An annotated bibliography of web sites
In the report entitled State of the Reefs, the authors write that "the status and trends of complete coral reef ecosystems...have never been comprehensively evaluated because of the complexity, length of time, and cost of such endeavors." The status and trends of web sites addressing coral reef topics are in a similar situation. This site is an attempt to help change that situation.
The world wide web has great potential for allowing access to data and other information previously difficult to attain, but it has at least one attribute that may actually hinder finding this information: anyone can put up anything they want. To aid in finding the type and quality of information you are looking for, this site provides links to sites addressing coral reefs, lists the specific author(s) and their educational background or title when available, and describes the information found at each site. It was originally created as a project for a multidisciplinary class on coral reefs at the University of Kansas, taught by Robert Buddemeier, Paul Enos, and Daphne Fautin. In this position (as a student), the "complexity, length of time, and cost" of the endeavor was a non-issue. (That's sarcasm. Actually, it was more complex than expected, took a long time, and cost the price of tuition at least).
Two things I acknowledge about the site are that it is not 100% comprehensive (though I challenge anyone to find a more comprehensive site), and the method of annotating is somewhat unorthodox for the scientific community. I have grouped sites according to topic, and give a short description of the type of information found at each site when appropriate (primary source article, field guide, database, etc.). This system did not apply well to all sites, but seemed to be useful for most. I also commented on the quality of each site from a web-scripting view (whether there are useful graphics or pictures, etc.). If you have suggestions about how to make the site more clear or useful, agree or disagree with a review, or know of a site not listed, please write me at sellswor@sunflower.com. I hope this site helps you find what you want to know about the beautiful ecosystems known as coral reefs.
Contents - Click on topic to skip ahead or just scroll down. GENERAL
Type: [Report]
NOAA. International Coral Reef Initiative Executive Secretariat Background Paper, written in May, 1995.
Type: []
A good overview site. The most comprehensive content-oriented site I found. Includes geology and biology information, and a good order-level field guide for all five kingdoms associated with reefs.
Type: []
"Reef Biology" and "Reef Ecology" links not up yet, but if they are like his "Reef Geology" link, they will be worth waiting for. The "Reef Notes" section has lots of news stories dealing with reefs. Gives source under title.
Type: []
"An internet information service designed to increase the understanding of coral reef ecosytems world wide." In the most recent "issue" (#4, Summer '97), the "Reef Research" section contained an article entitled Predators Regulate Local Abundance of Marine Fish: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, by Mark Hixon, Oregon State University. The "NGO News" section described the Save Our Seas Clean Oceans Conference on June 13-15 1997. There was no "Field Reports" section in the current issue, but the last issue had an interview with Ken Clifton, UC Santa Barbara, about his findings on algae spawning. The "Conservation Strategies" section talked about ReefBase data collection with Dr. John McManus, ReefBase Project Leader. These are just examples.
Good-looking site and clear organization, but basically all text.
Type: []
Type: [News, Abstracts, Databases]
Type: [Primary Source]
Web page for his senior thesis project, conducted at Pigion Key, a small island just offshore of Andros Island in the Bahamas, in the spring of 1996. Includes his final paper, entitled A Non-Destructive Spectrophotographic Method of Assessing Relative Changes In Coral Health Utilizing Induced Fluorescence. His advisors were Dr. Walter I. Hatch, David Emerick, Dr. Christopher E. Tanner, and Dr. Holly Gorton, St. Mary's College of Maryland; and Dr. Charles Mazel, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Type: []
Type: [Tertiary Source]
Basic, general information. Concentrates on the attributes of an "average" coral organism, but also has information on types of reefs and reef ecosystems.
Good graphics and pictures.
Type: []
Link to his own info. on Hawaii's reefs and links to other sites.
Type: []
Last modified on November 3, 1995."
Type: []
Type: []
Explains a study by Dr. Jerry Wellington who "is interested in how climates are changing and whether recent climate changes are a result of human activities." The study is presumably not finished, so no results are given. Does give good, basic information on how scientists study climate, what corals are, and how they feed.
All text, but good layout.
Type: [Database]
"The official database of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network." Access at least part of the database available on CD-ROM. Includes maps.
Type: [Database (description)]
"ReefBase is a database (on CD ROM) designed to summarize information on the uses, ecological status and management of coral reefs globally, regionally and nationally, and to make this information available to people involved in reef management and those concerned with the future use and conservation of coral reefs." This site gives information on what is contained in and how to get the CD. It also asks for help in maintaining the database. It is a different page than the one above
Type: [Database]
"The World Conservation Monitoring Centre provides information services on conservation and sustainable use of the world's living resources, and helps others to develop information systems of their own." Contains data for marine environments worldwide. Lists marine statistics, species, and geographic data including maps showing coral and mangrove environments.
