Coral reef communities are among the most complex, mature and productive ecosystems on earth. Their activity resulted in the creation of vast lime constructions. Being extremely productive and having the function of a powerful biofilter, coral reefs play an important role in global biogeochemical processes and in the reproduction of food resources in tropical marine regions. All aspects of coral reef science are covered systematically and on the basis of a holistic ecosystem approach. The geological history of coral reefs, their geomorphology as well as biology including community structure of reef biota, their functional characteristics, physiological aspects, biogeochemical metabolism, energy balance, environmental problems and management of resources are treated in detail.

Inhalt
1 Reef Lime Constructions.- 1.1 Geological History, Features of Geomorphology.- 1.2 Biological Factors of Formation and Erosion.- 1.3 Bottom Sediments.- 2 Reef Environments.- 2.1 Hydrodynamics and Thermohaline Features of Reef Waters.- 2.2 Nutrients.- 2.3 Organic Matter in Reef Waters.- 3 Plankton in Coral-Reef Waters.- 3.1 Bacterioplankton.- 3.2 Phytoplankton.- 3.3 Zooplankton.- 4 Benthic Microflora, Periphyton and Plant Associations.- 4.1 Bacteria and Microalgae in Reef Bottom Sediments.- 4.2 Periphytonic Overgrowth.- 4.3 Bottom Plant Associations.- 5 Reef Zoobenthos.- 5.1 Molluscs.- 5.2 Sponges.- 5.3 Wormlike Animals.- 5.4 Benthic Crustaceans.- 5.5 Reef Echinoderms.- 5.6 Tunicates.- 5.7 Bryozoans.- 5.8 Foraminifera and Other Benthic Protozoa.- 5.9 Insects.- 5.10 Distribution, Communities Structure and Abundance.- 6 Coral Reef Fish.- 6.1 Introduction, Diversity, Taxonomy.- 6.2 Communities Structure, Abundance, Distribution.- 6.3 Feeding of Reef Fish.- 6.4 Aspects of Behaviour.- 6.5 Propagation of Reef Fish.- 6.6 Conclusion.- 7 Communities of Corals in Reef Ecosystems.- 7.1 Coral Communities: Composition and Formation.- 7.2 Communities Structure of Reef Corals.- 7.3 Factors Controlling Coral Community Structure.- 7.4 Reproduction of Corals.- 8 Morphology and Ecological Physiology of Corals.- 8.1 Features of Ecological Morphology.- 8.2 Biomass of Living Tissues.- 8.3 Ecological and Physiological Aspects of Endosymbiosis.- 8.4 Ecological Physiology of Photosynthesis in Corals.- 8.5 Ecological Biochemistry of Corals.- 9 Nutrition of Corals.- 9.1 Autotrophic Feeding of Corals.- 9.2 Heterotrophic Feeding of Corals.- 9.3 Energy Balance and Specific Growth Rate of Corals.- 10 Biogeochemical Metabolism and Energy Flows in Reef Ecosystems.- 10.1 Biogeochemical Metabolism of Organic Matter.- 10.2 Biogeochemical Metabolism of Other Elements.- 10.3 Model Studies and Energy Budget in Reef Ecosystems.- 11 Destruction and Recovery of Reef Systems, Reef and Man.- 11.1 The Acanthaster Problem.- 11.2 Destruction of Corals by Physical Stress.- 11.3 Coral Diseases.- 11.4 Anthropogenic Impacts.- 11.5 Reef Fishery.- 11.6 Problems of Monitoring and Rational Use of Reef Resources.- 11.7 Protection, Monitoring and Rational Use of Resources; Artificial Reefs.- References.