PrefaceCh. 1 Towards an Ecological Geography of the Sea- Progressive exploration of oceanic and shelfecosystems- The availability of timely global data from satellites- Internal dynamics of satellite-observed algal bloomsCh.2 Changing views of how marine ecosystems function-From pristine to modified ecosystems-Our new understanding of the role of very small organismsCh.3 Biogeographic Data in Ecological Analysis-Taxonomic diversity, the shifting base-line of biogeography- The useful results from 150 years of marine biogeography*Biogeographic regions of the pelagos*Benthis and demersal biogeography*The benthic paradox and polar reproductive strategyCh.4 Ocean fronts and other ecological discontinuities-Fronts and frontal systems*Oceanic fronts*Shelf-edge and upwelling fronts*River plumes and tidal fronts of shelf seas*The ubiquitous 'horizontal front' at the shallow pycnocline*The oceanic eddy-fieldCh. 5 Physical Forcing of Phytoplankton Production-Stratification and mixing in the open ocean-Regional and latitudinal resistance to mixing in the open ocean-Rule-based models of ecological response to external forcing-The ecological consequenses of the global field of mesoscale eddies-Geological, sedimentary and tidal forcing of shallow-sea ecosystemsCh.6 Nutriend Limitation: The Example of Iron-Nutrient distribution, differing supply ratios to euphotic zone-Regional anomalies in nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth-Simulation of nutrient limitation: Conflicting indicationsCh.7 Biomes: The Primary Compartments-The four primary biomes of the upper ocean*Polar biome*Westerlies biome*Trades biome*Coastal biomeCh.8 Provinces: The Secondary Partition-Ecological provinces in the open ocean-Ways of testing province boundaries in the open ocean*A stastistical test*Analytical tests*A biogeographic test-Practical and useful partitions in coastal seasCh. 9 Longer term responses: From Seasons to Centuries-Scales of external forcing-Recurrent ENSO-scale changes of state-Multi-decadal trends and changes-Conclusion: A partition for a variable ocean?Ch.10 The Atlantic OceanCh.11 The Indian OceanCh.12 The Pacific OceanCh.13 The Southern Ocean