Fish form an extremely diverse group of
vertebrates. At a conservative estimate
at least 40% of the world's vertebrates
are fish. On the one hand they are
united by their adaptations to an
aquatic environment and on the other
they show a variety of adaptations to
differing environmental conditions -
often to extremes of temperature,
salinity, oxygen level and water
chemistry. They exhibit an array of
behavioural and reproductive systems.
Interesting in their own right, this
suite of adaptive physiologies provides
many model systems for both comparative
vertebrate and human physiologists.This
four volume encyclopedia covers the
diversity of fish physiology in over 300
articles and provides entry level
information for students and summary
overviews for researchers alike.Broadly
organised into four themes, articles
cover Functional, Thematic, and
Phylogenetic Physiology, and Fish
GenomicsFunctional articles address the
traditional aspects of fish physiology
that are common to all areas of
vertebrate physiology including:
Reproduction, Respiration, Neural
(Sensory, Central, Effector),
Endocrinology, Renal, Cardiovascular,
Acid-base Balance, Osmoregulation,
Ionoregulation, Digestion, Metabolism,
Locomotion, and so on.Thematic
Physiology articles are carefully
selected and fewer in number. They
provide a level of integration that goes
beyond the coverage in the Functional
Physiology topics and include
discussions of Toxicology,
Air-breathing, Migrations, Temperature,
Endothermy, etc.Phylogenetic Physiology
articles bring together information that
bridges the physiology of certain
groupings of fishes where the knowledge
base has a sufficient depth and breadth
and include articles on Ancient Fishes,
Tunas, Sharks, etc.Genomics articles
describe the underlying genetic
component of fish physiology and high
light their suitability and use as model
organisms for the study of disease,
stress and physiological adaptations and
reactions to external conditions. * The
definitive encyclopedia for the field of
Fish Physiology. * Three volumes which
comprehensively cover the entire field
in over 300 entries written by experts.*
Detailed coverage of basic Functional
Physiology of fishes, Physiological
Themes in Fish Biology and Comparative
Physiology amongst taxonomic Groups.*
Describes the genomic bases of fish
physiology and biology and the use of
fish as model organisms in human
physiological research.* Includes a
glossary of terms.* Available on-line in
indexed searchable format.