified, the effects of expression (and overexpression) of these genes in transgenic plants on acclimation processes were analyzed. Through the analysis of transgenic plants and cyanobacteria, the volume clarifies a number of molecular mechanisms by which plants acclimate to environmental variations, and the factors that govern recovery from stress-induced damage, especially with respect to the photosynthetic apparatus. A treatize on stress physiology and photosynthesis, the book also indicates the agricultural usefulness of transgenic plants and microalgae which are produced to study the molecular mechanisms of the tolerance of plants to changes in their environment.

Photosynthesis, Productivity, and Environmental Stress

Download Photosynthesis, Productivity, and Environmental Stress PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 1119501776
Total Pages : 365 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (195 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Photosynthesis, Productivity, and Environmental Stress by : Parvaiz Ahmad

Download or read book Photosynthesis, Productivity, and Environmental Stress written by Parvaiz Ahmad and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2019-11-04 with total page 365 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A guide to environmental fluctuations that examines photosynthesis under both controlled and stressed conditions Photosynthesis, Productivity and Environmental Stress is a much-needed guide that explores the topics related to photosynthesis (both terrestrial and aquatic) and puts the focus on the basic effect of environmental fluctuations. The authors—noted experts on the topic—discuss photosynthesis under both controlled and stressed conditions and review new techniques for mitigating stressors including methods such as transgeneics, proteomics, genomics, ionomics, metabolomics, micromics, and more. In order to feed our burgeoning world population, it is vital that we must increase food production. Photosynthesis is directly related to plant growth and crop production and any fluctuation in the photosynthetic activity imposes great threat to crop productivity. Due to the environmental fluctuations plants are often exposed to the different environmental stresses that cause decreased photosynthetic rate and problems in the plant growth and development. This important book addresses this topic and: Covers topics related to terrestrial and aquatic photosynthesis Highlights the basic effect of environmental fluctuations Explores common stressors such as drought, salinity, alkalinity, temperature, UV-radiations, oxygen deficiency, and more Contains methods and techniques for improving photosynthetic efficiency for greater crop yield Written for biologists and environmentalists, Photosynthesis, Productivity and Environmental Stress offers an overview of the stressors affecting photosynthesis and includes possible solutions for improved crop production.

Chlorophyll a Fluorescence

Download Chlorophyll a Fluorescence PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1402032188
Total Pages : 853 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (2 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Chlorophyll a Fluorescence by : G.C. Papageorgiou

Download or read book Chlorophyll a Fluorescence written by G.C. Papageorgiou and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2007-11-12 with total page 853 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chlorophyll a Fluorescence: A Signature of Photosynthesis highlights chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence as a convenient, non-invasive, highly sensitive, rapid and quantitative probe of oxygenic photosynthesis. Thirty-one chapters, authored by 58 international experts, provide a solid foundation of the basic theory, as well as of the application of the rich information contained in the Chl a fluorescence signal as it relates to photosynthesis and plant productivity. Although the primary photochemical reactions of photosynthesis are highly efficient, a small fraction of absorbed photons escapes as Chl fluorescence, and this fraction varies with metabolic state, providing a basis for monitoring quantitatively various processes of photosynthesis. The book explains the mechanisms with which plants defend themselves against environmental stresses (excessive light, extreme temperatures, drought, hyper-osmolarity, heavy metals and UV). It also includes discussion on fluorescence imaging of leaves and cells and the remote sensing of Chl fluorescence from terrestrial, airborne, and satellite bases. The book is intended for use by graduate students, beginning researchers and advanced undergraduates in the areas of integrative plant biology, cellular and molecular biology, plant biology, biochemistry, biophysics, plant physiology, global ecology and agriculture.

Biochemical Models of Leaf Photosynthesis

Download Biochemical Models of Leaf Photosynthesis PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : CSIRO PUBLISHING
ISBN 13 : 9780643063792
Total Pages : 186 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (637 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Biochemical Models of Leaf Photosynthesis by : Susanna Von Caemmerer

Download or read book Biochemical Models of Leaf Photosynthesis written by Susanna Von Caemmerer and published by CSIRO PUBLISHING. This book was released on 2000 with total page 186 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Increasing concerns of global climatic change have stimulated research in all aspects of carbon exchange. This has restored interest in leaf-photosynthetic models to predict and assess changes in photosynthetic CO2 assimilation in different environments. This is a comprehensive presentation of the most widely used models of steady-state photosynthesis by an author who is a world authority. Treatments of C3, C4 and intermediate pathways of photosynthesis in relation to environment have been updated to include work on antisense transgenic plants. It will be a standard reference for the formal analysis of photosynthetic metabolism in vivo by advanced students and researchers.

