Coral Reefs: A Natural History

Product Description
An illustrated look at corals and the reefs they build around the world, and the causes and dire consequences of their rapid disappearanceCorals are among the most varied lifeforms on Earth, ranging from mushroom corals and leather corals to button polyps, sea fans, anemones, and pulse corals. Bridging the gap between plant and animal, these marine invertebrates serve as homes to reef fish and share symbiotic relationships with photosynthesizing algae, which provide corals with their nourishment. This stunningly illustrated book profiles the astonishing diversity of the world's coral groups, describing key aspects of their natural history and explaining why coral reefs are critical to the health of our oceans. Representative examples of corals have been selected to illustrate the broad range of species, and the book's lively and informative commentary covers everything from identification to conservation, making it an essential resource for marine biologists, divers, and anyone who is fascinated by these remarkable sea creatures.
Features more than 200 exquisite color photos
Highlights key aspects of corals and their natural history
Features representative examples from around the world
Includes photos of rare and unusual species
Review
"Charles Sheppard’s
Coral Reefs: A Natural History not only explains what corals are and how they live, but reveals through exquisite photography the glories of the reef at all scales."
---Tim Flannery, The New York Review of Books
"
Stunningly beautiful . . . . I will never look at a coral reef in the same way again and will marveleven more at their beauty and complexity."
---Daria Blackwell, Flying Fish
"The book covers the huge list of dangers that reefs face today and how people are working to protect them. It looks at artificial reef structures and the marine life that lives on them. There are chapters on reef fish and sharks and how the diverse species living on the reefs interact. . . . I will never look at a coral reef in the same way again and will marvel even more at their beauty and complexity."
---Caroline Robertson-Brown, Scubaverse
"This excellent book, by Charles Sheppard, a foremost author of academic, popular and educational books on coral reefs, reflects a lifetime studying and enjoying these ecosystems. . . . I recommend that, in addition, to getting your own copy, you give the book to budding (and experienced) marine biologists."
---Mike Elliott, The Marine Biologist
"The beauty of this type of book is it can be dipped into at any stage because of the nature of the mini chapters. This book will obviously appeal to marine biologists and divers but as a general guide to coral reefs biology, flora and fauna and how the crucial impact of climate change will impact on them, then it will also appeal to all readers with an interest in general natural history. Highly recommended."
---Roy Stewart, British Naturalists Association
About the Author
Charles Sheppard is professor emeritus of life sciences at the University of Warwick. His books include
The Biology of Coral Reefs and
Coral Reefs: A Very Short Introduction. Consultant editor
Russell Kelley is the author of the
Indo Pacific Coral Finder and the
Reef Finder. He is program director of the Coral Identification Capacity Building Program, which provides training in coral identification around the world.