Keepers of the Reef

Alice Wong's richly detailed, accurate watercolours take a boy and girl snorkeling to see the fishes that maintain the ecological balance between the corals and their main competitor, algae. Without the fish species that brush, crop, scrape, excavate, and browse the algae, coral reefs would die. A coral reef is a brilliant and colourful example of how a complex ecosystem functions and why its keystone species are critical to its health. The Great Barrier Reef is one of Earth's most celebrated natural treasures. Here children discover why the reef is threatened and what we can all do to help protect it.