A revised and updated edition of a book by a Bangor University Professor, which rapidly became the standard text book on polar regions, is published today (20.3.08).
The revised edition of The Biology of Polar Regions by the late Professor Tony Fogg, is published by Oxford University Press. It coincides with and is endorsed by the International Polar Year 2008-08.
The new edition has been thoroughly revised and updated by Bangor University’s Professor David Thomas with the assistance of sever other experts.
“It was an honour to be involved in this project,” says Professor David Thomas, of the School of Ocean Sciences. David Thomas’s own research on the biogeochemistry of sea ice has taken him on many polar research expeditions. He is also the author of several books and articles on the subject.
“What is remarkable is that a major revision of Professor Tony Fogg’s book, published in 1988, is needed in such a short period of time. This is a reflection of just how fast progress is being made in our exploration of Polar regions and in our understanding of how life survives in these extremes. An understanding of the Polar regions is vital for anyone interested in polar ecology and marine science.”
“I’d like to pay tribute to Professor Fogg, who conceived and wrote the book- which has taken eight experts to update. Professor Fogg was a keen and influential communicator of the history of Antarctic exploration and scientific endeavour in the Polar regions. A spirit of enthusiasm for the subject that was a hallmark of Tony’s writing it is a great testament to Tony that the opening and concluding chapters go largely unchanged. His conclusion bears witness to the fact that he was a perceptive scientist who was able to see the much bigger picture,” says Professor David Thomas.
The text book provides a concise but comprehensive introduction to polar ecology. It provides expanded coverage of marine ecosystems and the impact of humans. It incorporates a detailed comparison of the Arctic and Antarctic systems, with an emphasis on the effects of climate change, and describes the ranges of polar habitats.
The book forms part of the Biology of Habitats Series, and is suitable for both senior undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in polar ecology, often as part of a wider marine biology degree programme. It will also appeal to the many professional ecologists and conservation biologists requiring a concise overview of the topic.
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