This updated and expanded guide thoroughly documents every aspect of seaweed life, from species identification and seaweed biology to the essential--and often surprising--roles seaweed plays in the marine ecosystem and our everyday lives. Seaweeds are used in everything from cosmetics to sustainable biofuels, and some species, like kelp, contribute to the remediation of coastal ecosystems.
Featuring an attractive new full-colour design, the expanded Pacific Seaweeds includes updated species descriptions, dozens of additional colour photos, new species discovered since the original edition, and brand-new sections on common shore plants and the use of DNA techniques to discover, catalog and identify seaweeds. It also features several new recipes and an essay on umami--because in addition to all its other uses, some species of seaweed make delectable food.
Packed with illustrations, vivid colour photographs, comprehensive scientific information and further readings, this easy-to-use guidebook will appeal to marine biologists, amateur beachcombers, gourmet foragers and everyone in between.
"...the book is way beyond a field guide. It has sections on seaweeds in general, explaining their biology, morphology and their place in our universe... I not only like the information packed in this book, I very much enjoyed the writing style... While seaweeds do not have the pizzazz of orchid flowers, fall maples or fly agaric, they are a fascinating group and worthy of study and admiration. This book will help in your hunt for new and old species."
~ Roy John, Canadian Field Naturalist, Vol 130, No 2, 2016
"If you’ve ever wondered about the names of seaweeds that have washed up on shore, this is the guide to reach for. Of the several methods employed by the authors to aid your identification efforts, one of the most clever is the way seaweeds are photographed... What plainly comes through in this book is that the authors are enthusiastic and passionate about these plants of the sea."