The book begins with an examination of the fundamentals of marine ecology, then sets the Australian context by explaining the biogeographic patterns and processes of the continent. It then provides an overview of the major marine ecosystems, and finishes with the local through global changes to their ecology. This information equips Australian and international students and researchers with a cutting-edge view of Australian systems. Of its nature, it will also identify the deficiencies in capacity and progress of Australian marine ecology and become a required text into the foreseeable future.