Coral Reefs

About this book

Over the last three decades, coral-reef study has advanced rapidly, widening our understanding of their functional intricacy. Under pressure from tourism, anthropogenic eutrophication and pollution, a better knowledge of coral reefs is essential to their survival. Coverage is given to how hydromechanics, light and nutrient regimes have shaped the evolution and development of coral reefs; the roles of the various organisms that make up the reef community; and ways to conserve them in the future.

Contents

Preface (Z. Dubinsky). List of Contributors. 1. Evolution and zoogeography of coral reefs (Y. Achituv and Z. Dubinsky). 2. The physical oceanography of coral-reef ecosystems (J.C. Andrews, G.L. Pickard). 3. Biogeochemical nutrient cycles in coral-reef ecosystems (C.F. D'Elia and W.J. Wiebe). 4. The role of symbiotic algae in carbon and energy flux in reef corals (L. Muscatine). 5. Irradience and corals (P.G. Falkowski, P.L. Jokiel and R.A. Kinzie III). 6. Calcification and photosynthesis in reef-building corals and algae (D.J. Barnes and B.E. Chalker). 7. Reproduction, dispersal and recruitment of scleractinian corals (P.L. Harrison and C.C. Wallace). 8. Competition between scleractinian reef corals - A review of mechanisms and effects (J.C. Lang and E.A. Chornesky). 9. Coral-reef algae (T. Berner). 10. The biomass, production and fate of bacteria in coral reefs (H.W. Ducklow). 11. Plankton in the reef ecosystems (Yu.I. Sorokin). 12. Zoogeography, behavior and ecology of coral-reef fishes (W. Linn Montgomery). 13. Feeding ecology of selected coral-reef macroconsumers: Patterns and effects on coral community structure (P.W. Glynn). 14. Aspects of trophic relations, productivity and energy balance in coral-reef ecosystems (Yu. I. Sorokin). 15. On the importance of food resources in coral-reef ecosystems (J. Erez). 16. Acanthaster planci population outbreaks (R. Endean and A.M. Cameron). 17. Natural and anthropogenic disturbance on coral reefs (R.W. Grigg and S.J. Dollar). 18. Coral-reef management (W. Craick, R. Kenchington and G. Kelleher). 19. Trends and new perspectives in coral-reef ecology (R. Endean and A.M. Cameron). Author Index. Systematic Index. General Index.

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