Among the fishes. a remarkably wide range of biological adaptations to
diverse habitats has evolved. As well as living in the conventional
habitats of lakes. ponds, rivers, rock pools and the open sea, fish have
solved the problems of life in deserts. in the deep sea. in the cold
antarctic. and in warm waters of high alkalinity or of low oxygen. Along
with these adaptations, we find the most impressive specialisations of
morphology, physiology and behaviour. For example we can marvel at the
high-speed swimming of the marlins. sailfish and warm-blooded tunas,
air-breathing in catfish and lungfish. parental care in the
mouth-brooding cichlids and viviparity in many sharks and toothcarps.
Moreover, fish are of considerable importance to the survival of the
human species in the form of nutritious. delicious and diverse food.
Rational exploi- management of our global stocks of fishes must rely
upon a detailed tation and and precise insight of their biology. The
Chapman [., . Hall Fish and Fisheries series aims to present timely
volumes reviewing important aspects of fish biology. Most volumes will
be of interest to research workers in biology. zoology. ecology and
physiology but an additional aim is for the books to be accessible to a
wide spectrum of non-specialist readers ranging from undergraduates and
postgraduates to those with an interest in industrial and commercial
aspects of IIsh and t1sheries.
