Includes bibliographical references (pages 135-137) and index.
1. Physical aspects: origins, science, and processes of continental shelf environments -- 2. Microbes and plants: the beginning and end of continental shelf food chains -- 3. Sponges, cnidarians, and worms: simple and successful animals on the continental shelf -- 4. Mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms, and tunicates: the most common animals on the continental shelf -- 5. Fish: the most successful continental shelf vertebrates -- 6. Reptiles, birds, and mammals: complex vertebrates on the continental shelf -- 7. Safeguarding the continental shelf.
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Describes features and physical aspects of the relatively shallow waters surrounding large landmasses, including tidal energy, sea grasses, and kelp, and focuses on inhabitants such as crustaceans, echinoderms, and groundfish.