Marine Invertebrates And Plants Of The Living Reef

With over 430 color photographs, this account helps identify the animals and plants found around the reefs in the Caribbean.

An illustrated look at corals and the reefs they build around the world, and the causes and dire consequences of their rapid disappearance Corals 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

Illustrated throughout, this book presents what is known about factors that "shift the balance" between accretion and erosion, recruitment and mortality, stony corals and filamentous algae, recovery and degradation - the life and death of coral reefs.

The rocky reefs that ring New Zealands coastline provide some stunning natural landscapes. From the vertical walls and caves of the Poor Knights Island to the unlimited visibility and bizarre life forms under the sea ice of Antarctica, the coastal waters support an astounding array of marine ecosystems. Without doubt this is the most impressive collection of underwater photography ever gathered together in a New Zealand book. It is a major new natural history book, and is spectacular in its scale and breadth.