Introduction
3
"Coral Reefs" was founded. The results of reef studies have been reviewed
by Wiens (1962), Yonge (1963), Stoddart (1969), Lewis (1977b, 1981),
Sorokin (1977b), Rosen (1982), Kuhlmann (1982,1985), and Preobrazhensky
(1986). Results of coral reef studies were also discussed in collective monographs edited by Jones and Endean (1973-1977), Barnes (1983), Sokolov
(1987), and by Dubinsky (1990). The methodology of these studies has been
presented in a monograph edited by Stoddart and Johannes (1978) under
the patronage of UNESCO. Several monographic works reviewed observations on separate reef systems or separate reefs (Maxwell 1968; Endean
1982; Rutzler and Macintyre 1982; Zlatarsky and Estalella 1980; Bennett
1984; Mather and Bennett 1984; Devaney et al. 1987). The main goal of this
book is development of the holistic concept of the coral reef ecosystem. To
attain this goal it was necessary to analyze composition and community
structure of all components of reef ecosystems, the features of their ecological physiology and trophodynamics. The analysis should deal with the
biological and physical factors and mechanisms providing their permanently
high biological productivity in nutrient-poor environments. A general insight
is needed into the trophical structure and function of the reef ecosystem as a
whole, as well as the quantifications of energy flow between its components
at different trophical levels. Drastic destabilization trends that appeared in
reef systems over the last two decades make it necessary to analyze carefully
factors causing this development which now endangers the very existence of
coral reefs. All these problems are taken up in this book along with a discussion of such aspects of coral reef ecology, as did not find comprehensive
analysis in previous reviews and monographs. Among them are the hydrology
of the coral reef, the dynamics of nutrients and organic matter exchange in
reef environments, composition and ecology of plankton in reef waters,
microbial ecology in coral reefs, and physiology and feeding of corals. The
results of our own investigations, which are included in the book, concern
the problems of primary production and microbiology of reefs, feeding of
corals, biogeochemical metabolism and nutrient dynamics in reef ecosystems.
These studies have been accomplished during the cruises of the R/V Vityaz
and Dmitry Mendeleev in 1968-1971, Kallisto in 1975-1981, and Alexander
Nesmeyanov in 1985, and at biological stations on Coconut Island (Hawaii),
Heron, Lizard and One Tree Islands (Australia).
The name of the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, often mentioned in this
book, is abbreviated in the text to GBR.
Acknowledgments. In these studies I received financial support from the
Great Barrier Reef Committee, the Government of Australia, and the
University of Queensland. I am greatly indebted for the invaluable support I
enjoyed in my research and in the preparation of this book to Drs. M.
Vinogradov, A. Zhirmunsky, B. Sokolov, E. Titlyanov, B. Preobrazhensky,
M. Doty, R. Endean, A. Cameron, J. Kikkawa, J. Greenwood, D. McColm,
M. and J. Lawn, D. Moriarty, P. Pollard, J. Baker, T. and K. Tubbenhauer.
3
"Coral Reefs" was founded. The results of reef studies have been reviewed
by Wiens (1962), Yonge (1963), Stoddart (1969), Lewis (1977b, 1981),
Sorokin (1977b), Rosen (1982), Kuhlmann (1982,1985), and Preobrazhensky
(1986). Results of coral reef studies were also discussed in collective monographs edited by Jones and Endean (1973-1977), Barnes (1983), Sokolov
(1987), and by Dubinsky (1990). The methodology of these studies has been
presented in a monograph edited by Stoddart and Johannes (1978) under
the patronage of UNESCO. Several monographic works reviewed observations on separate reef systems or separate reefs (Maxwell 1968; Endean
1982; Rutzler and Macintyre 1982; Zlatarsky and Estalella 1980; Bennett
1984; Mather and Bennett 1984; Devaney et al. 1987). The main goal of this
book is development of the holistic concept of the coral reef ecosystem. To
attain this goal it was necessary to analyze composition and community
structure of all components of reef ecosystems, the features of their ecological physiology and trophodynamics. The analysis should deal with the
biological and physical factors and mechanisms providing their permanently
high biological productivity in nutrient-poor environments. A general insight
is needed into the trophical structure and function of the reef ecosystem as a
whole, as well as the quantifications of energy flow between its components
at different trophical levels. Drastic destabilization trends that appeared in
reef systems over the last two decades make it necessary to analyze carefully
factors causing this development which now endangers the very existence of
coral reefs. All these problems are taken up in this book along with a discussion of such aspects of coral reef ecology, as did not find comprehensive
analysis in previous reviews and monographs. Among them are the hydrology
of the coral reef, the dynamics of nutrients and organic matter exchange in
reef environments, composition and ecology of plankton in reef waters,
microbial ecology in coral reefs, and physiology and feeding of corals. The
results of our own investigations, which are included in the book, concern
the problems of primary production and microbiology of reefs, feeding of
corals, biogeochemical metabolism and nutrient dynamics in reef ecosystems.
These studies have been accomplished during the cruises of the R/V Vityaz
and Dmitry Mendeleev in 1968-1971, Kallisto in 1975-1981, and Alexander
Nesmeyanov in 1985, and at biological stations on Coconut Island (Hawaii),
Heron, Lizard and One Tree Islands (Australia).
The name of the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, often mentioned in this
book, is abbreviated in the text to GBR.
Acknowledgments. In these studies I received financial support from the
Great Barrier Reef Committee, the Government of Australia, and the
University of Queensland. I am greatly indebted for the invaluable support I
enjoyed in my research and in the preparation of this book to Drs. M.
Vinogradov, A. Zhirmunsky, B. Sokolov, E. Titlyanov, B. Preobrazhensky,
M. Doty, R. Endean, A. Cameron, J. Kikkawa, J. Greenwood, D. McColm,
M. and J. Lawn, D. Moriarty, P. Pollard, J. Baker, T. and K. Tubbenhauer.