The Living Marine Resources Of The Eastern Central Atlantic

This multivolume field guide covers the species of interest to fisheries of the major marine resource groups exploited in the Eastern Central Atlantic. The area of coverage includes FAO fishing area 34 and part of 47. The marine resource groups included are bivalves, gastropods, chitons, cephalopods, stomatopods, shrimps, lobsters, crabs, hagfishes, sharks, batoid fishes, chimaeras, bony fishes and sea turtles. The introductory chapter outlines the environmental, ecological, and biogeographical factors influencing the marine biota, and the basic components of the fisheries in the Eastern Central Atlantic. Within the field guide, the sections on the re source groups are arranged phylogenetically according to higher taxonomic levels such as class, order, and family. Each resource group is introduced by general re marks on the group, an illustrated section on technical terms and measurements, and a key or guide to orders or families. Each family generally has an account summarizing family diagnostic characters, bi o logical and fisheries in formation, notes on similar families occur ring in the area, a key to species, a check list of species, and a short list of relevant literature. Families that are less important to fisheries include an abbreviated family account and no de tailed species in formation. Species in the important families are treated in detail (arranged alphabetically by genus and species) and include the species name, frequent synonyms and names of similar specie s, an illustration, FAO common name(s), diagnostic characters, biology and fisheries in formation, notes on geo graphical distribution, and a distribution map. For less important species, abbreviated accounts are used. Generally, this includes the species name, FAO common name(s), an illustration, a distribution map, and notes on biology, fisheries, and distribution. Each volume concludes with its own index of scientific and common names.

Each family generally has an account summarizing family diagnostic characters, biological and fisheries information, notes on similar families occurring in the area, a key to species, a check list of species, and a short list of relevant literature. Families that are less important to fisheries include an abbreviated family account.

This identification guide includes 552 species of mesopelagic fishes (i.e. those fishes residing primarily between 200-1000 m depth during daytime) that are known to occur in the central and south east Atlantic Ocean. Fully illustrated dichotomous keys to all taxa are provided. Species are treated in detail, with accounts including the scientific name, FAO common name in English (where available), other useful characters, size, a distribution map, and one or more illustrations. To facilitate even further the identification of the taxa, captions and arrows are added to help users quickly locate their key morphological features. The guide is intended for both specialists, and nonspecialists who have a working knowledge of ichthyology.

Living Marine Resources provides a thorough, up-to-date introduction to all aspects of fisheries science. This clearly written text offers insight into a topic of increasing importance--the wise utilization and management of sea fisheries to maximize production without exceeding their carrying capacity. Adoption of the approaches presented will improve the conservation and management of the many world fisheries that are suffering from years of inefficient practices. The book is divided into five sections, beginning with an introduction to the ocean environment and the various resource species. Part two examines fisheries biology, including age, growth, fecundity, and mortality, enabling readers to appreciate yield models designed to give estimates of maximum sustainable yield and maximum economic yield. The third part covers gear, methods, and landings and includes material on the handling and processing of seafood as well as aquaculture. In part four, yield models are presented to introduce students to theories on population dynamics, stock assessment, and management. The book concludes with coverage of recreational fisheries, including socioeconomic importance, catch and effort research, management techniques, and their interface with commercial fisheries. Living Marine Resources is an invaluable introduction to the subject for advanced undergraduate and graduate students of fisheries science. In addition, the material presented will be valuable to fishery and social scientists, fishery officers and administrators, and students in biology, engineering, economics, and law.

This open access book presents a comprehensive synthesis of the biodiversity of the oceanic islands of the Gulf of Guinea, a biodiversity hotspot off the west coast of Central Africa. Written by experts, the book compiles data from a plethora of sources – archives, museums, bibliography, official reports and previously unpublished data – to provide readers with the most updated information about the biological richness of these islands and the conservation issues they face. The Gulf of Guinea Oceanic Islands (Príncipe, São Tomé and Annobón and surrounding islets) present extraordinary levels of endemism across different animal, fungi and plant groups. This very high endemism likely results from the long geological history of the islands and their proximity to the diversity-rich continent. Many researchers, students and conservationists from across the globe are interested in documenting biodiversity on the islands, understanding the evolutionary origins of this diversity, and mitigating the impacts of global change on this unique archipelago. This book aims to be a primer for a broad audience seeking baseline biodiversity information and to serve as a roadmap for future research efforts aiming to fill knowledge gaps in understanding and conserving the unparalleled biodiversity of the Gulf of Guinea islands.