In the course of the last century a considerable amount of scientific work has been carried out in the Cayman Islands. The results of this (outlined in Chapter 1) are widely distributed in unpublished reports, university theses, various scientific publications and books, many of these sources being difficult to find and some now unobtainable.
The purpose of this book, therefore, is to bring all this scattered information together and to present a coherent account of the biogeography and ecology of the Islands, as an easily available reference source and as a foundation on which future work can be based.

Inhalt

Preface. 1. Scientific studies in the Cayman Islands; M.A. Brunt, J.E. Davies. 2. Geology of the Cayman Islands; B. Jones. 3. Climate and tides of the Cayman Islands; F.J. Burton. 4. Ground water of the Cayman Islands; K.S. Ng, R. Beswick. 5. Reefs and lagoons of Grand Cayman; H.H. Roberts. 6. Reefs and lagoons of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman; A. Logan. 7. Marine algae of the Cayman Islands: A preliminary account; I. Tittley. 8. Common sponges of the Cayman Islands; J. Ghiold, G.A. Rountree, S.H. Smith. 9. Marine molluscs of the Cayman Islands; D.F. Hess, R.T. Abbott, R.T. Hanlon, J. Hamann, K. Meyer, S. Millen, T. Gosliner. 10. Echinoids of Grand Cayman; J. Ghiold, G.A. Rountree. 11. Fishes of the Cayman Islands; G.H. Burgess, S.H. Smith, E.D. Lane. 12. Sea turtles of the Cayman Islands; J. Wood, F.E. Wood. 13. Phytogeography of the Cayman Islands; G.R. Proctor. 14. Vegetation of the Cayman Islands; M.A. Brunt. 15. Mangrove swamps of the Cayman Islands; M.A. Brunt, F.J. Burton. 16. Terrestrial invertebrates (other than insects) of the Cayman Islands; M.V. Hounsome. 17. Insects of the Cayman Islands; R.R. Askew. 18. Mosquitoes of the Cayman Islands; J.E. Davies. 19. Birds of the Cayman Islands; P.E. Bradley. 20. Amphibians and reptiles (other than marine turtles) of the Cayman Islands; M.E. Seidel, R. Franz. 21. Mammals of the Cayman Islands; G.S. Morgan. 22. Fossil faunas of the Cayman Islands; G.S. Morgan. 23. The boom years in Grand Cayman: environmental deterioration and conservation; M.E.C. Giglioli/ J.E. Davies. 24. Rare and endemic plants, animals and habitats in the Cayman Islands, and related legislation; J.E. Davies. 25. Bibliography of the Cayman Islands; J.E. Davies. General index. Index of genera and species. Index of authors cited.