The Aegean Sea Environment

This is the second of three Books that together provide an integrated picture of the Aegean Sea, presenting the natural components of the system (Book I and Book II) as well as the human presence in the extended area (Book III).

The Aegean Sea, also called Aegean Archipelagos, is an open, complex, and diverse marine system situated between the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, with different compartments and interactions. Book II offers a multidisciplinary perspective of the diverse habitats and intricate relationships that shape the Aegean Sea's coastal environment, covering the Aegean Sea's biodiversity. Book II also, provides valuable insights into the current state and conservation of the cetaceans, Mediterranean monk seals, sea turtles, seabirds, and benthic communities that call the Aegean Sea home. The book closes with a chapter where experts in the field provide an overview of the functioning of the Aegean Sea natural system, highlighting existing knowledge gapsand proposing avenues for future research.

Given the breadth and depth of its coverage, this book serves as a valuable resource for researchers, scholars, and students interested in biology of the marine environment, as well as policymakers and conservationists seeking a comprehensive understanding of the Aegean Sea's complex natural systems.

Part I: LIFE IN THE LAND-AIR-SEA TRANSITION ZONES. - Chapter 1 Transitional Ecosystems Along the Aegean Sea Coastline of Greece. - Chapter 2 Coastal Habitats in the Aegean Sea: Soft Bottom, Seagrasses, and Hard Bottom. - Chapter 3 Seabirds of the Aegean. - Part II: LIFE IN THE SEA WATER MASSES. - Chapter 4 Microbial Life in the Aegean Sea. - Chapter 5 Phytoplankton Dynamics in the Aegean Sea. - Chapter 6 Mesozooplankton Dynamics in the Aegean Sea. - Chapter 7 The Fish Fauna in the Hellenic Seas with Emphasis to the Aegean Sea. - Chapter 8 Current State of Knowledge and Conservation Perspectives on the Cetaceans of the Aegean Sea. - Chapter 9 The Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus) in the Aegean Sea. The Living Myth of the Sirens . - Chapter 10 Sea turtles in the Aegean Sea. - Part III: BENTHIC FLORA AND FAUNA IN THE AEGEAN SEA. - Chapter 11 Seascape of Soft Bottom Benthic Communities in the Aegean Sea. - Chapter 12 Seaweed Flora and Vegetation of the Aegean Sea. - Chapter 13 Benthic Meiofauna in the Aegean Sea. - Chapter 14 Microbial Benthic Communities in the Aegean Sea. -Part IV: FUTURE RESEARCH FOR THE FUNCTIONING OF THE AEGEAN SEA SYSTEM. - Chapter 15 Biological Invasions in the Aegean Sea: Temporal Trends, Pathways, and Impacts. - Chapter 16 The Overview of the Actual Knowledge on the Functioning of the Aegean Sea Natural System and Perspectives for the Future Research. Part I: LIFE IN THE LAND-AIR-SEA TRANSITION ZONES. - Chapter 1 Transitional Ecosystems Along the Aegean Sea Coastline of Greece. - Chapter 2 Coastal Habitats in the Aegean Sea: Soft Bottom, Seagrasses, and Hard Bottom. - Chapter 3 Seabirds of the Aegean. - Part II: LIFE IN THE SEA WATER MASSES. - Chapter 4 Microbial Life in the Aegean Sea. - Chapter 5 Phytoplankton Dynamics in the Aegean Sea. - Chapter 6 Mesozooplankton Dynamics in the Aegean Sea. - Chapter 7 The Fish Fauna in the Hellenic Seas with Emphasis to the Aegean Sea. - Chapter 8 Current State of Knowledge and Conservation Perspectives on the Cetaceans of the Aegean Sea. - Chapter 9 The Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus) in the Aegean Sea. The Living Myth of the Sirens . - Chapter 10 Sea turtles in the Aegean Sea. - Part III: BENTHIC FLORA AND FAUNA IN THE AEGEAN SEA. - Chapter 11 Seascape of Soft Bottom Benthic Communities in the Aegean Sea. - Chapter 12 Seaweed Flora and Vegetation of the Aegean Sea. - Chapter 13 Benthic Meiofauna in the Aegean Sea. - Chapter 14 Microbial Benthic Communities in the Aegean Sea. -Part IV: FUTURE RESEARCH FOR THE FUNCTIONING OF THE AEGEAN SEA SYSTEM. - Chapter 15 Biological Invasions in the Aegean Sea: Temporal Trends, Pathways, and Impacts. - Chapter 16 The Overview of the Actual Knowledge on the Functioning of the Aegean Sea Natural System and Perspectives for the Future Research.