As an island continent, Australia is uniquely privileged in possessing extensive tropical and temperate reef ecosystems, and this book is a stunning visual celebration of the wonderful and vibrant life that they support. All Australians recognise and appreciate the environmental value of coral reefs, as represented by the Great Barrier Reef. Less appreciated, but no less important, is the network of other reefs surrounding Australia that is home to tens of thousands of species, many of whom live nowhere else. These incredibly rich communities of plants and animals support fishing, tourism, recreation, education, and a general sense of well-being for many people.
This beautiful book, published in association with the Reef Life Survey Foundation, devotes a chapter to every key reef system around Australia, with maps and graphics, hundreds of stunning photos, and vivid written accounts. Written and illustrated by experts with decades of experience makes it a must-have title for divers, conservationists and nature enthusiasts everywhere. The book is also a landmark publication, serving to highlight Australia's unique global responsibility to safeguard marine biodiversity.
Graham Edgar is the leading Australian marine ecology professor, with over 150 publications including New Holland's Australian Marine Life of Temperate Waters, which won three Whitley Awards. He is a Professor at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania, President of the Reef Life Survey Foundation, and one of only three scientists awarded the most prestigious awards for both marine science (Australian Marine Science Association Jubilee Award) and environmental science (Eureka Award).