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When we hear the word 'reef' we most often think of tropical coral reefs and, indeed, those are the most diverse habitats with thousands of different species living on them. But reefs can also be found off the coast of Canada, Brazil and even further north. Off Canada's coast, there are both the Atlantic deep-water coral habitat and the Pacific rocky reef habitat.
Reefs is a pictorial celebration of the hugely varied marine life on coral, rock and sand reefs all around the world. From the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland, Australia, to Mabul Island off Borneo, from east African coral reefs stretching from the Red Sea down to Madagascar to the Amazon Reef off Brazil, from the Mesoamerican Reef off Belize to Vancouver Island, the book explores how life on each reef is interdependent. The book also includes examples of how coral bleaching has killed off reefs.
Arranged geographically by reef and illustrated with more than 200 colour photographs, each entry is completed with a caption explaining the magnificent natural world on display. From the gender-swapping clownfish to single-cell zooxanthellae, from coral polyps to purple starfish to harlequin shrimp and octopuses, the book is a feast of marine life.
Contents to include:
Introduction
AFRICA
African coral reefs - Red Sea to Madagascar
THE AMERICAS
Amazon Reef - Off Brazil and French Guiana. The Amazon Reef (also referred to as the Amazonian Reef) is an extensive coral and sponge reef system. It is one of the largest reef systems in the world known to exist, with scientists estimating its length to be over 600 miles (970 km) long
Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, Mexico - part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System
Belize Barrier Reef - part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System
Bullenbaai, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean
Tofino, Vancouver Island, Canada - Purple Starfish and green anemone
PACIFIC
Great Barrier Reef - Queensland, Australia - School of Sweet Lips, Lionfish
Cape Tribulation, Daintree region, Queensland, Australia
Lansdowne Bank, Coral Sea - between Australia and New Caledonia
Apo Reef - Philippines. The world's second-largest contiguous coral reef system.
Tubbataha Reef - Philippines
North Sulawesi, Indonesia - Pseudanthias
Bunaken Marine National Park, North Sulawesi, Indonesia - Blue Seastar
Mabul Island, Borneo, Malaysia - maroon clownfish and bubbletip anemone, jellyfish, sea slug
Bohey Dulang Island, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia
Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia - including Soft Coral, western clownfish
Minami-Tori-shima - Japan's most easterly island
French Frigate Shoals - Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
Peter Mavrikis has written and edited books for over 25 years. He enjoys writing about history, science, and nature. He was also the Editorial Director for Barron's Educational Series and Kaplan, where he ran the foreign language and study guide divisions.
