Brown Seaweeds (Phaeophyceae) of Britain and Ireland provides the first complete, up-to-date, detailed illustrated guide and keys to the nearly 200 species of brown algae present around the coasts of Britain and Ireland. It is the culmination of over 30 years of field and laboratory studies by the author. Following an exhaustive introduction that covers the biology and ecology of brown seaweeds, a checklist of species is set out, followed by clear and user-friendly keys to the genera. Particular attention is then paid to providing detailed illustrations, and the volume holds more than 300 compound plates of line drawings and photographs in its extensive taxonomic treatment. Comprehensive information is given on the geographical and seasonal distributions, synonymy, morphology, anatomy, cytology, reproduction, life histories, taxonomy, systematics and bibliographic material pertaining to each species. Notably, this flora offers a much fuller consideration of many of the lesser known, more cryptic microscopic brown algae than previously available. Further, the book also contains the results of much original research undertaken by the author. This will surely remain a standard reference work on brown seaweeds for many years to come - an indispensable research tool and field guide for phycologists and students throughout the North Atlantic region and beyond.
Robert Fletcher is a Visiting Reader at the Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK, where he has worked since 1971. He has published widely on aspects of the ecology, life histories, molecular biology, taxonomy and applied aspects of marine algae, with particular respect to the brown algae. He is a member of both the British Society of Phycology and the International Society of Phycology. He received his PhD in Marine Botany from the University of London, UK in 1974.
Preface Acknowledgements Introduction Cell structure The brown algal thallus Reproduction Life histories Community ecology Floristics Systematics Checklist of Phaeophyceae for Britain and Ireland Arrangement of the work References for Introduction Keys to genera Taxonomic treatment SUBCLASS DISCOSPORANGIOPHYCIDAE Order Discosporangiales Family Choristocarpaceae SUBCLASS ISHIGEOPHYCIDAE Order Ishigeales Family Petrodermatceae SUBCLASS DICTYOTOPHYCIDAE Order Dictyotales Family Dictyotaceae Order Sphacelariales Family Cladostephaceae Family Lithodermataceae Family Sphacelariaceae Family Sphacelodermataceae Family Stypocaulaceae SUBCLASS FUCOPHYCIDAE Order Desmarestiales Family Arthrocladiaceae Family Desmarestiaceae Order Ectocarpales Family Acinetosporaceae Family Chordariaceae Family Ectocarpaceae Family Petrospongiaceae Family Scytosiphonaceae Order Fucales Family Fucaceae Family Himanthaliaceae Family Cystoseiraceae Family Sargassaceae Order Laminariales Family Alariaceae Family Chordaceae Family Laminariaceae Order Ralfsiales Family Ralfsiaceae Order Sporochnales Family Sporochnaceae Order Tilopteridales Family Cutleriaceae Family Halosiphonaceae Family Phyllariaceae Family Tilopteridaceae Incertae sedis at ordinal rank Sorapion Glossary References Index
Brown Seaweeds is an indispensable, comprehensive, illustrated guide to all the brown seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. The author has an extensive research and publication track record on marine algae, which is evident in the level of detail provided in the taxonomic information and the images presented in this guide. -- Dr Nova Mieszkowska * The Marine Biologist * Brown Seaweeds (Phaeophyceae) of Britain and Ireland is an indispensable research tool for phycologists, marine biologists, students, and anyone involved in the study or conservation of coastal ecosystems. Although its a very large tome and expensive it is destined to remain a standard reference work for decades, replacing older texts and setting a new benchmark for regional seaweed identification guides. -- Roy Stewart * BNA Bulletin *
