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Marine, coastal and wetland habitats are threatened, not only through exploitation, but also by the prospect of climate change – as ocean currents change course, sea levels rise, and rainfall patterns change. Even the once-common cod is now under threat from the combined effects of over-fishing and a dramatic change-induced decrease in the plankton that cod larvae feed on. Meanwhile, coral reefs remain especially vulnerable to rapid sea-level changes exacerbated by the effects of tourism and disease.

This book gathers together a wide range of papers reporting on key research into the biodiversity conservation of these critical and increasingly threatened habitats. Collectively these papers provide a snap-shot of the types of problems they are experiencing, and offer a wealth of topical examples which render this volume especially valuable to teachers of courses in marine, freshwater and wetlands ecology, biological conservation and ecological restoration.

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Describes the principal components of the Gulf of Mexico Large Marine Ecosystem (LME).Discusses the assessment of ecologic stresses on the Gulf Ecosystem as well as the Ecosystem-Level assessment and sustainability of natural resources.Softcover. DLC: Marine ecology - Gulf of Mexico. ... Read more

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In 1980 a group of scientists censusing marine mammals in the Bay of Fundy was astonished at the sight of 25 right whales. It was, one scientist later recalled, "like finding a brontosaurus in the backyard." Until that time, scientists believed the North Atlantic right whale was extinct or nearly so. The sightings electrified the research community, spurring a quarter century of exploration, which is documented here.

The authors present our current knowledge about the biology and plight of right whales, including their reproduction, feeding, genetics, and endocrinology, as well as fatal run-ins with ships and fishing gear. Employing individual identifications, acoustics, and population models, Scott Kraus, Rosalind Rolland, and their colleagues present a vivid history of this animal, from a once commercially hunted commodity to today's life-threatening challenges of urban waters.

Hunted for nearly a millennium, right whales are now being killed by the ocean commerce that supports our modern way of life. This book offers hope for the eventual salvation of this great whale.

Customer Reviews (1)

Very comprehensive
This book has great info on the Right Whale.Everything from where they are typically found, the food they eat, details on food abundance, feeding biology, hormones and parasites, to the causes of mortality.The book has a focus on how they are accumulating the data as well as how they may be able to use that info in the future on conservation plans.Also, as comprehensive as this book is, it also points out how very little anyone really knows about this species.And this is one of the most thoroughly studied baleen whales in the world. ... Read more

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"There is a word for what Darwin and the rest of us have felt when in the presence of the reef: 'awe.' Confronted with the reef, awe is the most appropriate response. It is probably in our nature. It is also, apparently, in our nature to destroy that which we hold in awe." —from The Enchanted Braid

Of the myriad ecosystems populating the underwater world, coral reefs are by far the most complex. While their stunning beauty has been extolled for centuries, the intricate workings of reef environments remained largely hidden from view. In fact, until the advent of scuba diving just fifty years ago, corals have been among the last natural histories to be extensively explored. The high passion with which scientists have greeted this particular investigation —beginning with the foundational theories of Charles Darwin in 1842—is perhaps unprecedented, but hardly difficult to understand. A phenomenon of both awesome beauty and vital importance, the coral reef is home to the most diverse range of species of any environment on the planet, including fish, shrimps, worms, snails, crabs, sea cucumbers, sea stars, urchins, anemones, and sea squirts.

The crux of reef life, scientists have discovered, lies in nature's most intimate example of symbiosis: the mutually beneficial relationship between the coral polyp and its "tenant," the zooxanthellate algae. Davidson's history begins with this deceptively diminutive hybrid, the engine behind the construction of the limestone-based coral structure. Together, the three elements comprise a unique zoophytalite (animal-plant-mineral) form, or an "enchanted braid."

Aided by an eight-page, full-color photographic insert demonstrating the incredible intricacies of the reef and its unique inhabitants, The Enchanted Braid identifies the approximately 240,000 square miles of coral reef on the planet today as indispensable not only to the livelihood of the oceans but also to humans. The reef is, after all, the "soul of the sea," the spawning ground for tens of thousands of marine species. As sources of food (many islands rely on reefs for all their protein), medicine (corals are used in bone grafts and to fight cancer and leukemia), and detailed insight into the history of climatic conditions, coral reefs are critically important to human life on Earth. However, in a world of oil tanker disasters, global warming, and dwindling natural resources, they are also in grave danger of extinction.

