About this book:

Dive into the vivid world beneath the waves with *The Science of Coral Reefs*—a comprehensive yet accessible guide that reveals how tiny coral polyps build the planet’s most spectacular underwater cities. From the intricate biology of individual polyps and their dazzling symbiotic algae to the massive, space‑visible structures of fringing, barrier, and atoll reefs, each chapter uncovers the awe‑inspiring science that sustains a quarter of all marine life.

Beyond the beauty, this book confronts the urgent challenges facing these ecosystems—ocean acidification, bleaching, pollution, overfishing, and climate change—while highlighting the remarkable resilience of reefs and the cutting‑edge restoration efforts giving them a fighting chance. Whether you’re a student, diver, conservationist, or simply curious about nature’s hidden gardens, you’ll finish with a deeper appreciation of why protecting coral reefs is essential for our oceans—and our own future.