Coral Reef Ecosystem

Abstract

The book contains descriptions of the geological history of fossil reefs, of geomorphology of modern coral reefs, and of hydrology and hydrochemistry of waters around them. Dynamics of nutrients in the reef ecosystem, structure and production of its main components are described. Special consideration is given to chorology, ecology, structure and dynamics of coral communities as dependent on environment, physiology and feeding of corals and their symbiosis. The book analyses biogeochemical metabolism of reefs, their trophodynamics and energy flows, reef ecosystems and their relationship with the ecosystem of the high seas. Actual resources of reefs and their optimum utilization are given.