“The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is 344,400 square kilometres in size and is home to one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. This comprehensive guide describes the organisms and ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef, as well as the biological, chemical and physical processes that influence them. Contemporary pressing issues such as climate change, coral bleaching, coral disease and the challenges of coral reef fisheries are also discussed.

In addition,the book includes a field guide that will help people to identify the common animals and plants on the reef, then to delve into the book to learn more about the roles the biota play.

Beautifully illustrated and with contributions from 33 international experts, The Great Barrier Reef is a must-read for the interested reef tourist, student, researcher and environmental manager. While it has an Australian focus, it can equally be used as a baseline text for most Indo-Pacific coral reefs”

(View sample pdf or see CSIRO publishing website for ordering information)

Preface – Hon Virginia Chadwick AO

Introduction to the Great Barrier Reef – P. Hutchings, M. J. Kingsford & O. Hoegh-Guldberg

Section 1: Nature of the Reef

• Geomorphology of Coral Reefs, with Special Reference to the Great Barrier Reef – D. Hopley
• The Great Barrier Reef in Time and Space: Geology and Palaeobiology – J. M. Pandolfi & R. Kelley
• Oceanography  M. J. Kingsford & E. Wolanski
  
• Coral Reef Habitats, and Assemblages – C. Syms & M. J. Kingsford
  
• Seabed Environments, Habitats and Biological Assemblages – C. R. Pitcher, P. J. Doherty & T. J. Anderson
• Primary Production, Nutrient Recycling and Energy Flow through Coral Reef Ecosystems – O. Hoegh-Guldberg & S. Dove
• Calcification, Erosion and the Establishment of the Framework of Coral Reefs – P. A. Hutchings & O. Hoegh-Guldberg

Section 2: Factors Affecting the Great Barrier Reef

• Human Impact on Coral Reefs – T. Hughes
• The Future of Coral Reefs in a Rapidly Changing World – O. Hoegh-Guldberg
• Terrestrial Runoff to the Great Barrier Reef and the Implications for Its Long Term Ecological Status – J. Brodie & K. Fabricius
• Planning and Managing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park – J. Day
• Biodiversity – P. A. Hutchings & M. J. Kingsford

Section 3: Taxonomic Overview of Reef Organisms

• Plankton – M. J. Kingsford, K. Heimann, C. G. Alexander & D. McKinnon
• Macroalgae – G. Diaz-Pulido
• Mangroves and Seagrasses – N. C. Duke & A. W. D. Larkum
• Sponges – J. N. A. Hooper
• Pelagic Cnidaria and Ctenophora – L. Gershwin & M. J. Kingsford
• Hexacorals 1: Sea Anemones and Anemone-like Animals (Actiniaria, Zoanthidea, Corallimorpharia, Ceriantharia and Antipatharia) – C. C. Wallace
• Hexacorals 2: Reef-building or Hard Corals (Scleractinia) – C. C. Wallace
• Octocorals – P. Alderslade & K. Fabricius
• Worms – P. Hutchings
• Arthropoda: Crustaceans and Pycnogonids – S. Ahyong
• Mollusca – R. C. Willan
• Bryozoa – D. P. Gordon & P. E. Bock
• Echinodermata – M. Bryne
• Tunicata – P. Kott
• The Fish Assemblages of the Great Barrier Reef: Their Diversity and Origin – J. H. Choat & B. C. Russell
• Reptiles – H. Heatwole & V. Lukoschek
• Marine Mammals – H. Marsh
• Seabirds – B. Congdon

Epilogue – P. A. Hutchings, M. J. Kingsford & O. Hoegh-Guldberg