Oceans are the most distinct and imposing natural environment on our planet. They cover 71% of its surface, support an astonishingly diverse and sophisticated range of life forms, from tiny viruses, bacteria, and plankton to the largest existing animals, and house many of the most important, interesting, and inaccessible ecosystems on Earth. In an era when humans are significantly altering the global environment, oceans are undergoing rapid and profound change. The study of marine biology thus gains added significance and urgency as people attempt to understand and manage these changes in order to protect our marine ecosystems. Healthy oceans produce half the oxygen we breathe, stabilize our climate, create ecosystems that shield our coasts from storms, provide us with abundant food, and host diverse organisms that supply us with natural products for medicine and biotechnology.

In this Very Short Introduction, marine biologist Philip Mladenov provides an accessible and up-to-date overview of marine biology, offering a tour of marine life and its processes that range from the incredibly abundant microscopic organisms that fuel the ocean’s food web to the top predators we exploit for food. From polar marine ecosystems to tropical coral reefs, and from the lush sea foliage of coastal oceans to the hydrothermal vents of the deep ocean, where life exists without the energy of the sun. Throughout the book, he examines the anthropogenic impacts on marine life, including overfishing, plastic and nutrient pollution, the spread of invasive species, and the warming and acidification of oceans. He discusses the threats these impacts pose to our well-being and the actions needed to put us on a path toward a more sustainable relationship with the oceans, so they can be restored and protected for future generations. Mladenov concludes with a new chapter offering an inspired perspective on the future of our oceans in 2050, which is attainable if we are wise enough to accelerate the already ongoing efforts and bold in implementing new approaches.

The next decade will determine the state of the oceans we leave behind for future generations.

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