Review by Choice Review
Far from being a continuous divider between land and sea, the Great Barrier Reef actually consists of 2,800 individual reefs stretching for some 1,600 miles. The story of the Great Barrier Reef is therefore one of interconnections, not only among the individual reefs themselves but also between the reefs and the other habitats that link this complex ecosystem to the landscapes of Australia. Oceanographic Processes brings together the work of 40 contributors into a single interdisciplinary volume that examines these interconnections. Topics addressed include the downstream effects of land-use practices on water quality and biodiversity, the role of physical processes in the supply of nutrients and in the recruitment of coral-reef organisms, the influence of environment and climate on fisheries and coral reef health, and the development of management strategies to conserve coral reefs and associated resources. The addition of numerous figures, illustrations, photographs, and animations on a companion CD-ROM enriches the presentation but also makes the book more difficult to follow when read away from a computer. This volume would serve as both a valuable reference to those engaged in coral-reef research and a useful tool for professionals involved in tropical, coastal resource management. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. S. G. Tolley Florida Gulf Coast University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
