The volume is divided into two parts. Part 1 deals with the Ecology of Marine Communities, including chapters on the ecological concepts, the structure and development of pelagic, benthic, and coral reef communities in different global regions and from several viewpoints, including the adaptive significance of schooling in the sea (chapters 1, II, and Primary and secondary production is discussed in Chapter IV. Part 1 concludes with a treatment of ecosystem models in Chapter V. Part 2 focuses on Human Activity with a discussion on the potentials for increasing yields from fishery resources in Chapter I and the actual and potential impacts of pollution on marine ecosystems in Chapter II. The Volume represents an extensive synthesis of Soviet literature dealing with marine ecosystems which is discussed in relation to contemporary ideas of marine ecologists in other countries. An extensive listing of references in Russian and in English that supports the syntheses is included.