Welcome to Lecture 5: The Past, Present and Future of Coral Reefs

The principal objective of this lecture is to provide a broad overview of the frequency and severity of environmental threats facing coral reef ecosystems in the present day.

Byron's explanation for his love of the sea can be found here.

We can place the current (and future) state of coral reefs in a broader context by beginning with a brief overview of the evolution (and extinction) of reef communities through geological time. Comparing contemporary and historical patterns of coral reef extinction provides a backdrop for the final part of the lecture, where we discuss strategies for the future conservation of coral reefs.