Coral reefs around the world are experiencing a high amount of stress, largely because of climate change and its damaging effects on water temperatures, sea levels and ocean acidification. This encyclopedia covers everything about reefs since Charles Darwin first attempted to understand reef evolution. It concentrates especially on modern reefs, and because coral reefs are the largest landforms built by plants and animals, it incorporates a wide range of disciplines including geology, geography, oceanography and ecology. Aimed at scientists, researchers, governmental departments and private companies, it is the most comprehensive and up-to-date reference on the structure, form and processes operating on Quaternary coral reefs.weiterlesen