Goffredo S., Dubinsky Z. (Eds.) The Cnidaria, Past, Present and Future

Springer, 2016. — 842 p. — ISBN10: 3319313037. — ISBN13: 978-3319313030.A unique, topical, multi-level, interdisciplinary coverage of Cnidaria
Takes the reader through the earliest evolution of the taxon and the ramification of its taxonomy
Explores the Cnidaria genesis, evolution and systematics, its zoogeography, calcification, reproduction, symbiosis, photobiology, and global climate change, and gives insight in its immune system, medical aspects
Looks at the molecular and genomic make-up; ecology and physiology; use in jewelry; invasion of human imagination in art and myth
Bridges artificial schism between science, arts and Humanities
This volume presents a broad panorama of the current status of research of invertebrate animals considered belonging to the phylum Cnidaria, such as hydra, jellyfish, sea anemone, and coral. In this book the Cnidarians are traced from the Earth's primordial oceans, to their response to the warming and acidifying oceans. Due to the role of corals in the carbon and calcium cycles, various aspects of cnidarian calcification are discussed. The relation of the Cnidaria with Mankind is approached, in accordance with the Editors' philosophy of bridging the artificial schism between science, arts and Humanities. Cnidarians' encounters with humans result in a broad spectrum of medical emergencies that are reviewed. The final section of the volume is devoted to the role of Hydra and Medusa in mythology and art.