We dream of secluded palm beaches and colourful corals. Tropical researchers from Bremen take a closer look. In three dozens illustrated essays they describe the natural, spatial and social processes in and around the communities of coral reefs, seaweed meadows and mangrove forests and analyse their vulnerability to climate change, rising sea level, overexploitation and urbanisation. Their research projects with scientific partners in tropical countries aim at a sustainable use of these natural resources and at the protection of tropical coastal habitats from destruction.