Marine Ecosystems
Human Impacts on Biodiversity, Functioning and Services

A critical synthesis of key concepts for understanding human impacts on marine ecosystems and for decision-making based on ecosystem services.

Tasman P. Crowe (Author), Christopher L. J. Frid (Author)

9781107675087, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 18 June 2015

406 pages, 33 b/w illus. 9 colour illus. 17 tables
22.7 x 15.2 x 1.8 cm, 0.66 kg

'… a balanced, engaging, and useful volume. It is a delight to read and concise. This publication provides a much-needed and effective bridge between the academic state of the art and the policy actions the science might be invoked to support. The book is well suited for graduate students, as well as the broad audience of scientists working in government, management, or nonprofit contexts.' Mary I. O'Connor, The Quarterly Review of Biology

Ecosystem services are emerging as a key driver of conservation policy and environmental management. Delivery of ecosystem services depends on the efficient functioning of ecosystems, which in turn depends on biodiversity and environmental conditions. Many marine ecosystems are extremely productive and highly valued, but they are increasingly threatened by human activities. With contributions from leading researchers, this volume synthesises current understanding of the effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning caused by a variety of human activities and pressures at play in coastal marine ecosystems. The authors examine the likely consequences for ecosystem service provision, covering key topics including fisheries, aquaculture, physical structures, nutrients, chemical contaminants, marine debris and invasive species. Critically reviewing the latest developments, this is a unique resource both for environmental managers and policy-makers, and for researchers and students in marine ecology and environmental management.

List of contributors
Part I. Key Concepts: 1. Introduction Tasman Crowe, Melanie Austen and Christopher L. J. Frid
2. Ecosystem services and benefits from marine ecosystems Melanie Austen, Caroline Hattam and Tobias Börger
3. Assessing human impacts on marine ecosystems Christopher L. J. Frid and Tasman Crowe
4. Modifiers of impacts on marine ecosystems: disturbance regimes, multiple stressors and receiving environments Devin Lyons, Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi, Christopher L. J. Frid and Rolf Vinebrooke
5. Impacts of changing biodiversity on marine ecosystem functioning Tasman Crowe
Part II. Impacts of Human Activities and Pressures: 6. Marine fisheries and aquaculture Odette Paramor and Christopher L. J. Frid
7. Artificial physical structures Fabio Bulleri and Gee Chapman
8. Eutrophication and hypoxia: impacts of nutrient and organic enrichment Samuli Korpinen and Erik Bonsdorff
9. Pollution: effects of chemical contaminants and debris Emma Johnston and Mariana Mayer-Pinto
10. Invasions by non-indigenous species Mads Solgaard Thomsen, Thomas Wernberg and David Schiel
Part III. Synthesis and Conclusions: 11. Human activities and ecosystem service use: impacts and trade-offs Melanie Austen, Caroline Hattam and Samantha Garrard
12. Conclusions Tasman Crowe, Dave Raffaelli and Christopher L. J. Frid
Index.

Subject Areas: Environmental management [RNF], The environment [RN], Earth sciences, geography, environment, planning [R], Marine biology [PSPM], Biology, life sciences [PS], Mathematics & science [P]