United States
£ GBP
Ecology of Australian Temperate Reefs presents the current state of knowledge of the ecology of important elements of southern Australian sub-tidal reef flora and fauna, and the underlying ecological principles.
Preliminary chapters describe the geological origin, oceanography and biogeography of southern Australia, including the transitional temperate regions toward the Abrolhos Islands in the west and to Sydney in the east. Ecology of Australian Temperate Reefs then explains the origin and evolution of the flora and fauna at geological time scales as Australia separated from Antarctica; the oceanography of the region, including principal currents, and interactions with on-shelf waters; and the ecology of particular species or species groups at different trophic levels, starting with algae, then the ecological principles on which communities are organised. Finally, conservation and management issues are discussed.
Ecology of Australian Temperate Reefs is well illustrated with line drawings, figures and colour photographs showing the many species covered, and will be a much valued reference for biologists, undergraduates, and those interested and concerned with reef life and its natural history.
Part 1 – The Southern Ocean from its Beginnings till now
Chapter 1. Geological History and Climate Change in Southern Australia
Chapter 2. Oceanography and Marine Climate of Southern Australia
Chapter 3. Biogeography and Biodiversity
Part 2. The Algae
Chapter 4. The Kelps
Chapter 5. Large Brown Algae: The Fucoids
Chapter 6. Ecology of Non-Geniculate Coralline Algae
Chapter 7. Middle and Lower Stratum Algae
Part 3. The Marine Invertebrates
Chapter 8. Ecology of Meiofauna and Macrofauna
Chapter 9. The Molluscan Megafauna: Herbivores, Carnivores and Filter-Feeders
Chapter 10. Cephalopods
Chapter 11. Echinoderms
Chapter 12. Effects of Sea Urchins on Benthic Habitats
Chapter 13. Sessile Fauna: Sponges, Ascidians, and Bryozoans
Chapter 14. Cnidarians (Hydroids, Anemones, and Corals) and Ctenophores
Chapter 15. Larger Crustaceans and Sea Spiders
Part 4. The Marine Vertebrates and Mammals
Chapter 16. Bottom-Feeding Fishes
Chapter 17. Planktivores and Large Reef-Associated Carnivores
Chapter 18: Marine Mammals
Part 5. Marine Ecosystems and their Conservation
Chapter 19. Food Webs
Chapter 20. Conservation and Management
Scoresby A Shepherd AO has worked for 40 years in fisheries and ecology. He has published 128 papers or chapters in books, and is the author or editor of numerous books such as Natural History of Gulf St Vincent, Marine Invertebrates of Southern Australia, Abalone of the World and Biology of Seagrasses. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2006, and was awarded both the Australian Marine Sciences Association Jubilee Medal and the Royal Society of South Australia Sir Joseph Verco Medal.
Graham J Edgar is a pre-eminent authority on reef ecology, with over 100 papers on benthic algae, invertebrates, seagrasses, Marine Protected Areas and human impacts on marine environment. He is the author of two books, Australian Marine Life and Australian Marine Habitats, both receiving Whitley awards for best general zoology book. He has received the Mia Tegner Award and Queens fellowship in Marine Science, and has held many international appointments, including Director Marine Research, Charles Darwin Research Station, Galapagos Is (2000–02).
"[...] For a multi-author text it is encouraging that each section flows seamlessly into the next – a sign of good editing often missing in such works. Each section is rich in detail, well referenced and up to date. There is a block of colour plates at the start of the book but the individual pictures are small and sometimes lacking in clarity. Otherwise illustrations are sparse. These are small criticisms, however, in an otherwise excellent text.
Marine Biologists (especially those working in other habitats but curious about what these reefs have to offer) students, amateur divers, fisheries managers and even aquaculturists will all find something of value here. Although clearly aimed at the Australian market it would also be an excellent read for any biologist about to holiday on the Australian coast (although a field guide would also be useful!)."
– Ian Lancaster, The BES Bulletin 45(2), June 2014
