Zooplankton of the South Atlantic Ocean

( Edited by Demetrio Boltovskoy )

A comprehensive tool for the specific identification of 27 zooplankton groups.

Zooplankton of the South Atlantic Ocean is a general reference and guide to the identification and geographic distribution of the zooplanktonic organisms of the South Atlantic Ocean (0 to 60 S, coast to coast). Even though the region does not extend to the Antarctic coasts, since this also encompasses water south of the Polar Front, most Antarctic zooplankton is also included.

Zooplankton of the South Atlantic Ocean represents a comprehensive tool for the specific identification of 27 zooplanktonic groups, offering detailed reviews of both the geographic and vertical distribution patterns of the species present in the area. This edition covers all formal literature, as well as the very abudant "grey literature" produced in the last decades, much of which is in the form of unpublished dissertations, internal reports, and articles in local journals of restricted distribution.

Coverage is not restricted to species actually recorded in the South Atlantic, but also includes taxa whose presence in the area is likely, but has not been confirmed yet. This, combined with coverage including equatorial to antarctic waters, resulted in a volume that includes very significant proportions (up to 100% in some cases) of the known species within each group. The usefulness of the volume is not restricted to South Atlantic waters. Because no comparable recent works exist for other major oceanic areas of the world, the value of this book extends beyond the South Atlantic, serving a s a world-wide zooplanktonic guide. In all cases data presented are not merely compilations of previous reports, but represent critical reviews of the knowledge of each group, often with substantial original information by highly qualified specialists.

Each chapter is structured along the following guidelines:

(a) A brief introduction with general remarks on biological traits of the group (reproduction and life-histories, salient cytological and anatomical features, trophic relationships, etc.).

(b) Group-specific methodological recommendations on collection, preservation, preparation and observation of the specimens.

(c) Horizontal and vertical distribution patterns in the South Atlantic, with remarks on world-wide distribution in appropriate cases. Distributional data for each of the species treated are provided in tables or maps. Where the information available is adequate, overall geographic ranges are illustrated; otherwise no extrapolations are attempted but the isolated confirmed records are provided.

(d) Taxonomy and identification. This includes profusely illustrated and detailed reviews of diagnostic characters, including an illustrated glossary of specific terms. Discussions of the current status of classification systems, a general outline classification of the group, and diagnoses and/or keys for species and suprageneric categories.

With increasing global awareness of the need for more data on biodiversity, this project will certainly be a most valuable contribution to current knowledge on the biota of a large area of the earth's surface. Furthermore, taxonomic information needs to be dispersed as widely as possible, not the least because the number of new taxonomists being trained world-wide has been declining consistently over the past many years. 
A treatise which covers a defined geographic area and contains up-to-date systematic and nomenclatural information on such a large number of taxa is a major contribution and often has far wider impact than originally intended, In this context, the volume establishes a useful updated baseline of current knowledge of the diversity, distribution and abundance of zooplankton in the South Atlantic, highlighting gaps in available information, increasing awareness of the need for taxonomics, and hopefully stimulating work in these areas.