Reefs of Time

"Because of global warming, scientists predict that the majority of the world's coral reefs may be gone by the end of the century based on rapid declines in the past century. In fact, the amount of living coral on Caribbean reefs dropped by 80% in the last three decades of the 1900s. But there's hope. Researchers studying both living and fossilized corals are bringing together their work to better understand the past and present of coral reefs and applying that understanding to help reefs become more resilient into the future. In Reefs of Time, paleontologist Lisa Gardiner introduces readers to coral reefs through the lens of the fossilized limestone structures they've left behind. Gardiner argues that understanding the life cycles of reefs that existed in "shallow deep time"--that is, the era of the youngest fossils inhabited by creatures much like those of today's world but unaffected by human contact--can help us better grasp the unique challenges facing corals in the present. As Gardiner shows, once we know what happened in the past and what's happening in the present, we can begin to solve the questions of the future: Do coral reefs have any chance of surviving climate change, ocean warming, pollution, and other problems of the Anthropocene? And if so, how can humans be part of the solution? The book begins with an introduction to fossilization and the singular way coral and other limestone-producing organisms interact with the ocean's geological cycles. After an exploration of ancient reefs and the field of paleoecology, Gardiner shifts to a discussion of present-day reefs and the deleterious effects of ocean warming and other stressors that impact coral's ability to bounce back from disruption. She then returns to the fossil record to explore ways coral has built up resilience in the past and discusses how scientists can use this knowledge to help coral become more resilient in the future. Throughout, Gardiner draws on her own research and experience studying living and dead corals, along with a synthesis of the latest conclusions from other scientists, to illuminate how unlocking the recent past can help us change the future"-- Provided by publisher.