"Coral reefs declined worldwide during the 1980s and 1990s, making them perhaps the most endangered marine ecosystem on Earth. This realization spurred John W. Tunnell Jr. and others to write a comprehensive book that would raise awareness of coral reefs and their plight. Tunnell admits his personal stake in the matter: He has been diving in the waters off Veracruz, Mexico, for thirty years and has had, as he puts it, both the good fortune of seeing these beautiful reefs and the bad fortune of chronicling their demise. Tunnell and coeditors Ernesto Chavez and Kim Withers present an integrated and broad-ranging synthesis, while Mexican and U.S. experts assess the current state of these fragile systems and offer a framework for their restoration." "Beginning with a history of the research done in this region, Coral Reefs of the Southern Gulf of Mexico covers the geography, geology, oceanography, ecology, and biodiversity of the 38 "emergent" or platform-type coral reefs in the souther Gulf. The editors include chapters on the biota - from algae to fish - followed by a look at environmental impacts, both natural (such as hurricanes and red tides) and human (such as ship groundings and dredging). The book closes with a discussion of conservation issues, which is both descriptive and prescriptive in its assessment of what has been done and what should be done to protect and manage these vital ecosystems."--BOOK JACKET.