Type: []
General Information about reefs with maps.
Type: []
"Most of this paper...is a faithful HTML representation of the version submitted for publication in the Proceedings of the 8th International Coral Reef Symposium, Panama, 1996.
Type: []
Type: []
"The 'Ocean Pulse' coral reef project at schools and on the Internet educates the community about coral reef ecology. Our vision is to establish a global network of informed and empowered 'reef keepers' to insure the well-being of coral reefs worldwide for future generations."
Type: [News]
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Type: []
"CLIVAR (Climate Variability and Predictability) is an interdisciplinary research effort within the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) focussing on the variability and predictability of the slowly varying components of the climate system."
Type: []
"The Coral Reef Research Institute was launched in 1995 and is an initiative of the University of Sydney in cooperation with other Australian Universities. The Institute facilitates the expertise and resources of the participating institutions in the pursuit of a better understanding of coral reefs, in Australian waters and elsewhere."
Type: []
"The CRC Reef Research Centre undertakes an integrated program of applied research, training and extension to enhance sustainable Reef-based industries and economic activity, with particular emphasis on tourism, and provides an improved scientific basis for Reef management and regulatory decision making."
Type: [Description]
"The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) was established by the Commonwealth government in 1972 to generate the knowledge needed for the sustainable use and protection of the marine environment through innovative, world-class scientific and technological research." The site explains the institute, its projects, and functions, but does not have much real information on reefs.
Type: [Description]
"The Coral Reef Research Foundation (CRRF) is a non-profit organization (501(c)(3)) incorporated in the State of California and the Republic of Palau whose purposes are research and education on coral reefs and other tropical marine environments."
Just describes the organization; no educational material.
Type: [Description]
"A non-profit 501 (c)(3) US Corporation founded in 1991 by several of the creators of the internationally reknowned project, Biosphere 2." Set up "to (1) monitor the health of coral reefs worldwide, (2) develop the technique of monitoring coral reefs using satellite imagery, (3) advance knowledge on global climatology, and (4) provide technology for restoration of coral reef ecosystems when and where possible." Site describes the foundation's functions.
Type: [Description]
"A nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting coral reef ecosystems through education and action." Activist focus, with little actual information, but has good pictures, movies, and motivation for saving reefs. Tells about their campaigns and projects, has maps, and a teacher's guide and other merchandise available to order. Bob Weir (Grateful Dead guitarist) plays a part in this organization, which explains the focus and some of the links.
Type: []
See "Reef Facts" - has articles which address human impacts, and the newsletter "CORAL news." Also has list (Coral Reef NGO directory) of organizations which are contributing to coral reef conservation efforts around the world.
Type: []
"The Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation chartered in 1990 and based in Key Largo, Florida. REEF's goal is to provide all divers and snorkelers the opportunity to learn more about the underwater wilderness and become actively involved in its study and preservation by collecting vital marine life data. REEF carries out this mission in active partnership with The Nature Conservancy."
Type: []
"A nonprofit membership organization dedicated to Preserving and Protecting Living Coral Reef Ecosystems through local, regional and global efforts."
Very informative for an activist-type organization site.
Type: []
CCC conducts expeditions "to the Caribbean and Asia-Pacific to help protect threatened coral reef and tropical forests." This site has general information on reefs and research methods.
Type: [Tertiary Source]
Discusses the importance of reefs, what problems exist, and possible solutions.
Type: [Description]
"Reef Check 1997 is a global volunteer effort by groups of recreational divers led by experienced marine scientists to carry out targetted, scientifically based, coral reef surveys." This site describes the methods used to assess reef health.
Type: [Primary Source]
(At the bottom of the page after funding information). Reported on October 16, 1997, it gives results of the surveys done by Reef Check participants between June 15 and August 31, 1997.
Type: [Abstracts]
Abstracts to articles related to climate change.
Type: [Print Bibliography]
A "traditional" bibliography with "a comprehensive listing of coral reef related publications resulting from research funded by the National Sea Grant College Program (NSGCP)."
Type: [Print Bibliography]
Type: [Print Bibliography]
Uses helpful icons to denote what the selection is like: an identification guide, a textbook, "technical science stuff," primarily dealing with Hawai'i or Hawaiian organisms, highly recommended, a good resource for teens/kids, or also containing info on coral reef fishes.
Type: [Links]
Check out the "Coastal Environments/Processes" and "Online Data Sources" links.
Type: [Links]
Search under "reefs."
Type: [Links]
Type: [Links]
Extensive!