麻豆传媒

THE sea 鈥渘ever changes鈥�, wrote Joseph Conrad, 鈥渁nd its works for all the talk of men are wrapped in mystery鈥�. Those wishing to delve into that mystery could start with the Encyclopedia of the Oceans, edited by Dorrik Stow. Starting with a brief history of marine science and ending with an optimistic view of its future, the book covers subjects as diverse as plate tectonics and coral reefs. With its welcome geological dimension, it deserves to thrive on the already crowded shore of reference books about the oceans.

The encyclopedia is just one of the works to neglect the first people ever to dive into the deep sea, William Beebe and Otis Barton. Not so Brad Matsen鈥檚 Descent. Matsen acknowledges the pair as an inspiration to marine biologists and oceanographers, telling the compelling tale of their pioneering plunges in their bathysphere and the turbulent clash of their personalities. Seventy years before the BBC gave UK viewers The Abyss Live, Beebe broadcast live from the ocean depths, describing its denizens to radio listeners across the US.

For a view of marine biology wider than a bathysphere鈥檚 porthole can offer, try Biological Oceanography by Charles Miller. This is not just a textbook: Miller shares his thoughts on current debates, and the choice of highlights in his tour of marine life is perhaps also personal. Deep-sea vents get their own chapter, for example, while there is no mention of other, more recently discovered communities that depend on chemical energy. Miller clearly conveys an infectious passion for understanding the biology of the largest habitat on our planet.

Most people have their favourite animals, and the Collins Field Guide to Sharks of the World is a must-have for those who pick sharks. Squeezed between its covers are descriptions of over 440 species, from the strange goblin shark to the megamouth. Leonard Compagno, Marc Dando and Sarah Fowler usefully list and illustrate each species, giving details of their distribution, distinguishing features and conservation status.

Turtle fans, meanwhile, will appreciate James Spotila鈥檚 Sea Turtles: A complete guide to their biology, behavior and conservation. Each species gets a chapter with sumptuous photographs, and short personal profiles pay homage to those spearheading conservation efforts. Spotila eloquently urges us not to let these beautiful ocean wanderers pass gently into the night after 110 million years: he is donating royalties to the Leatherback Conservation Trust.

The fate of many turtles hangs on the tensions between tourism, economics and conservation, and these are the focus of the case studies edited by Jeremy Boissevain and Tom Selwyn in Contesting the Foreshore. Individually these essays are captivating, but their common themes are less clear.

With such natural wonders and challenges out there, why would anyone stay in to study mathematical models of the ocean? Fundamentals of Ocean Climate Models by Stephen Griffies provides an excellent explanation of the philosophy behind these efforts. Griffies demystifies these models, whose arcane secrets are usually passed from the mouths of researchers to the ears of their students. The maths is easily digestible for those who want it.

Finally, The Devil鈥檚 Teeth by Susan Casey is an evocative and entertaining account of the cutting edge of marine biology. The title refers to the nickname of the Farallon Islands off the coast of California, a lonely outpost for researchers investigating the behaviour of great white sharks. Casey, who is a journalist, charts the unforeseen consequences of her own nascent obsession with these animals. As she notes, 鈥渢he ocean is filled with unfinished stories: endings with unknown beginnings, blind guesses where there are usually facts鈥�. That is exactly what makes studying it such fun.