Molecular Plant Abiotic Stress

Download Molecular Plant Abiotic Stress PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 111946367X
Total Pages : 613 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (194 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Molecular Plant Abiotic Stress by : Aryadeep Roychoudhury

Download or read book Molecular Plant Abiotic Stress written by Aryadeep Roychoudhury and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2019-06-13 with total page 613 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A close examination of current research on abiotic stresses in various plant species The unpredictable environmental stress conditions associated with climate change are significant challenges to global food security, crop productivity, and agricultural sustainability. Rapid population growth and diminishing resources necessitate the development of crops that can adapt to environmental extremities. Although significant advancements have been made in developing plants through improved crop breeding practices and genetic manipulation, further research is necessary to understand how genes and metabolites for stress tolerance are modulated, and how cross-talk and regulators can be tuned to achieve stress tolerance. Molecular Plant Abiotic Stress: Biology and Biotechnology is an extensive investigation of the various forms of abiotic stresses encountered in plants, and susceptibility or tolerance mechanisms found in different plant species. In-depth examination of morphological, anatomical, biochemical, molecular and gene expression levels enables plant scientists to identify the different pathways and signaling cascades involved in stress response. This timely book: Covers a wide range of abiotic stresses in multiple plant species Provides researchers and scientists with transgenic strategies to overcome stress tolerances in several plant species Compiles the most recent research and up-to-date data on stress tolerance Examines both selective breeding and genetic engineering approaches to improving plant stress tolerances Written and edited by prominent scientists and researchers from across the globe Molecular Plant Abiotic Stress: Biology and Biotechnology is a valuable source of information for students, academics, scientists, researchers, and industry professionals in fields including agriculture, botany, molecular biology, biochemistry and biotechnology, and plant physiology.

Photosynthesis and the Environment

Download Photosynthesis and the Environment PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 0792343166
Total Pages : 494 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (923 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Photosynthesis and the Environment by : N.R. Baker

Download or read book Photosynthesis and the Environment written by N.R. Baker and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 1996-11-30 with total page 494 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Photosynthesis and the Environment examines how photosynthesis may be influenced by environmental changes. Structural and functional aspects of the photosynthetic apparatus are examined in the context of responses to environmental stimuli; particular attention being given to the processing of light energy by thylakoids, metabolic regulation, gas exchange and source-sink relations. The roles of developmental and genetic responses in determining photosynthetic performance are also considered. The complexity of the responses to environmental change is demonstrated by detailed analyses of the effects of specific environmental variables (light, temperature, water, CO2, ozone and UV-B) on photosynthetic performance. Where appropriate attention is given to recent developments in the techniques used for studying photosynthetic activities. The book is intended for advanced undergraduate and graduate students and a wide range of scientists with research interests in environmental effects on photosynthesis and plant productivity.

Plant Response to Stress

Download Plant Response to Stress PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 3642708684
Total Pages : 650 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (427 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Plant Response to Stress by : John D. Tenhunen

Download or read book Plant Response to Stress written by John D. Tenhunen and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-06-29 with total page 650 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is dedicated to international cooperation, understanding and peace. It is the end result of several years of cooperative work between scientists of three countries: the United States, Germany, and Portugal. The work presented, however, draws from a much broader base, hopefully achieving the objective of NATO Advanced Research Workshops, which have been established to allow and stimulate the exchange of new ideas and the synthesis of information by scientists of NATO countries. The tasks of the workshop were several; to review established methodologies that have provided insight into ecosystem function and adaptations of plants in mediterranean climate zones; to examine new methodologies that have recently been applied in ecological studies and have provided new types of information; to summarize recent studies in mediterranean regions of plant water relations, photosynthesis and production, mineral nutrition, plant growth and development, and response to fire; to stimulate in particular an exchange of information among scientists of European Mediterranean countries; and to discuss means by which all of these objectives might be even more effectively achieved in the future through cooperative international research efforts. This variety of themes is clearly evident in the layout of the book. Held in Sesimbra, Portugal in October of 1985, the workshop took place in a ..

Photosynthesis in the Marine Environment

Download Photosynthesis in the Marine Environment PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 1119979587
Total Pages : 222 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (199 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Photosynthesis in the Marine Environment by : Sven Beer

Download or read book Photosynthesis in the Marine Environment written by Sven Beer and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2014-05-27 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Marine photosynthesis provides for at least half of the primary production worldwide..." Photosynthesis in the Marine Environment constitutes a comprehensive explanation of photosynthetic processes as related to the special environment in which marine plants live. The first part of the book introduces the different photosynthesising organisms of the various marine habitats: the phytoplankton (both cyanobacteria and eukaryotes) in open waters, and macroalgae, marine angiosperms and photosymbiont-containing invertebrates in those benthic environments where there is enough light for photosynthesis to support growth, and describes how these organisms evolved. The special properties of seawater for sustaining primary production are then considered, and the two main differences between terrestrial and marine environments in supporting photosynthesis and plant growth are examined, namely irradiance and inorganic carbon. The second part of the book outlines the general mechanisms of photosynthesis, and then points towards the differences in light-capturing and carbon acquisition between terrestrial and marine plants. This is followed by discussing the need for a CO2 concentrating mechanism in most of the latter, and a description of how such mechanisms function in different marine plants. Part three deals with the various ways in which photosynthesis can be measured for marine plants, with an emphasis on novel in situ measurements, including discussions of the extent to which such measurements can serve as a proxy for plant growth and productivity. The final chapters of the book are devoted to ecological aspects of marine plant photosynthesis and growth, including predictions for the future.

