Citizens of the Sea: Wondrous Creatures from the Census of Marine Life. This item is unavailable.Citizens of the Sea: Wondrous Creatures from the Census of Marine Life

The astonishing diversity of ocean life will wow you in this riveting book, perfect for all ages, by marine scientist Nancy Knowlton. Citizens of the Sea reveals the most intriguing organisms in the ocean, captured in action by skilled underwater photographers from National Geographic and the Census of Marine Life. As you read lively vignettes about sea creatures’ names, defenses, migration, mating habits, and more, you’ll be amazed at wonders like; The almost inconceivable number of creatures in the marine world. From the bounty of microbes in one drop of seawater, we can calculate that there are more individuals in the oceans than stars in the universe; The sophisticated sensory abilities that help these animals survive. For many, the standard five senses are just not enough; The incredible distances that seabirds and other species cover. Some will feed in both Arctic and Antarctic waters within a single year;The odd relationships common in the marine world. From a dental hygienist for fish to a walrus’s one-night stand, you’ll find beauty, practicality, and plenty of eccentricity in sea-life socialization.

Dr. Nancy Knowlton holds the Sant Chair in Marine Science at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where her research focuses on coral reefs. She is an expert on biodiversity and threats to the ocean, and her analyses have led to the recognition that estimates of marine diversity are probably too low by a factor of ten. She serves on the National Geographic Society's Committee on Research and Exploration, the World Bank's Targeted Research Program for Coral Reefs, and the Census of Marine Life's Coral Reef Initiative.