Reefs: The Oceans’ Underwater Ecosystem

Reefs is a pictorial celebration of the hugely varied marine life on coral, rock, and sand reefs all around the world.

From the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland, Australia, to Mabul Island off Borneo, from East African coral reefs stretching from the Red Sea down to Madagascar to the Amazon Reef off Brazil, from the Mesoamerican Reef off Belize to Vancouver Island, this book explores how life on each reef is interdependent. The book also includes examples of how coral bleaching has killed off reefs. Arranged geographically by reef and illustrated with more than 200 color photographs, each entry is completed with a caption explaining the magnificent natural world on display. From the gender-swapping clownfish to single-cell zooxanthellae, from coral polyps to purple starfish to harlequin shrimp and octopuses, the book is a feast of marine life.

Peter Mavrikis has written and edited books for over 25 years. He enjoys writing about history, science, and nature. He was also the Editorial Director for Barron’s Educational Series and Kaplan, where he ran the foreign language and study guide divisions.