The Coral Reef at Night [Hardcover]

Joseph S. Levine (Author), Jeffrey L. Rotman (Author, Photographer)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0810931907 | ISBN-13: 978-0810931909 | Publication Date: September 1993 | Edition: First Edition

Lively, full-color photographs detail the extraordinary creatures that transform the night-time coral reef into a beautiful realm where bioluminescence is the only natural form of light. Includes a how-to section on night-diving and underwater photography. Index. 110 color plates.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"No experience on land can prepare you for the sensation of night diving in a tropical sea," according to Levine, a filmmaker and science educator. The dusk-to-dawn journey through coral reefs begins with frenzied activity at sunset as the daytime creatures return to shelter. Briefly, all is quiet. Then moray eels, squirrel-fish and soldierfish cruise the waters looking for prey. In the dark, corals stretch their tentacles to snag plankton; sea urchins, brittle stars, sea lilies (crinoids) and flashlight fish are active. Shortly after sunrise, the process is reversed. Night diving is hazardous, and Levine devotes a chapter to safety measures and equipment. He examines the state of the world's coral reefs and finds it a cause for concern and further study. Undersea photographer Rotman notes that many animals are easier to approach at night and offers advice on undersea photography. The 110 photographs are stunning but do not offer a sense of scale. Author tour.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The splendid nighttime events occurring among coral reef communities while cloaked in protective darkness are captured here in over 100 high-quality, mostly full-page color photographs. The text describes the ecological balance of reefs, the natural history of reef inhabitants, the environmental problems that threaten reef habitats worldwide, and both the pleasures and dangers of night diving. Upbeat and anecdotal, the authors interweave accurate biological information with chronicles of their travel and diving adventures. Even though superficial at times, particularly when covering night photography, this fast-paced book will fire the enthusiasm of scuba and snorkeling devotees, and its stunning photographs will captivate a wide range of browsers, including young adults. Recommended for general collections.
- Frank Reiser, Nassau Community Coll., Garden City, N.Y.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Harry N Abrams; First Edition edition (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810931907
• ISBN-13: 978-0810931909
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,142,131 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #87 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Oceans & Seas > Coral Reefs

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.