Understanding marine biodiversity : a research agenda for the nation / Committee on Biological Diversity in Marine Systems.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council Staff, Corporate Author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Marine biodiversity--Research--Congresses.

Marine biodiversity.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (128 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Other Title:

Marine biodiversity

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1995.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The diversity of marine life is being affected dramatically by fishery operations, chemical pollution and eutrophication, alteration of physical habitat, exotic species invasion, and effects of other human activities. Effective solutions will require an expanded understanding of the patterns and processes that control the diversity of life in the sea. Understanding Marine Biodiverity outlines the current state of our knowledge, and propose research agenda on marine biological diversity. This agenda represents a fundamental change in studying the ocean--emphasizing regional research across a range of space and time scales, enhancing the interface between taxonomy and ecology, and linking oceanographic and ecological approaches. Highlighted with examples and brief case studies, this volume illustrates the depth and breadth of undescribed marine biodiversity, explores critical environmental issues, advocates the use of regionally defined model systems, and identifies a series of key biodiversity research questions. The authors examine the utility of various research approaches--theory and modeling, retrospective analysis, integration of biotic and oceanographic surveys--and review recent advances in molecular genetics, instrumentation, and sampling techniques applicable to the research agenda. Throughout the book the critical role of taxonomy is emphasized. Informative to the scientist and accessible to the policymaker, Understanding Marine Biodiversity will be of specific interest to marine biologists, ecologists, oceanographers, and research administrators, and to government agencies responsible for utilizing, managing, and protecting the oceans.

Contents:

Understanding Marine Biodiversity

Foreword

Preface

Contents

Executive Summary

One Introduction

MARINE BIODIVERSITY IS CHANGING AND IT MATTERS

THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF UNDERDESCRIBED MARINE BIODIVERSITY

SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORGING NEW HORIZONS

Genetic Diversity

Species Diversity

Habitat and Ecosystem Diversity

Two Linking Pattern to Process: A Regional-Scale Approach

THE SPATIAL CONTINUUM

TEMPORAL CONSIDERATIONS

DEFINING THE MOST MEANINGFUL SCALES OF STUDY

A RATIONALE FOR STUDYING SEVERAL TYPES OF REGIONAL MODEL SYSTEMS

OBJECTIVES OF THIS INITIATIVE

Three Biodiversity Changes Due to Anthropogenic Effects: Critical Environmental Issues

FISHERIES OPERATIONS

Direct Fisheries Effects

Indirect Fisheries Effects

Mariculture Effects

Effects of Scientific Collecting

CHEMICAL POLLUTION AND EUTROPHICATION

ALTERATIONS IN PHYSICAL HABITAT

INVASIONS OF EXOTIC SPECIES

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

Four Regionally Defined Model Systems: Examples of Habitats

ESTUARIES AND BAYS

CORAL REEFS

TEMPERATE ZONE ROCKY SHORES

CONTINENTAL SHELVES AND SLOPES

PELAGIC OPEN OCEAN

DEEP SEA

Five The Critical Role of Taxonomy

Six Biodiversity Research Program

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Patterns

Processes

Consequences

BASIC RESEARCH QUESTIONS

CONTINGENT AND REASONABLE PREDICTION

APPROACHES

Theory and Modeling

Retrospective Analysis: Importance of an Historical Perspective

Linking Biotic Surveys with Ecological and Oceanographic Experiments

METHODS

Taxonomic Methods

Molecular Genetics

Instrumentation

Sampling

Special Opportunities

IMPLEMENTATION

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PROGRAMS

Scientific Programs and Initiatives

Federal Agency Programs

Seven Summary

References

Appendixes

Appendix A Workshop Agenda.

Appendix B Workshop Participants

Appendix C Acronyms

Appendix D Glossary

Index.

Notes:

"The workshop, entitled Biological Diversity in Marine Systems, was held May 24-26, 1994, at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center of the National Academy of Sciences in Irvine, California"--Pref.

"Ocean Studies Board, Commission on Geosciences, Environment, and Resources ; Board on Biology, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-93) and index.

ISBN:

9786610193172

9780309176415

0309176417

9781280193170

1280193174

9780309567602

0309567602

9780585209586

0585209588

OCLC:

44960818