Colour photographs
296 pages, 240 x 165 mm
Publisher:
WA Museum
Corals have for too long been regarded as interesting natural mementos, usually put on display on a shelf or in a glass cabinet, rather than as living animals, part of a captivating and delicately balanced ecological system. Today, scuba diving has provided a way for naturalists to study coral reefs as living ecological communities and for the sport diver to recognise many corals that were only known as dead display specimens.
True reef-building corals are limited in geographical distribution to the clear, warm sunlit waters of the tropical oceans. There are countless reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific region and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the largest, and most spectacular, coral reef province in the world. About 2000 kilometres long and located on Queensland’s continental shelf, it is made up of over 2900 individual coral reefs composed mainly of consolidated limestone debris formed from calcium carbonate with living corals on its surface. They vary in size, form and type, and the coral reef could be considered as the marine counterpart of a tropical rain forest.
Other barrier reefs are located in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, but most of these are much smaller.
Coral Reefs – Nature’s Wonders provides an introduction to the coral reef biology and ecology in a full-colour identification guide to the better-known coral genera of this region. It will take you into the tranquil underwater world of subdued sunlight, living coral colonies, brilliantly coloured fishes, sponges, algae, cowries and giant clams. It is this combination of marine life that gives the coral reefs their mystique.
This book brings home to us the fragility of the whole coral community in its exposure to danger, not only from adverse sea and weather conditions, but also from other inhabitants of the marine environment. Hopefully it will help us appreciate the need to conserve and protect the world’s coral reefs.
Foreword by Sir David Bellamy
Preface by Jean-Michel Cousteau
Acknowledgements
General Introduction
Chapter 1: Reef Corals
Chapter 2: Scleractinian Corals
Chapter 3: Non-Scleractinian Corals
Is this the Future? Pemuteran Artificial Reef Project
Authors’ Note: The Pioneers
The Photography
Marine Environmental Organisations
ReefBase
Coral Code
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
“This book is of great importance because its pictures and vibrant text demonstrate the true fascination of the hermatypic corals, the solar-powered symbionts that build the reefs.”
Sir David Bellamy
“Absorb the information in this book and learn from it. Enjoy the photographs as if you were weightless and warm, another of the gifts the coral reef bestows on us.”
Jean-Michel Cousteau
"It would make central reading for the growing schools of recreational SCUBA divers across the region, as well as an accessible reference in any research library."
ECOS Magazine issue 31 December-January 2006
"Small enough to fit in the holiday snorkeller's suitcase, it would also be a useful and colourful addition to any diver's library shelf."
Jacquie Milner, Presenter, Horizon: The Planetarium (Science Network WA)
"I rate this book very highly for those who want an excellent handbook to learn more about corals and coral reefs on their reef visits." Frank Talbot, AMSA Bulletin, Spring 2006
Authors Walter and Jean Deas are both award-winning underwater photographers and natural history documentary producers. Their documentary Where the Fish are Friendly, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, attracted an audience of 14.9 million when it was screened in the UK. Another award winner, The Basking Shark, led to the OESave the Basking Shark’ campaign, followed by a documentary, The Quest for Freedom, about whaling and whale watching around the world.
Walter won the 1993 Television Dramatised Series with Treasure of the Ages and in 1994 was awarded the Dive Australia Award for International Achievement in Underwater Cinematography and from PADI The Hallmark of Excellence Award for Underwater Photo-journalism.
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