New edition of book captures Great Barrier Reef state-of-knowledge

Only by understanding and managing the GBR wisely do we have a chance of keeping the GBR ‘great.’

– Editors: Pat Hutchings, Michael Kingsford and Ove Hoegh-Guldberg

A new edition of the vital reference book “The Great Barrier Reef: Biology, Environment and Management” has just been released. It delivers a comprehensive overview of the world’s largest coral reef system, with application to reefs across the globe.

The book incorporates developments in research over the past ten years and includes new chapters on fisheries and deep reefs of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Notably, it includes significant revisions to reflect the evolving state of knowledge on disturbance and climate change impacts.

“In its second edition, this book on the Reef builds on the tradition of the first edition and has expanded the already amazing array of authors and expertise to tackle a number of new and current issues to do with the Reef. Stretching from the geology, biology and oceanography of the Reef, to modern issues such as water quality, climate change and socioeconomics of the Reef, this book enables the reader to get a total insight to how the world’s largest coral reef functions,” says Honourable Robert Hill AC, in the book’s foreword.

Written by world-leading authorities, it includes more than a dozen experts and alumni from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies*.

While the book is a “must read” for undergraduate and postgraduate students, it is also a valuable resource for scientists, managers, relevant tourist operators, divers and members of the interested public.

The readability of the new edition is enhanced by a range of widely accessible graphics, as well as references and additional reading suggestions for each of the thirty-two chapters.

Editor, Prof Ove Hoegh-Guldberg at ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at The University of Queensland say: “The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most complex ecosystems on our planet.  Along with other coral reefs, it is also one of the most threatened.  Hopefully this book will help the people everywhere understand and act to save this incredibly valuable work of nature.”

The book is published by CSIRO and is now available for purchase here: https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/7763/

All royalties from the sales of this book go to the Australian Coral Reef Society – the oldest coral reef society in the world.

*Coral CoE author list includes:

Pim Bongaerts, Tom Bridge, Jon Brodie, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Jon Day, Sophie Dove, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Mia Hoogenboom, Geoff Jones, Mike Kingsford, Vimoksalehi Lukoschek, John Pandolfi, Morgan Pratchett & Tiffany Sih.