The Evolution of Reef Communities

An interdisciplinary approach for geologists and biologists to the composition, structure, occurrence and changes in reefs during the past 2 billion years is provided in this book. This is the only fully integrated treatment of these factors and processes with the evolutionary history of the organisms that have built reefs. Emphasis is placed on the functional roles of major groups (guilds) of reef-building, reef- destroying and reef-dwelling organisms in the most complex of all marine communities. A structural model, based on modern reef guilds, is developed. Then the functional roles of each major reef-building higher biologic taxon (algae, sponges, coral, etc) is determined and on this basis each such taxon is assigned to a reef community guild. Next, the author traces the geologic history and guild assignment of each major taxon through geologic time. He then describes the composition and guild structure of entire reef communities through geologic time. The final chapter establishes a succession of ten major reef community types, and considers their extinction and recovery in the light of modern theories of cosmic and earthly events.
In additon the book is also profusely illustrated throughout.