In the broadest sense, there are two types of ecosystems-aquatic and terrestrial. We can distinguish freshwater, estuarine and marine aquatic ecosystems and several major types of ecosystems such as grassland, forest and desert. Although these all ecosystems have a more or less similar fundamental plan of their gross structure and function, they differ in respect of their species composition and rates of composition.

This book encompasses a number of vital issues on the subject. A veritable mine of information, the contents viz. Evolutionary ecosystem; concepts of ecology; ecosystem ecology; community ecology; major ecosystems of the world; Marine ecosystems; geographical ecosystems etc. will equip the readers with latest and uptodate knowledge in the field.

Due to oil exploration and transportation garbage dumping and other commercial activities on sea-shore marine ecology is in dwindling stage. To protect marine ecology many laws are enacted. This book presents original text of some of the major laws. Oslo Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft (1972); Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (1972); Convention on the Prevention of Pollution by Ships (1973); Helsinki Convention on the Protection of Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (1974); Paris Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution; Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution; Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage Resulting from Exploration for and Exploration of Seabed Mineral Resources (1977); UNCLOS III Settlement of Disputes and Advisory Opinions (1982); Montreal Guidelines in the Protection of Marine Environment (1985); Male Declaration on Global Warming and Sea Level Rise (1989); International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (1990) etc. will benefit the readers.

Marine ecology is concerned with environmental factors and problems of organic adjustments quite different from those in fresh water. Strictly speaking marine pollution may also be of natural origin. For example, it may be caused by underwater gas and oil eruptions, or by the intensive growth and subsequent death of certain micro-organisms, which are responsible for the familiar disastrous red tides.

Marine ecology and pollution can be studied under three principal categories; Biochemistry of pollutions; marine ecotoxicology; and biological principles of antipollution measures. Nature of oceanic life; Marine ecology and oceanographic environment; Concepts in marine pollution; Marine pollutants and their sources; The effects of marine pollution; Marine oil pollution; Protection of Mediterranean Sea against pollution etc. are categorically discussed in this book. The rich contents will equip the readers concerned with uptodate knowledge in the field.

Recent developments in science have asserted the inter-dependence of all life, microbial, plant and animal, between themselves and with the physical environment of land, air, water and solar energy, this inter-dependence is embedded in the evolution of life during the past three billion years or more with the origin of various forms of life, and extinction of others, and the formation of our atmosphere, water bodies and land masses.

The science of ecology is the study of such system, their inter-relationship and normal slow secular changes of such systems.

The basic concepts of natural environment are X-rayed pros and cons in this book. The authentic information is organized in eight chapters namely-Introduction; bio diversity; floral and faunal distribution; rivers; endangered resources; bio-resources; wildlife etc.