Life on the reef

Gr 7 Up-This three-part documentary explores how humans live with, impact, and are affected by Australia's Great Barrier Reef. With gorgeous cinematography and a soothing Australian-accented narration, the program covers a year's time. Filmed during the winter, part 1 offers an overview of where the reef is located, what it's made of, and its marine life; for example, viewers learn about the 2,000 different species of sponges. (There is remarkable footage of sharks and humpback whales that swim to the warm tropical waters to calf.) Viewers see scientists studying green sea turtles in their nesting grounds, a rescue helicopter working to save a burning boat near the reef, and a scientist studying fish sounds. The springtime episode focuses on the reproductive strategies of corals, turtles, and fish. It also stresses and the importance of mangroves ("the lungs of the Great Barrier Reef"), caves, and islands to the environment. The final summertime program looks at how the reef responds to challenges natural (e.g., storms) and man-made, such as pollution. The program revisits the green sea turtle nesting grounds to point out how rising sea levels are swamping the nests. Overall, the program is a bit scattered. It introduces viewers to people and situations and then brings them back two programs later. There is no linear narrative but a segmented one. Still, each chapter is educational and visually compelling. Taken as a whole, the program sheds light on the ecosystems and inhabitants. VERDICT This would be a solid additional resource for classes studying reefs, corals, or oceanic ecology.-Geri Diorio, The Ridgefield Library, CT © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.