Imperiled reef The fascinating, fragile life of a Caribbean wonder

"All the beauty and drama of the coral ecosystem, and all the forces and follies that imperil coral reefs" are present in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, writes journalist Sheehy (Texas Big Rich) in this impassioned study. Extending from Mexico to Honduras, the reef is the second-longest on Earth, and while Sheehy addresses the multitude of threats to the reef's "symphony of symbiosis"--climate change, ocean acidification, invasive species--she also recognizes that "people don't protect what they don't value." To that end, Sheehy outlines in accessible terms reef formation (in the Mesoamerican, larvae found the right temperature waters and reef-forming corals grew) and the flora and fauna that call the reef home (sea turtles, jellyfish, and gorgonians among them). She's at her best when describing how local communities and fishing cooperatives have taken action to improve ecological conditions by moving toward sustainable practices, though less successful are her pedestrian tips for what individuals might do to reduce their "negative impacts on the Earth's oceans" (recycle, and ditch single-use water bottles). Still, there is much to savor in Sheehy's paean to a unique ecosystem. (Oct.)