This unique, respected book brings together the diverse modeling efforts of two decades of research in the Smithsonian Marine Systems Laboratory. Dynamic Aquaria, Second Edition integrates the fields of ecology and aquarium science to give readers a better understanding of simulated ecosystem function and ecological food webs. In a new larger format, the Second Edition presents the limitations imposed upon these webs by their compression into micro- and mesocosms. The book demonstrates mainstream ecological research alongside practical issues of aquaria construction, and successfully presents essential aspects of ecological systems in an accessible fashion. It describes the introduction and testing of numerous new techniques for simulating the functional and biodiversity of ecosystems in relatively small dimension. The Second Edition includes new advancements in the field and two new chapters on suspended particulates (inorganic and organic) and biomineralization. Approximately one-third of the photographs are entirely new.