{"product_id":"world-atlas-of-coral-reefs","title":"World Atlas of Coral Reefs","description":"\u003cp\u003eCoral reefs are one of the most biologically diverse habitats in the world  host to an extraordinary variety of marine plants and animals. They are also one of the worlds most fragile and endangered ecosystems. The growth of mass tourism  combined with the boom in popularity of scuba diving  has brought these spectacular ecosystems to public attention across the planet.  Coral reefs provide essential fish habitat  support endangered and threatened species  and harbor protected marine mammals and turtles. They are a significant source of food  provide income and employment through tourism and marine recreation  and offer countless other benefits to humans  including supplying compounds for pharmaceuticals. Yet coral reefs around the world are rapidly being degraded by a number of human activities  such as overfishing  coastal development  and the introduction of sewage  fertilizer  and sediment.  World Atlas of Coral Reefs provides the first detailed and definitive account of the current state of our planets coral reefs. With its wealth of authoritative and up-to-date information  the finest maps available  and detailed descriptive texts and images by leading experts  this full-color volume will be a critical resource for anyone interested in these vital environments.  World Atlas of Coral Reefs contains eighty-four full-page newly researched and drawn color maps  together with more than two hundred color photos illustrating reefs  reef animals  and images taken from space by NASA astronauts during the 2000 and 2001 space shuttle flights. The authors provide a wealth of information on the geography  biodiversity  and human uses of coral reefs  as well as details about the threats to their existence.  Prepared at the UNEPWorld Conservation Monitoring Centre in Cambridge  England--the United Nations office responsible for providing authoritative information on the condition of global biodiversity--the Atlas will be a critical tool for scientists  students  policymakers  and planners at local  national  and international levels alike.  Publication of the World Atlas of Coral Reefs is supported by international institutions including the United Nations Environment Programme; The Marine Aquarium Council  The International Coral Reef Initiative; ICLARM--The World Fish Center; the Professional Association of Diving Instructors  and the Aventis Foundation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44964396531765,"sku":"ByrdShop_0520232550","price":111.67,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780520232556.jpg?v=1770459698","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/world-atlas-of-coral-reefs","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}