Cold-Water Corals: The Biology and Geology of Deep-Sea Coral Habitats

by J. Murray Roberts, Andrew Wheeler, André Freiwald, Stephen Cairns

Overview

There are more coral species in deep, cold-waters than in tropical coral reefs. This broad-ranging treatment is the first to synthesise current understanding of all types of cold-water coral, covering their ecology, biology, palaeontology and geology. Beginning with a history of research in the field, the authors describe the approaches needed to study corals in the deep sea. They consider coral habitats created by stony scleractinian as well as octocoral species. The importance of corals as long-lived geological structures and palaeoclimate archives is discussed, in addition to ways in which they can be conserved. Topic boxes explain unfamiliar concepts, and case studies summarize significant studies, coral habitats or particular conservation measures. Written for professionals and students of marine science, this text is enhanced by an extensive glossary, online resources, and a unique collection of color photographs and illustrations of corals and the habitats they form.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521884853
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/30/2009
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

J. Murray Roberts is a marine biologist at the Scottish Association for Marine Science. His research focuses on the biology and ecology of cold-water corals.

Andrew Wheeler is Senior Lecturer and coordinator of marine and freshwater research at University College Cork. His research currently focuses on seabed mapping and sedimentology of cold-water coral carbonate mounds.

André Freiwald is chair of palaeontology at the GeoZentrum Nordbayern, Erlangen. His research focuses on cold-water corals, cool-water carbonates, and bioerosion.

Stephen Cairns is a Research Zoologist at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC. As a systematist he has described approximately 350 new deep-water coral species from around the world.

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. History and research approaches; 2. Cold-water corals; 3. Biology; 4. Reefs and mounds; 5. Habitats and ecology; 6. Palaeontology; 7. Corals as archives; 8. Impacts and conservation; 9. References; Glossary; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Four experts have teamed up to assemble the current knowledge on these systems under siege. The result is a book containing a wealth of detailed information and instructive illustrations, spanning all aspects of this wonderful world in the dark ocean."
Jörg Ott, Marine Ecology

"This is an absorbing, well-written, book that does an excellent job of concisely presenting a huge amount of information. It is enhanced by excellent illustrations and figures, a glossary and case studies, as well as online supplementary material... those with an interest in marine science will find it a great addition to their bookshelf."
Owen Jones, Bulletin of the British Ecological Society

From the Publisher