Almost coffee-table in style, this photo guide covers the full range of planktonic organisms in European seas. A short introduction covers the concept of plankton, ranges of sizes, annual productivity, diversity, ecology, trophic relationships and study methods.

The main body of the work surveys most of the plant and animal kingdoms in 60 plates of beautiful photographs with explanatory text on the facing pages. The subject matter is divided into taxonomic themes each occupying one or more spreads. The text includes an overview of the biology, with the lower portion of the page being the key to the photographs.

Many of the photographs are photomicrographs, others are less highly enlarged and there are some at life-size or less (many of these are of the more familiar adult forms to provide context.) A minor criticism is that it is necessary to read through the captions to ascertain the size of the organisms.

The final plate is of miscellaneous objects that turn up in plankton samples. Among the Copepod faecal pellets, an Eleagnus trichome and Pinus pollen serve as a reminder of the influence of land.

Text in English.