Coral Reefs

Although their stony colonies seem impervious to harm, coral reefs are fragile marine communities under seige. 43 dazzling photos compare Indo-Pacific & Caribbean reefs in a photographic bouquet of colors, textures, & patterns. The beauty of the reef extends to the book's design, which continually surprises. More than a pretty face, this book by Dwight Holing talks about the ecology & history of reefs worldwide & introduces reader to the rich, surprising & occasionally droll relationships between coral animals & plants. The lives of characteristic coral inhabitants, such as trigger fish, crinoids, sponges, & star coral, get special treatment. The wide variety of ways in which its citizens eat, hunt, mate & seek refuge are covered in some detail. As with other Blake nature books, readers get a strong environmental message about the reef & how best to protect it & other marine habitats. A detailed list of where to see natural reefs & artifical ones accompanies a world map. A book that divers, artists, students with reports to write, & librarians on limited budgets will like equally.