Product Description
If one does not understand the biology of the coral reef, one does not understand the reef at all. So, using more than 250 illustrations and specially drawn ecological reconstructions of reef communities, Rachel Wood provides a unique evolutionary approach to the understanding of ancient coral reef ecosystems. Marine organisms have aggregated to form reefs for over 3.5 billion years--creating the largest biologically constructed feature on earth, some visible from space. However, their study has been largely descriptive.
Reef Evolution documents the fundamental biological processes and innovations which have molded the evolution of reef ecosystems and given rise to the highly complex communities found today. The appearance of clonality, the acquisition of photosymbiosis, and the radiation of predator groups are all discussed in depth. Data from the fossil record documents the evolutionary development of reef ecosystems. Although reefs only occupy a small percentage of the oceans, their importance to the marine environment is many-faceted and global. They create harbors and allow the development of shallow basins with associated mangrove or seagrass communities; they protect coastlines from erosion; are involved in the regulation of atmospheric carbon, which in turn contributes to climate control. can provide extensive oil and gas reservoirs. From a biological standpoint, however, the great significance of reefs lies in their ability to generate and maintain a substantial proportion of tropical marine biodiversity. This unique interdisciplinary approach provides students and researchers in evolution, marine biology, ecology, paleontology, biodiversity, and geology with a text that will allow them to truly understand the biological innovations which have molded the evolution of coral reefs and given rise to the highly complex communities found today.
Book Info
Documents those biological innovations that have moulded the evolution of reef ecosystems and given rise to the highly complex communities found today. Uses data from the fossil record to document the evolutionary development of reef ecosystems. Softcover. DCL: Reef ecology.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
This item is not eligible for Amazon Prime, but millions of other items are. Join Amazon Prime today. Already a member? Sign in.
|
|||||||||
Editorial Reviews
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Citations
(learn more)
9
books
cite this book:
See all 9 books citing this book
- The History and Sedimentology of Ancient Reef Systems (Topics in Geobiology, Volume 17) (Topics in Geobiology) by George D. Stanley Jr. on 5 pages
- Macroecology: Concepts and Consequences: 43rd Symposium of the British Ecological Society (Symposia of the British Ecological Society) by Tim M. Blackburn on page 151
- Crustacea and Arthropod Relationships (Crustacean Issues) by Stefan Koenemann in Back Matter
- Extinction: How Life on Earth Nearly Ended 250 Million Years Ago by Douglas H. Erwin in Back Matter
- Genes in the Environment: 15th Special Symposium of the British Ecological Society (Symposia of the British Ecological Society) by Rosie S. Hails on page 325
See all 9 books citing this book
Suggested Tags from Similar Products( What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
|