Photosynthesis and Productivity in Different Environments

Download Photosynthesis and Productivity in Different Environments PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 9780521205733
Total Pages : 752 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (57 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Photosynthesis and Productivity in Different Environments by : J. P. Cooper

Download or read book Photosynthesis and Productivity in Different Environments written by J. P. Cooper and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1975-09-25 with total page 752 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume provides a unique comparative treatment of annual and seasonal photosynthetic production in both terrestrial and aquatic environments.

Plant Ecology

Download Plant Ecology PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 9783540208334
Total Pages : 716 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (83 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Plant Ecology by : Ernst-Detlef Schulze

Download or read book Plant Ecology written by Ernst-Detlef Schulze and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2005-02-18 with total page 716 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This textbook covers Plant Ecology from the molecular to the global level. It covers the following areas in unprecedented breadth and depth: - Molecular ecophysiology (stress physiology: light, temperature, oxygen deficiency, drought, salt, heavy metals, xenobiotica and biotic stress factors) - Autecology (whole plant ecology: thermal balance, water, nutrient, carbon relations) - Ecosystem ecology (plants as part of ecosystems, element cycles, biodiversity) - Synecology (development of vegetation in time and space, interactions between vegetation and the abiotic and biotic environment) - Global aspects of plant ecology (global change, global biogeochemical cycles, land use, international conventions, socio-economic interactions) The book is carefully structured and well written: complex issues are elegantly presented and easily understandable. It contains more than 500 photographs and drawings, mostly in colour, illustrating the fascinating subject. The book is primarily aimed at graduate students of biology but will also be of interest to post-graduate students and researchers in botany, geosciences and landscape ecology. Further, it provides a sound basis for those dealing with agriculture, forestry, land use, and landscape management.

Salinity Responses and Tolerance in Plants, Volume 1

Download Salinity Responses and Tolerance in Plants, Volume 1 PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319756710
Total Pages : 408 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (197 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Salinity Responses and Tolerance in Plants, Volume 1 by : Vinay Kumar

Download or read book Salinity Responses and Tolerance in Plants, Volume 1 written by Vinay Kumar and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-04-05 with total page 408 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soil salinity is a key abiotic-stress and poses serious threats to crop yields and quality of produce. Owing to the underlying complexity, conventional breeding programs have met with limited success. Even genetic engineering approaches, via transferring/overexpressing a single ‘direct action gene’ per event did not yield optimal results. Nevertheless, the biotechnological advents in last decade coupled with the availability of genomic sequences of major crops and model plants have opened new vistas for understanding salinity-responses and improving salinity tolerance in important glycophytic crops. Our goal is to summarize these findings for those who wish to understand and target the molecular mechanisms for producing salt-tolerant and high-yielding crops. Through this 2-volume book series, we critically assess the potential venues for imparting salt stress tolerance to major crops in the post-genomic era. Accordingly, perspectives on improving crop salinity tolerance by targeting the sensory, ion-transport and signaling mechanisms are presented here in volume 1. Volume 2 will focus on the potency of post-genomic era tools that include RNAi, genomic intervention, genome editing and systems biology approaches for producing salt tolerant crops.

Global Seagrass Research Methods

Download Global Seagrass Research Methods PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Elsevier
ISBN 13 : 008052561X
Total Pages : 506 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (85 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Global Seagrass Research Methods by : F.T. Short

Download or read book Global Seagrass Research Methods written by F.T. Short and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2001-11-06 with total page 506 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This thorough and informative volume presents a set of detailed, globally applicable techniques for seagrass research.The book provides methods for all aspects of seagrass science from basic plant collection to statistical approaches and investigations of plant-animal interaction. The emphasis is on methods that are applicable in both developing and developed countries. The importance of seagrasses in coastal and near shore environments, and ultimately their contribution to the productivity of the world's oceans, has become increasingly recognised over the last 40 years.Seagrasses provide food for sea turtles, nearly 100 fish species, waterfowl and for the marine mammals the manatee and dugong. Seagrasses also support complex food webs by virtue of their physical structure and primary production and are well known for their role as breeding grounds and nurseries for important crustacean, finfish and shell fish populations. Seagrasses are the basis of an important detrital food chain. The plants filter nutrients and contaminants from the water, stabilise sediments and act as dampeners to wave action. Seagrasses rank with coral reefs and mangroves as some of the world's most productive coastal habitat and strong linkages among these habitats make the loss of seagrasses a contributing factor in the degradation of the world's oceans. Contributors from around the world provide up-to-date methods for comparable collection of ecological information from both temperate and tropical seagrass ecosystems.