Search for required readings from universities with a strong marine biology program such as the University of California, Monterey Bay; the University of Hawai'i, Manoa; and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. "Marine Biology" by Peter Castro and Michael Huber is a designed for students whose main area of study is not marine biology. It includes basic biology and scientific method lessons to support marine biology subject comprehension. "Marine Biology: An Ecological Approach" by James Nybakken and Mark Bertness examines whole marine ecosystems and the interactions between them.
Branch out to books with more specific scientific focus such as "The Biology of the Invertebrates" by Jan Pechenik,. Use personal interest sparked from introductory books as a guide for what books to collect next. The references provided by introductory texts can also guide you into more specific areas of collecting.
Include more popular nonfiction or natural history readings with a specific species-related or regional focus. These books are informational, but not as thick as university textbooks. This may include non-fiction works about sharks, the decline of fish populations, deep-sea investigations, or the Great Barrier Reef.
Diversify the collection with memoirs or novels that can provide enjoyment as well as information. "My Father, the Captain: My Life With Jacques Cousteau" by Jean-Michel Cousteau or John Steinbeck's novel, "The Log from the Sea of Cortez," on which he collaborated with marine biologist Ed Ricketts, are good examples. These works may have been on the New York Times bestseller list, recommended by a friend or teacher, or mentioned in previous readings.
Expand to fiction novels about marine subjects that you may have enjoyed in the past, such as Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" or children's books that sparked your personal fascination with marine biology.
Continue building your collection.There is no end to collecting books and more books on marine biology are being published each year. For more obscure or out-of-print titles, online resources such as Amazon.com are popular, while sites like Textbooks.com and Paper Back Swap are lesser known but have cheaper prices on used copies. Local new and used bookstores, library book sales, and university bookstores can offer less popular but equally informative books on marine subjects.