Reef fish spawning aggregations, ranging from small groups to many tens of thousands of individuals, are spectacular but poorly known natural phenomena whereby fish assemble at specific times and locations to spawn. For some species these large groups may be the only form of reproduction, the high fish numbers briefly giving a false impression of stability and abundance—an ‘illusion of plenty’. They are often a focus for intensive seasonal fishing because of their predictability and because many important commercial fishes form them. Highly vulnerable to overexploitation, many aggregations and their associated fisheries, have disappeared or are in decline. Few are effectively managed or incorporated into protected areas. Aggregations are not well understood by fishery scientists, managers and conservationists and their significance little appreciated by fishers or the wider public. To ensure their persistence to replenish important fisheries in coral ecosystems, maintain their ecosystem function and continue to delight divers, a significant change in perspective is needed to foster protection and management. This book provides comprehensive and practical coverage of the biology, study and management of reef fish aggregations, exploring their how, when, where, and why. It explores ways to better protect, study, manage and conserve them, while identifying key data gaps and questions. The text is extensively illustrated with many unique, never before published, photographs and graphics. Case studies on over 20 interesting and important fishes are included, outlining their biology and fisheries and highlighting major concerns and challenges.

The diversity, quantity and vitality of fish life in the seas that bathe the Galapagos archipelago is every bit as dramatic as the exotic wildlife above! Completely updated with many new photos added. A much improved identification book for one of the world's natural underwater wonders. If you are even thinking of diving the Galapagos this beautiful, comprehensive fish identification guide is a must.

Nudibranchs of the Coral Triangle became the only guide to nudibranchs on the market with an up-to-date 2022 taxonomy after its major update (November 2022) This book is a field guide, an assistant for the identification of nudibranchs species in the region. It is designed for divers, underwater photographers. The book presents 1060+ species nudibranchs that can be found and photographed in depths and regions accessible to recreational diving. Photographs, showing color variations and age differences are included. A lot of species covered by this guide have never before appeared in field guides or popular books. Compact text blocks provide information about Common name, Latin name, family, geographic distribution, size, and the most distinctive features. An extensive photo index at the beginning of the book helps you to find the right group of nudibranchs, especially for readers who have not yet mastered their names. Nudibranchs or sea slugs occur throughout the world’s oceans and are present in many marine habitats. The greatest diversity of species is found in the Indo-Pacific tropics with a concentration of species within the Coral Triangle (CT), encompassing the waters of six Southeast Asian countries: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Malaysia, Timor-Leste and Solomon Islands. This global epicenter of marine biodiversity covers only 1.6 percent of the planet’s oceanic area, but attracts an increasing number of divers and underwater photographers, including nudibranch lovers.

Reef ecosystems extend throughout the tropics. Exploited by small-scale fishers, reefs supply food for millions of people, but, worldwide, there are growing worries about the productivity and current state of these ecosystems. Reef fish stocks display many features of fisheries elsewhere. However, habitat spatial complexity, biological diversity within and among species, ecosystem intricacy and variable means of exploitation make it hard to predict sustainable modes and levels of fishing.

An overview of what is presently known about the behavior and ecology of reef fishes in the thaters of Florida, the Caribbean, and the Bahamas.

This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the ecology of coral reef fishes presented by top researchers from North America and Australia. Immense strides have been made over the past twenty years in our understanding of ecological systems in general and of reef fish ecology in particular. Many of the methodologies that reef fish ecologists use in their studies will be useful to a wider audience of ecologists for the design of their ecological studies. Significant among the impacts of the research on reef fish ecology are the development of nonequilibrium models of community organization, more emphasis on the role of recruitment variability in structuring local assemblages, the development and testing of evolutionary models of social organization and reproductive biology, and new insights into predator-prey and plant-herbivore interactions.

Close-up photographs introduce children to twelve different fish that dwell in the waters surrounding coral reefs

Coral reefs are the 'rain forests' of the ocean, containing the highest diversity of marine organisms and facing the greatest threats from humans. As shallow-water coastal habitats, they support a wide range of economically and culturally important activities, from fishing to tourism. Their accessibility makes reefs vulnerable to local threats that include over-fishing, pollution and physical damage. Reefs also face global problems, such as climate change, which may be responsible for recent widespread coral mortality and increased frequency of hurricane damage. This book, first published in 2006, summarises the state of knowledge about the status of reefs, the problems they face, and potential solutions. The topics considered range from concerns about extinction of coral reef species to economic and social issues affecting the well-being of people who depend on reefs. The result is a multi-disciplinary perspective on problems and solutions to the coral reef crisis.