New review posted on the Reef Resource Page

[Paul Blanchon]

Dear list members, 

I have recently posted a review of the history of reef geology on the Reef 
Resource Page (http://www.ualberta.ca/~pblancho/index.html). This is the 
first of many such 'review modules' that I hope to post over the next year 
or so. They are essentially draft documents that will provide the basis for 
an up-to-date and integrated review of the biology, ecology, and geology of 
modern reef systems. If these reviews are to serve any useful purpose, 
however, they will require the input of as many reef scientists as 
possible. So it is my hope that, by using the Web and all its multimedia 
capabilities, I can solicit your candid feedback, reviews and cooperation. 
All input will be aknowledged and all reviews will be posted (unless 
otherwise requested). 

The first 'review module' addresses the historical development of 
geological reef science -- an important topic where scientific consensus is 
attainable. It outlines the _major_ reef theories from Darwin to the 
present, providing succinct critiques of each. I would particularly like 
feedback on the conclusion that our ideas on reef configuration and 
architecture have essentially come full circle back to where they started 
i.e., reefs are fully capable of producing their own morphology with little 
help from foundations. 

Also, I would be very interested in hearing from those of you keen to 
review or with ideas on the history of biological and ecological reef 
science. Like the geological review, the objective is to outline the major 
theories, paradigms etc, provide succinct critiques of each, and end with a 
brief summary of where we are and perhaps were we should go. 

I sincerely hope that, by pooling our collective knowledge in these 
reviews, we can establish a framework that will enable us to address the 
interdisciplinary problems that reefs presently face. 
The rationale for such an approach is simple: lack of communication and 
cooperation among scientists who seek to understand the same natural 
phenomena can only lead to confusion, duplication, misinformation, and 
ultimately mismanagement. 

Paul Blanchon. 

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        Dr. Paul Blanchon || Research Fellow 
        Dept. Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, 
        1-26 Earth Science Building, 
        University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 
        Tel: (403) 492-4205 Fax: (403) 492-2030 
        E-mail: p.blanchon at ualberta.ca 
        Web: http://www.ualberta.ca/~pblancho/index.html 
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