Osha Gray Davidson's urgent clarion call to halt today's man-made degradation of coral reefs is both alarming and persuasive, effectively underscored by the rich historical context of passages from Darwin's captivating diary of his seminal work on reefs 150 years ago. Like the coral reef, The Enchanted Braid is itself a rare hybrid, a graceful combination of aesthetic appreciation, scientific inquiry, and environmental manifesto.Amazon.com Review
In this work of scientific journalism, Osha Gray Davidsonsurveys the condition of the world's great coral-reef systems, whichoffer habitat to countless diverse species of marine life. Many ofthose systems are now threatened by development--some, ironically, bythe construction of resorts for the ecotourism market. Others havebeen destroyed by the fishing industry's use of dynamite and cyanideto bring in catches. Some 10 percent of the world's reefs, we learn inDavidson's pages, are already damaged beyond recovery, and another 30percent are in grave danger of joining them. Combining firsthandtravel narrative with abundant documentary research, Davidson makes agood case for the importance of conserving the reefs thatremain. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great book for a layman!
Although I've been an avid scuba diver for twenty years, I've never really studied the scientific aspects of the coral reefs that I dive on. I hoped that this book would be a good introduction to coral reefs without getting too bogged down in textbook-level details, and it was all that I hoped for and more. The author, Osha Gray Davidson, knows his subject, and he knows how to write. Even though I have dived many coral reefs, I learned a lot of fascinating details about how coral reefs are built, how they reproduce, and how they are sustained. There are also many fascinating tidbits about the behaviors of reef fish and reef invertebrates.

The first half of The Enchanted Braid is about coral reefs and how they work.The second half is about the current state of coral reefs and the many threats to their continued existence. It gets pretty gloomy, reading about the worldwide decline of reefs and how much humans have contributed to this decline. There are some hopeful notes, but overall it's pretty depressing, which is probably the message that we need to hear if anything is to be done to preserve these magnificent creations.

A superb book for anyone who has an interest in coral reefs or oceanology but doesn't want to wade through a college textbook.

Every marine life and coral lover should read this book
I rarely read nonfiction in bed because I fall asleep too quickly. Not so with this book. Davidson's writing is compulsively compelling. Though the book details the disturbing trends affecting the health of coral reefs worldwide, it also offers hope by describing in vivid and accessible detail how corals have survived for millenia. Though they haven't survived rapidly warming surface temperatures like we're seeing today.

Davidson describes coral reefs as "the soul of the sea" and aptly describes their biology and importance to the ocean and to humankind. The book is simultaneously a travel narrative, scientific and environmental treatise, and philosophical look at why we need to take better care of coral reefs and other precious ecosystems. Though the messages in the book are clear that coral reefs are in trouble, Davidson's writing is not filled with gloom and doom and somber predictions of a coral-less ocean. By putting coral reefs in the context of survival, he inspires hope for their future. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

Excellent read
Even if you have no prior knowledge about reefs, this book explains and makes sense of the entire reef ecosystem. I would highly reccommend it, especially for teenagers with an interest in coral reefs and thier preservation, to spark thier interest in environmental issues.

Great book!Educational and engaging.
I have read hundreds of articles and books about coral reefs, "The Enchanted Braid" offers one of the best introductions you could ask for into the world of coral reefs.The book features both biological andhistorical descriptions of coral reefs as well as reporting on what ishappening today to coral reefs around the world.It is clear, well writtenand easy for us "non-scientists" to understand. SCUBA divers,snorkelers and anyone else who loves the ocean should read this book.

A great book for the sport diver and reef lover.
A book well written and researched for the layman.The Enchanted Braid describes the addiction to the sea that many sport diving enthusiast experience.It provides a global perspective of the mysterious plight of our coral reefs.I read the book while in Bali, Indonesia.The well travelled author's feelings about the plight of the reefs is true to form from my perspective.The message is one we all should read and heed. ... Read more

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Today, much lore and oral history about the Blue Pike survives in the minds of people who remember the days when it was a major species (and commercial/recreational asset) of Lake Erie. It is fitting, proper, and productive to ask these people to help us understand the Blue Pike, what happened to it, and how it can be restored to Lake Erie now that the lake is cleaner and a suitable habitat for it and other creatures. ... Read more

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Illustrated with drawings. Contains activities to help students learn about and gain appreciation for the manatee. ... Read more

