This book provides a unique perspective on the destruction - both natural and human-caused - of coral reef ecosystems. The text combines principles of geophysics, paleontology, and marine sciences with real-time observation and offers strategies for restoration and management of ecosystems.

Coral reefs around the world are sustaining massive damage at an alarming rate. Geological Approaches to Coral Reef Ecology provides a uniquely historical perspective on the destruction - through both natural and human processes - of coral reef ecosystems. Chapters applying the principles of geophysics, paleontology, geochemistry, and physical and chemical oceanography supply novel insights into the workings of coral reefs, complementing real-time ecological studies and providing critical information for crafting realistic environmental policy.

By reconstructing the ecological history of coral reefs, the authors are able to evaluate whether or not recent, dramatic changes to reef ecosystems are novel events or part of a long-term trend or cycle. The contributions examine the interacting causes of change, which include hurricane damage, regional outbreaks of coral-consuming predators, disease epidemics, sea-level rise, nutrient loading, global warming and acidification of the oceans. Crucial predictions about the future of coral reefs lead to practical strategies for the successful restoration and management of reef ecosystems. Geological Approaches to Coral Reef Ecology will be of particular interest to students and professionals in ecology and marine biology, including environmental managers.

Applies paleoecological and geological approaches to the study of coral reef ecology Explores whether changes in today's coral reefs are part of a cyclical pattern Provides in-depth scientific and historical background for researchers and professionals

Autorentext
Dr. Richard B. Aronson is Senior Marine Scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama and Professor of Marine Sciences at the University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.

Inhalt
Coral Reefs in Context.- The Changing Fate of Coral Reefs: Lessons from the Deep Past.- Detecting Critical Events.- Taphonomy: Detecting Critical Events in Fossil Reef-Coral Assemblages.- Biotic Turnover Events on Coral Reefs: A Probabilistic Approach.- Inferring Past Outbreaks of the Crown-of-Thorns Seastar from Scar Patterns on Coral Heads.- Influence of Terrigenous Runoff on Offshore Coral Reefs: An Example from the Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico.- Fidelity of Annual Growth in Montastraea faveolata and the Recentness of Coral Bleaching in Florida.- Patterns of Reef Development and Their Implications.- Demise, Regeneration, and Survival of Some Western Atlantic Reefs During the Holocene Transgression.- Broad-Scale Patterns in Pleistocene Coral Reef Communities from the Caribbean: Implications for Ecology and Management.- Ecological Shifts along the Florida Reef Tract: The Past as a Key to the Future.- Coral Reefs and Global Change.- Extreme Climatic Events and Coral Reefs: How Much Short-Term Threat from Global Change?.- Responses of Coral Reefs to El Niñno-Southern Oscillation Sea-Warming Events.- Constraints on Predicting Coral Reef Response to Climate Change.