"Seaweeds offer a rich variety of habitats for animals and serve as important food sources. David Thomas describes the red, brown, and green classifications that encompass over ten thousand species and emphasizes that seaweeds can be understood as dynamic canopies only by visualizing them under water.

He explains how seaweeds get all of their nutrients from the surrounding water, needing roots only to anchor to the sea floor, and how some species use "anti-grazing" strategies to discourage fish by releasing swift doses of unappetizing acids.".

"The economic value of seaweed is astounding. Some species are harvested for $1 billion annually, and seaweed constitutes up to 10 percent of the average diet in Japan. The search continues for compounds in seaweed that may be beneficial as new drugs, antibiotics, and cancer treatments. Not only is seaweed vital to coastal ecosystems, but it is also an important part of everyday life."--BOOK JACKET.