Biology of Polar Benthic Algae

In-depth knowledge about aquatic plant species, from their sub-cellular organization to their interactions within ecosystems, is of utmost importance as the world faces the challenges of the 21st century. From losses in biodiversity and changes in aquatic ecosystems to the potential of algal biofuel and artificial photosynthesis, some of the hottest topics of our time rely on basic research in aquatic botany. This new book series covers topics from all of the disciplines of marine and freshwater botany at all levels of biological organization. Primary subject areas are: systematics, floristics, biogeography, ecology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, chemistry, industrial processes and utilization, and biotechnology of algae and angiosperms. Mycology and microbiology topics are also part of the scope of the series.

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This work synthesizes the current state of knowledge on the biology of polar benthic marine algae and presents an outlook on their responses to changing environmental conditions in polar regions. Topics treated include environment, biodiversity and biogeography of micro- and macroalgae, including an update of the knowledge of the red algal flora of Antarctica. It treats the chemical ecology as well as the primary production and ecophysiology of polar benthic algae with new information on the important contribution of benthic microalgae to the productivity in costal areas.