Coral Reefs: Their Complexity, Fragility and Future

Description:

This book offers an introduction to tropical coral reef ecosystems. It explores the combined geological, physical, chemical, and biological factors that make coral reefs among the most diverse and productive systems in the world. To unpack these complex systems, this book outlines the major players that create coral reefs, reconsiders how environmental and human forces shape reefs in the Anthropocene and identifies best practices for sustainable tourism and management of reef systems. Written by a leading expert of tropical reef systems, this book covers the biology, taxonomy, and ecological interactions of dominant reef organisms. Chapters systematically discuss the diversity of corals and the reef communities that they support, the key geological and biological factors driving their development, and critical processes of primary productivity, competition, predation, and herbivory. The book ends with a look to the future of coral reefs considering global change in the Anthropocene. This book combines fundamental concepts with novel research advances to explore the forces that shape coral reefs and predict the future of these ecosystems in the coming century. In discussing both the successes and failures of modern conservation efforts, this book offers a roadmap to guide stakeholders and industry leaders in developing policies surrounding the sustainable visitation and conservation of coral reef ecosystems. It is an indispensable resource for the next generation of marine scientists, conservationists, and policymakers concerned with the future of these critical ecosystems.

* Defines how and where coral reefs form

* Identifies key drivers of coral reef ecosystem structure and function

* Illustrates the risks of climate change, acidification, and sea level rise on coral reefs

* Differentiates between monitoring, management, and restoration approaches that do and do not work