George D. Stanley Jr. - Böcker

Reef. The very word conjures up restful, tropical images wrapped in warmth and displayed in shimmering colours. So it is with this book, a series of reef images, past and present brought to life by thoughtful and probing analysis. Ever since Darwin reported on his investigations of far-flung reefs, these structures have held an unending fascination for earth scientists. The fact that their fossil predecessors contain a wealth of information about past life and can be filled with hydrocarbons, means that they will always be subjects of legitimate scientific study. This book acts as a report on the status of reefs and reef research at the beginning of the 21st century. Although the perspective is geological, the articles are multidisciplinary, and so the book is a treasure-trove for biologists, ecologists and oceanographers. It brings together, in one place, papers by the experts who have for many years sought to understand the nature of reefs in different time periods.

From the Preface: The chapters of this book contain contributions from an international group of specialists. They address some important themes in both modern and ancient reef systems. Some chapters contain `snapshots' of reefs of particular intervals, while others touch on relevant themes of both modern and ancient reefs - themes that weave their way through reefs of all ages. This book opens and sets the stage with an introduction to both modern and ancient reefs and reef ecosystems. This chapter is also intended as a basic introduction for students, general geologists, and professionals or others who may be unfamiliar with reefs and reef ecosystems. The chapter addresses the living coral reef ecosystem, stressing among other relevant factors, the importance of ecological and physical interactions between the organisms and their environment. The chapter also addresses mass extinction and provides a general overview of the history of reefs.

In this book, contributors from diverse backgrounds take a first step toward an integrated view of reefs and the significance of their recent decline. More than any other earth system, coral reefs sit at a disciplinary crossroads. Most recently, they have reached another crossroads - fundamental changes in their bio-physical structure greater than those of previous centuries or even millennia. Effective strategies to mitigate recent trends will require an approach that embraces the myriad perspectives from across the scientific landscape, but will also need a mechanism to transform scientific understanding into social will and political implementation.