Title: Marine hard bottom communities : patterns, dynamics, diversity, and change /
Authors: Wahl, Martin.
Publisher: Springer,
Year: 2009
Subjects: Ocean bottom ecology
Abstract: "Marine hard bottoms feature some of the most spectacular and diverse biological communities on this planet. These not only contain a rich treasure of genetic, taxonomic and functional information but also deliver irreplaceable ecosystem services. At the same time, they are highly vulnerable and increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures. This volume has collected contributions by 50 scientists from numerous biogeographic regions, dealing with characteristics of hard bottom communities. Distributional patterns in space and time are described, followed by analyses of the intrinsic and extrinsic dynamics producing these patterns. A strong emphasis is placed on the ongoing changes occurring in the structure and diversity of these communities in response to spiralling environmental impacts, and on state-of-the-art countermeasures aiming to preserve these ecological treasures. Finally, various values of diversity are assessed, hopefully as an incentive for enhanced conservation efforts."--BOOK JACKET.
Contents: Habitat characteristics and typical functional groups / Martin Wahl -- The role of mineral, living, and artificial substrata in the development of subtidal assemblages / Andrew R. Davis -- Communities on deep-sea hard bottoms / Craig M. Young -- Epibiosis : ecology, effects, and defences / Martin Wahl -- Latitudinal patterns of species richness in hard-bottom communities / João Canning-Clode -- Regional-scale patterns / Jonne Kotta and Jon D. Witman -- Patterns along environmental gradients / Antonio Terlizzi and David R. Schiel -- Evolutionary patterns of diversity and their causes / Sharyn J. Goldstien and David R. Schiel -- Environmental variability : analysis and ecological implications / Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi -- Fertilization strategies / Ester A. Serrão and Jon Havenhand -- Larval supply and dispersal / Dustin J. Marshall, Craig Styan, and Christopher D. McQuaid -- Settlement and recruitment / Stuart R. Jenkins, Dustin Marshall, and Simonetta Fraschetti --^ Seasonal dynamics / Josep-Maria Gili and Peter S. Petraitis -- Disruption, succession and stochasiticity / J. Timothy Wootton ... [et al.] -- Changes in diversity and ecosystem functioning / Laure M.-L.J. Noël ... [et al.] -- Simple and complex interactions / Markus Molis and Bernardo A.P. da Gama -- Anthropogenic changes in patterns of diversity on hard substrata : an overview / Brianna G. Clynick, David Blockley, and M. Gee Chapman -- Shifts in abiotic variables and consequences for diversity / Christopher D.G. Harley and Sean D. Connell -- The loss of natural habitats and the addition of artificial substrata / Laura Airoldi, Sean D. Connell, and Michael W. Beck -- Multiple stressors and disturbances : when change is not in the nature of things / David R. Schiel -- Mass mortalities and extinctions / Carlo Cerrano and Giorgio Bavestrello -- Biological invasions : insights from marine benthic communities / Christopher D. McQuaid and Francisco Arenas --^ Habitat distribution and heterogeneity in marine invasion dynamics : the importance of hard substrate and artificial structure / Gregory M. Ruiz ... [et al.] -- Rehabilitation of habitat and the value of artificial reefs / Paris J. Goodsell and M. Gee Chapman -- Protection of biota and the value of marine protected areas / Paris J. Goodsell and A.J. Underwood -- The role of biodiversity for the functioning of rocky reef communities / Lars Gamfeldt and Matthew E.S. Bracken -- Functional and taxonomic perspectives of marine biodiversity : functional diversity and ecosystem processes / Tasman P. Crowe and Roly Russell -- Mechanisms underpinning diversity-stability relationships in hard bottom assemblages / Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi -- The aesthetic value of littoral hard substrata and consideration of ethical frameworks for their investigation and conservation / Heather E. Sugden, A.J. Underwood, and Stephen J. Hawkins --^ Field and research methods in marine ecology / A.J. Underwood and Angus C. Jackson.