Like a personal undersea tour, this enhanced second edition of The World Beneath: The Life and Times of Unknown Sea Creatures and Coral Reefs by marine biologist Richard Smith bursts with vibrant, full-color photographs of fascinating creatures, intriguing natural-science facts, and evocative personal anecdotes.
Smith opens by discussing the origins of his "deep connection with the sea" as well as the science behind coral reefs. Polyps, colonies, symbiosis, and zooxanthellae are presented in very accessible ways to explain how these "towering underwater monuments" were "built by a humble relative of the jellyfish." Readers even learn which current "Nemo used to travel from the Great Barrier Reef... in Finding Nemo."
Smith goes on to describe his experiences of diving the world's reefs, sharing over 300 photos of the enchanting beauty in the waters of the Galápagos Islands, Izu Islands, and the immensely biodiverse region of Southeast Asia known as the Coral Triangle.
The coral reefs come to life via vivid images featuring tiny speckled pygmy pipehorses; mysterious, ethereal reef mantas and sea turtles; multitudes of maximalist-patterned nudibranchs; and densely layered coral gardens as architecturally astounding as any human city. Later chapters further explore some of these species, including their behavior, reproductive cycles, and threats to their well-being.
Smith's passion for reefs and their conservation runs throughout. "Coral reefs are at a tipping point," he warns, then shares vital actions to support their continued health.
"The reef is a biological powerhouse, full of fantastical creatures with amazing stories," Smith declares. He makes for a captivating storyteller. --Grace Rajendran, freelance reviewer