Dynamic Aquaria: Building and Restoring Ecosystems and the Biosphere, Fourth Edition demonstrates how the living systems modeling of aquatic ecosystems for ecological, biological, physiological research, and ecosystem restoration produce answers to very complex ecological questions. The book describes unique characteristics of water that have allowed carbon chemistry to flourish and evolve life over 4 billion years, along with current disruptions such as global warming, overfishing, and chemical pollution. New content in this edition includes the use of LED lighting, DNA sequencing in microcosm construction and analysis, and the expansion of the bioengineered tool Algal Turf Scrubbing (ATS) to combat global pollution problems.

The book also features new information on marine calcification, research microcosms, thermogeography, and methods of water movement for minimizing plankton loss. It supports a deeper biological and ecological intelligence among the human population to better understand the processes behind environmental issues.

Offers the basic physical and chemical background necessary for understanding aquatic and marine ecosystems
Expands available electro-mechanical tools for developing living system models
Features new information on the biomimicry water control system, Algal Turf Scrubbing (ATS)
Evidences how ecosystem modeling can contribute to the understanding of climate change

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction Part I: Physical Environment 2. Physical Parameters and Energy State 3. Substrate - Controlling the Benthic Component 4. Water Composition - Management of Salinity, Hardness, and Evaporation 5. The Input of Solar Energy - Lighting and New Possibilities 6. The Input of Organic Energy - Particulates and Feeding Part II: Biochemical Environment 7. Metabolism - Respiration, Photosynthesis, and Biological Loading 8. Organisms and Gas Exchange - Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, pH, and Alkalinity 9. Primary Nutrients - Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Silica 10. Biomineralization and Calcification - A Key to Biosphere and Ecosystem Function 11. Control of the Biochemical Environment - 3D Potential for Algal Turf Scrubbing Part III: Biological Structure 12. Community Structure - Biodiversity in Model Ecosystems 13. Thermogeography - The Distribution of Organisms Along Coasts 14. Trophic Structure - Ecosystems and Dynamics of Food Chains 15. Primary Producers - Bottom-Growing Plants 16. Herbivores 17. Carnivores 18. Plankton and Planktivores 19. Detritus and Detritivores 20. Symbionts and Other Feeders Part IV: Ecological Systems in Microcosms, Mesocosms, and Aquaria 21. Models of Coral Reef Ecosystems 22. Subarctic/Boreal Microcosm - Applications of New Research 23. Estuaries - Ecosystem Modelling and Restoration 24. Freshwater Ecosystem Models 25. Research Systems in Microcosms Part V: The Environment and Ecological Engineering 26. Organisms and Natural Products 27. Large Scale Water Quality Management with Solar Energy Capture Part VI: Synthesis 28. Microcosms, Mesocosms, and Macrocosms - Building and Restoring Ecosystems and the Biosphere