Deep-Water Coral Reefs: Unique Biodiversity Hot-Spots

As a result of intensive ocean bottom surveys, mainly for the purpose of developing oil and gas resources, scientists know that deep-water corals form extensive reefs and giant carbonate mounds in the cold waters of all the major oceans.This book, written by Hovland (Statoil, Norway), a marine geology expert, is of considerable interest due to its many colored photographs and drawings that illustrate the locations and organic diversity of the reefs and mounds. Those in the other world-wide oceans appear to be similar. The text is well written and the author draws attention to the need for conservation, primarily to protect the reefs from damage by deep-water trawling. Useful as supplemental reading for classes on marine biology.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Academic collections, upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, researchers, and faculty.