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Currently there is great concern about over-fishing and the effects of fisheries on other marine organisms. This book addresses ecological and environmental issues associated with responsible and sustainable marine fisheries. It includes 20 chapters developed from an international conference and concurrent symposium held in Iceland in October 2001. Contributors include leading international authorities from around the world.Contents include: global overview of marine capture fisheries; legal protection for marine ecosystems; dynamics of marine ecosystems; the role of man in marine ecosystems; and incorporating ecosystem considerations in fisheries management. ... Read more

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Describing the largest animal in the world, from its incredible food intake to the facts behind whether a whale can really swallow a person, this book gives information on the latest research being caried out and compares and contrasts the blue whale with other species. There is also a section on the decimation of the whale population outlining the problems faced by blue whales with tips for action to take. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Well-rounded
I used this book in a summer literacy program for kids transitioning to sixth grade. They enjoyed the information presented and the detailed color pictures.I valued the section on folklore and the consideration of differing perspectives on whaling and whale-watching.A very informative book that worked well with sturggling readers. ... Read more

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Discusses through short essays and poems, ten endangered species that live in waterways, including scientific information about each, reasons for its endangered status, and descriptions of efforts to protect it. ... Read more

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A search for the endangered beluga whales of Cook Inlet, Alaska, becomes a personal journey and an expose of the forces arrayed against this fascinating--and troubled--species.

Living in waters adjacent to Anchorage, Alaska, the beluga whales of Cook Inlet are an isolated and genetically distinct population. Thought to number more than 1000 in the early 1990s, a sharp population decline has brought them near extinction.

Original in approach and incisive in its questions, Beluga Days explores how conservation laws, management policies, and human behaviors have affected the shrinking beluga population. From hunters, regulators, environmentalists, researchers, and businesspeople to whale enthusiasts, Lord encounters an ongoing debate wrestling with the immediate need to protect the whales, as well as a respect for the centuries-old tradition of Native subsistence hunting. Beyond its compelling characters and particulars, Lord's story offers readers a deeper understanding of the often uncomfortable, often rewarding, juxtaposition of humans and the natural world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Maybe Just a Little More Clarification
The author goes to great lengths, traveling great distances, to learn everything she can about the beluga whale. She begins at her own fishing camp watching dwindling numbers of the mystical marine mammal as it passes her section of Alaskan shore, and begins to wonder where the great pods have gone. She visits with many of the players in the beluga conservation-extinction battle, from National Marine Fisheries Service personnel to native hunters to everyone in between.

At times, it's hard to figure the author's position. Does she support the hunt for beluga whales, or does she want it stopped to save the species? Does she believe in the sanctity of native traditions, no matter what they are? And why does she tell us, not once, but twice that she "kills" salmon for a living? Is she unsure of how she really feels about the slaughter of a whale, even if it is for subsistence, especially in a place like a tiny Alaskan village where one dead whale puts food in the bellies of an entire community?

The author paints the picture of Alaskan life well, and reaches deeply into the natural history of the beluga whale. This book fills the bill for someone interested in the white whale's story, and shows just how many sides there are to the political struggle to keep an animal species alive.

Beluga Days
Nancy Lord does a great job really opening your eyes to the dwindling numbers of beluga whales in Cook Inlet, Alaska.These numbers have dropped drastically from about 1,000 in 1990, to a couple hundred currently recorded today.The reader is introduced to the everyday threats to the belugas and what is being done, and what isn't being done, to help them.She focused primarily on one population in Cook Inlet which I thought would be somewhat disappointing.Starting the book I was hoping to gain a better knowledge of many belugas around the world, but through reading the book I found that it was actually better to focus on the one species because they were easier to keep track of and study everyday.Lord, who lives in Alaska, has completely immersed herself in the lives of the Cook Inlet belugas and the relevant doings of politicians, environmentalists, scientists, and the native people who still have the right to hunt whales.Lord offers different perspectives on the situation and considers who shares the responsibility for the declining number of belugas.The book is full of her personal encounters with the beluga whales of Cook Inlet, and the way she writes about these animals makes you care for them as much as she does.She recognizes the fact that the native Alaskan people do have the right to hunt these whales, and shows a deep respect for it, but at the same time is trying to do what she can to protect them.Overall this book enlightens readers of the Cook Inlet belugas and how they are threatened on a daily basis.She shows how truly difficult it is for her and the others involved to protect and save these whales.I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about the Cook Inlet belugas specifically, and mammal conservation in general.

beluga days
Beluga days is an extremely interesting book for anyone that is interested in the conservation of marine life or nature in general. The story follows author Nancy Lord and she takes many steps in gathering information and researching the Beluga whales of the Cook Inlet in Alaska. She goes into detail about the problems facing these belugas. The population has been decreasing rapidly as of late due to excess hunting and pollution. She also discusses the major contamination problem in the St.Lawrence river which is killing off many Belugas as well. However, much more emphasis is placed on the Cook Inlet whales.

