Aquatic Ecosystems
Trends and Global Prospects

Unique, global overview of the future effects of climate change and human impact on the world's aquatic ecosystems.

Nicholas V. C. Polunin (Edited by)

9780521833271, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 11 September 2008

512 pages, 89 b/w illus. 39 tables
25.3 x 19.3 x 2.9 cm, 1.23 kg

'… a 'must' for all university libraries, and a thoroughly useful reference tome for undergraduates and graduates alike.' Progress in Physical Geography

Concern about future supplies of fresh water to society, to meet the full range of human needs, now comes very high on the priority list of global societal issues. An overarching issue, which this book addresses, is whether global climate change is a dominant driver of change in the structure and function of all natural water-based ecosystems, or whether direct human population growth and accelerated consumption are playing an equal or greater role. This book divides the whole aquatic realm into 21 ecosystems, from those on land (both saline and fresh water) to those of the open and deep oceans. It draws on the understanding of leading ecologists to summarize the state and likely condition by the year 2025 of each of the ecosystems. Written for academic researchers and environmental professionals, the aim is to put the climate change debate into a broader context as a basis for conservation science and planning.

1. Introduction: Climate, people, fisheries and aquatic ecosystems Robert Engelman, Daniel Pauly, Dirk Zeller, Ronald G. Prinn, John K. Pinnegar and Nicholas V. C. Polunin
Part I. Flowing Waters: 2. Prospects for streams and rivers: an ecological perspective Björn Malmqvist, Simon D. Rundle, Alan P. Covich, Alan G. Hildrew, Christopher T. Robinson and Colin R. Townsend
3. Groundwater ecosystems: human impacts and future management Janine Gibert, David C. Culver, Dan L. Danielopol, Christian Griebler, Amara Gunatilaka, Jos Notenboo and Boris Sket
4. Flood plains: critically threatened ecosystems Klement Tockner, Stuart E. Bunn, Christopher Gordon, Robert J. Naiman, Gerry P. Quinn, Jack A. Stanford
Part II. Still Waters: 5. The future of small lakes and ponds Brian Moss, Christer Brönmark, Glen George, Lars-Anders Hansso and Erik Jeppesen
6. Environmental trends and potential future states of large freshwater lakes Alfred M. Beeton, Robert E. Hecky and Kenton M. Stewart
7. Salt lakes: values, threats, and future Robert Jellison, William D. Williams (deceased), Brian Timms, Javier Alcocer and Nikolay V. Aladin
Part III. Freshwater Wetlands: 8. The future of cool temperate peatlands Nils Malmer, Peter D. Moore and Michael C. F. Proctor
9. Temperate freshwater wetlands: response to gradients in moisture regime, human alterations and economic status Mark M. Brinson, Barbara E. Bedford, Beth Middleton and Jos T. A. Verhoeven
10. Present state and future of tropical wetlands Brij Gopal, Wolfgang J. Junk, C. Max Finlayson and Charles M. Breen
Part IV. Coastal Wetlands: 11. Saltmarsh Paul Adam, Mark D. Bertness, Anthony J. Davy and Joy B. Zedler
12. Future of mangrove ecosystems to 2025 Richard S. Dod and Jin E. Ong
13. Environmental future of estuaries Michael J. Kennish, Robert J. Livingston, Dave Raffaelli and Karsten Reise
Part V. Rocky Shores: 14. Rocky intertidal shores: prognosis for the future George M. Branch, Richard C. Thompson, Tasman P. Crowe, Juan Carlos Castilla, Olivia Langmead and Stephen J. Hawkins
15. Current status and future trends in kelp forest ecosystems Robert S. Steneck, Rodrigo H. Bustamante, Paul K. Dayton, Geoffrey P. Jone and Alistair J. Hobday
16. Projecting the current trajectory for coral reefs Tim R. McClanahan, Robert W. Buddemeier, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg and Paul Sammarco
Part VI. Soft Shores: 17. Sandy shores of the near future Alexander C. Brown (deceased), Karl F. Nordstrom, Anton McLachlan, Nancy L. Jackson and Douglas J. Sherman
18. Seagrass ecosystems: their global status and prospects Carlos M. Duarte, Jens Borum, Frederick T. Short and Diana I. Walker
19. Continental shelf benthic ecosystems – prospects for an improved environmental future Stephen J. Hall, Stuart I. Rogers and Simon F. Thrush
Part VII. Vast Marine Systems: 20. The marine pelagic ecosystem: perspectives on humanity's role in the future Peter G. Verity, John H. Steele, T. Frede Thingstad and Fereidoun Rassoulzadegan
21. Polar and ice-edge marine systems Andrew Clarke, Andrew S. Brierley, Colin M. Harris, Dan Lubin and Raymond C. Smith
22. The near future of the deep seafloor ecosystems Craig R. Smith, Lisa A. Levin, Anthony Koslow, Paul A. Tyler and Adrian G. Glover
23. Synthesis: Trends and global prospects of the Earth's aquatic ecosystems Nicholas V. C. Polunin, Brij Gopal, Nicholas A. J. Graham, Stephen Hall, Venugopalan Ittekkot and Annette Mühlig-Hofmann.

Subject Areas: Conservation of the environment [RNK], Applied ecology [RNC], Marine biology [PSPM]