The Ocean’s Operating System: The Mechanisms, Materials and Rules Driving Marine Planktonic Life

“The Ocean’s Operating System offers something different: an ‘easy’ reader of some of the basics of the small-scale physics and biology of the ocean. It fills a huge gap in the literature for bachelor and higher-level students, communicating rather difficult technical stuff without the use of equations. The language is beautiful and captures the reader: Albert Calbet manages to explain complicated and counter-intuitive things in a simple way without compromising scientific rigor. I have been missing such a book when teaching introductory marine ecology!” Professor Thomas Kiørboe, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark “The Ocean’s Operating System fills a genuine gap in the current literature. Most books about marine ecosystems are structured taxonomically or narratively. In contrast, this book focuses on mechanisms, constraints, and physical–biological principles. I agree with the rationale: the approach is thought‑provoking and innovative. The content is strong, comprehensive, and thoughtfully organized, and the emphasis on physics, materials, and ecological “devices” is refreshing. It has the potential to become a durable reference for mechanism‑oriented marine ecology and advanced teaching.” Dr Chris Bowler, Director of Research at CNRS and Head of Plant and Algal Genomics Lab at IBENS, France “The development of a ‘user-friendly’ set of rules to explain how the physical and chemical principles of ocean processes can explain the biology and ecology of marine planktonic organisms is very imaginative and exciting. The book has a unique approach with the potential to greatly influence the education of the next generation of marine biology and oceanography students, as well as being an important resource for a wide range of professionals. The writing is exceptional: it is scientifically rigorous and, unlike much academic writing, elegant, engaging and easy to follow. I was ‘hooked’ as soon as I started reading!” Dr Colin Munn, Honorary Fellow, Marine Institute, University of Plymouth