"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 thefield 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 wayscoral 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.
How fossilized reefs hold clues to the survival of corals in the Anthropocene
With rising global temperatures, pollution, overfishing, ocean acidification, and other problems caused by humans, theres no question that todays coral reefs are in trouble. As predictions about the future of these ecosystems grow increasingly dire, scientists are looking in an unlikely place for new ways to save corals: the past. The reefs of yesteryear faced challenges too, from changing sea level to temperature shifts, and understanding how they survived and when they faltered can help guide our efforts to help ensure a future for reefs.
Lisa Gardiner weaves together the latest cutting-edge science with stories of her expeditions to tropical locales to show how fossils and other reef remains offer tantalizing glimpses of how corals persisted through time, and how this knowledge can guide our efforts to ensure a future for these remarkable organisms. Gardiner takes readers on an excursion into the shallow end of deep timewhen marine life was much like todays yet unaffected by human influenceto explore the cities of fossilized limestone left behind by corals and other reef life millennia ago. The changes in reefs today are unlike anything ever seen before, but the fossil record offers hope that the coral reefs of tomorrow can weather the environmental challenges that lie ahead.
A breathtaking journey of scientific discovery, Reefs of Time reveals how lessons from the past can help us to chart a path forward for coral reefs struggling for survival in an age of climate crisis and mass extinction.
