Biology of the Integument: Invertebrates

The integument plays an important role in the survival of meta- zoans by separating and protecting them from a hostile environ- ment. Its function ranges from protection against injury and in- fection; partlcipation in the regulation of body temperature and water balance, to respiratory activity, monitoring of the environ- ment and production of signals related to behaviour. All these result from specific structural, biochemical and physiological properties of intra-and extracellular components of the integu- ment. Thus its characterization can be best accomplished by a multidisciplinary approach with authors specialized in different fields of science. This multi-author book, in two volumes, provides an up-to- date survey of the literature. The first volume deals with the integument of invertebrates, the second with that of vertebrates, both organized primarily on a phylum basis. As the level of knowledge on the integument of phyla differs considerably, the information provided is correspondingly either limited or con- densed. For some of the smaller groups of invertebrates little information is available, as often only a few electron micrographs are to be found in the literature; on the other hand, from the large body of knowledge existing for vertebrates, particularly for mammals, no complete overview can be provided, but publica- tions giving access to further information have been reviewed critically.

• | Author: J. Bereiter-Hahn
• | Publisher: Springer
• | Publication Date: Jul 20, 2012
• | Number of Pages: 844 pages
• | Binding: Paperback or Softback
• | ISBN-10: 3642515959
• | ISBN-13: 9783642515958