|
To order "A Reef in Time" use the
relevant form...
How to Order:
|
A Reef in Time
The Great Barrier Reef from Beginning to
End
Drawing on a lifetime of experience, Veron combines a broad array of different sciences to portray the world's most famous coral reef as never before. This highly original book takes the reader on a journey through the biology, geology and human history of the reef showing how they are linked together in different timeframes, and culminates in a prediction of its probable future. The central theme is that the origins, history, diversity, and ultimate fate of the Great Barrier Reef – as with all coral reefs – is, and always has been, controlled by global climates. The book starts with whirlwind tours around reef science and introduces the Great Barrier Reef as it is today. It then plunges into the remote geological past, showing how all reefs have been profoundly impacted by mass extinction events. It brings a new biological perspective to evaluate the cause of the great extinction events of the past and points the finger at acidification from changing ocean chemistry as a primary cause of the global demise of coral reefs and marine life. In a review of today's threats to the Great Barrier Reef, the book makes the case that it, along with all other coral reefs worldwide, is facing the prospect of complete annihilation from anthropogenic climate change. The evidence further suggests that humans are on the verge of precipitating the world's sixth mass extinction. Veron shows that coral reefs are Nature's marine historians, their past showing what their future will hold unless human production of greenhouse gases is not drastically curtailed. Describing coral reefs as the 'ocean's canaries', he reveals the consequences of not heeding their call. "The plea of the Great Barrier Reef"
In this podcast former Chief Scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science and author of A Reef in Time, Dr J.E.N. (Charlie) Veron, draws urgent attention to the devastation waiting in the wings for our beautiful Great Barrier Reef. Please note: this podcast is 6.8Mb in size, if this is too large for you to download please click on the "Read" button below for a written transcript.
|