I really enjoyed the way the book was written because if felt like i was learning about the situation along side Nancy Lord. The reader went along to meetings and different research projects concerning the matter. I also enjoyed learning about the political aspect of the issue. It was a very effective writing style.

Although i enjoyed the book thoroughly i wish that alittle more time could have been spent on the St.Lawrence belugas because I feel that the contamination of their waters is very important due to all of the dead belugas found to have high levels of toxins in their bodies.
Overall i thought it was a fun book to read and very informative.

I would recommend this book to anybody interested in marine animals and the current problems that are ruining the oceans.

Beluga Days Review
This is a compelling documentary about the small population of beluga whales at Cook Inlet in Alaska.It delves deep into many research techniques and theories concerning the depletion of this population in more recent years.The reader follows, fisherman, Nancy Lord as she attends conventions, research vessels and other locations while she takes a closer look at Cook Inlet belugas.Emphasis is put on reasons for depletion, questioning of the current status of whales and action that can be taken to both educate people and save the whales.
Lord talks with native hunters and expert scientists at conferences in Alaska and learns that overhunting and contamination are major concerns to Cook Inlet belugas.She travels all over to talk to many scientists about their own thoughts and concerns.She is able to board a research vessel as scientists do population counts, captures and tagging.Lord balances her education with a more casual visit to observe captive belugas at a zoo for a closer look.She doesn't restrict herelf to Cook Inlet belugas though; she participates in research about the St. Lawrence belugas and the connections with contamination.All of these are some of the captivating experiences that shape Lord's understanding of what is being done to, hopefully, save the beluga's.
Lord's style of writing helps the reader to become educated right along with her.She asks questions that any person would be compelled to ask and it made the book all the easier to be drawn into.It is quite easy to read although some difficult words work their way in occasionally.
She does have a tendency to go back to previous concerns, making it repetitive at times.Usually it's about the controversy over whether or not native hunters are the beluga's largest threat.
Overall, it is an intriguing book and would probably be best for people interested in any sort of nature or marine topics.I would recommend it especially to those interested in what goes on behind the scenes as far as research, getting an animal listed for concern or beluga depletion in general.

Beluga Days
Beluga Days is a terrific book about the Beluga Whale population in Cook Inlet, Alaska.The story tells how the population has decreased very significantly over the course of time, especially just recently.The book points out many reasons as to why the population has decreased and it is all due to human disregard.It tells of the Beluga Days, when the whales seemed over-populated, and people would kill them off like they meant nothing, but soon people began to realize the numbers were incredibly small and this could not be turned around.The book tells of the many uses of the Belugas and how they were viewed as predators to big-game fish, and these were originally why the whales were so popular to kill.Before too long the numbers had decreased so much and these beutiful creatures have not, and may not, ever recover.Lord
incorporates different historical events such as the ESA and the MMPA and this makes the book even more informative.

One thing, in particular, that I enjoyed was the style in which Lord wrote the book.At times in the book it seemed like Lord was interviewing major players in Beluga whale population in the Cook Inlet.The way the book starts is a great example as Lord talks to George Hayden, a former Beluga hunter from the Cook Inlet, and her conversations with Hayden lead to other stories of how the Belugas have changed over the course of time.

The novel never really touched on other populations of Belugas and this is the main thing that I disliked.I wish that Lord talked more about other Beluga populations in other regions around the Arctic besides the Cook Inlet.Even though much of the book was only about the Cook Inlet, Lord's writing ability made most of the reiterating of the same Beluga population to be tolerable and still interesting.

I would recommend this book to people who have any interest in marine mammal conservation.It was an interesting and enlightening read and I, a conservation novice, enjoyed the book thoroughly. ... Read more

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Photographed in full color. One of America's most acclaimed nature writers

vividly brings to life the experience of being face-to-face with a rare and

beautiful wild animal. She journeys to the last refuge of the most endangered

of all seal species, the Hawaiian monk seal. Written with a poet's eye for

beauty and a naturalist's attention to detail, and illustrated with glorious

photographs, this book provides an unforgettable glimpse into a mysterious

world.




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Customer Reviews (1)

Beautiful Photos and Interesting Tidbits
This book is full of beautiful pictures and an interesting story of how author Diane Ackerman got to "meet" some monk seals.She was fortunate enough to be able to tag some seals for protection and research and describes the experience in detail.Recommend this book for your young aspiring marine biologists and animal lovers of all ages.

Great, great, great! ... Read more

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Describes the river otter and its behavior, explains its status as an endangered species, and suggests what can be done to help save it. ... Read more

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Provides an introduction to the physical characteristics, behavior, various types, life cycle, and habitat of manatees, endangered marine animals that can live up to sixty years. ... Read more

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What makes a great white shark warm-bodied, but not warm-blooded? How many teeth does a great white shark have? What are denticles? Are great white sharks more dangerous to people? Or, are people more dangerous to the great white shark? In Great White Shar

... Read more

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Explains the habitat and behavior of the blue whale, why it is endangered, and how children can help save whales. ... Read more

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Frank's Whales details the efforts of a small, but dedicated, group of volunteers who are doing their part to save the most endangered large mammal in the oceans. North Atlantic Right Whales, hunted almost to extinction, use Northeast Florida coastal waters as their only known calving grounds. With an estimated population of just 325 whales remaining, scientists and volunteers are working to minimize the whales' greatest threat - the human impact of ship strikes and fishing gear entanglement.

Led by marine mammal scientists, volunteers gather data about the whales from shore-based observation points. Frank Gromling tells the fascinating story of the endangered whales and the special role being played by a handful of volunteers. For anyone interested in nature, conservation, whales, and volunteer programs, this is required reading. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

We all can play a role in protecting nature.
Many of us want to do something to protect the environment but we're overwhelmed by the problems. Frank's Whales does an excellent job of describing how an individual can play a critical part in preserving the well-being of enormous yet fragile creatures. Aside from the wit and humor it conveys, the book is a touching testimony of the positive impact our stewardship can have on the world around us and on our own lives.

I'll bet you didn' know much about the Right Whale
A lot of people retire and lie in the sun.Not Frank Gromling.He rediscovered the Atlantic Ocean and discovered the Right Whale.Probably most don't realize that this species of whale migrates down the coast of the United States as far as Florida, then returns north in the summer.Thus the name and the book, "Frank's Whales."This delightful novelette recounts his adventures as he contributed his time as a volunteer assisting in the task of helping the specie survive.Ironically, being named the "Right" Whale was wrong for the species and they were hunted almost to extinction."Frank's Whales," is loaded with facts concerning the history of the Right Whale.It gives detailed information about the specie itself and how humans can work to guarantee its survival.This is a little book that should be in every library.

H. Steven Robertson
Educator and Author of "Ranch Boy" and "Acorns of Love and Wisdom."

Survival of one species dependent on humans
It's a scenario that's been replayed throughout history.

The numbers of a species approach the edge of extinction.Just as with Loggerhead Sea Turtles, American Bald Eagles, and Peregrine Falcons, the Right Whale has a better chance of survival because individuals not only cared about its well-being, but took action to assist.

Few people may know, until Frank's Whales lands in their lap, that Northeast Florida is a critical birthing ground for the Right Whale, the rarest large whale in the Atlantic Ocean. Frank Gromling's book explores this majestic creature's natural history and the protection programs that hope to safeguard this whale's numbers, beginning with the whalers who, in prior centuries, reduced populations to a critical level, and moving forward to modern times, when ship strikes pose a serious threat.

The author relates his own experiences as part of a volunteer group that records observations and data to assist government agencies in formulating plans for the Right Whale's protection.

This book is perfect for many purposes.For the environmentally conscious, it's a lovely example of those who do more than protest:they give their time to help on behalf of a cause they hold dear.

For any student doing a life sciences report or project, this book will also be an invaluable resource, because it offers original research from first hand accounts, something not readily available for many projects.

The book is also interesting to a casual reader, because Frank Gromling tells a good story in an unpretentious, direct manner that puts the reader on the observation deck with him.

A bonus in this book involves exceptional black and white photographs of these whales and other ocean species, and related charts and maps.

I would highly recommend this book to any reader. ... Read more