Marine Ecology: Processes, Systems, and Impacts

by Michel J Kaiser (Editor), Martin J Attrill (Editor), Simon Jennings (Editor), David Thomas (Editor)

Overview

Striking full colour illustrations and photographs bring this integrated and stimulating survey of marine ecology to life. Through its unique structure, Marine Ecology: Processes, Systems, and Impacts offers a systems-orientated approach from a truly modern and global perspective.

The text introduces key processes and systems from which the marine environment is formed and the issues and challenges which surround its future. Opening with an overview of the processes and interactions which are central to an understanding of marine ecology, the book goes on to explore the diverse systems from which the marine environment is composed, from estuaries to seabeds, the deep sea to polar regions. Detailed case studies form the basis of the pedagogy, highlighting issues from a diverse range of marine systems in a digestible way.

In this third edition, more of an emphasis is placed on climate change and looking towards future challenges, since the importance of understanding and conserving the marine environment has never been more apparent. There is also a new chapter on the value of the ocean to society which discusses key topics such as natural capital and food security.

Marine Ecology: Processes, Systems, and Impacts is a carefully balanced, positive and considered text, containing measures that can be taken to mitigate adverse effects on this complex, fragile environment. It is an essential resource for any student wishing to develop a well-balanced, informed understanding of this fascinating subject.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198717850
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	10/25/2020
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	608
Product dimensions:	10.40(w) x 7.60(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Prof. Michel J. Kaiser, Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, Heriot-Watt University.

Prof. Martin J. Attrill, Marine Institute, University of Plymouth; Dr. Simon Jennings, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.

Dr. David N. Thomas, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University

Table of Contents

1 Patterns in the Marine Environment 1

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Biogeography 9

1.3 Biodiversity 14

1.4 Abundance and Size 22

Further Reading 29

Part 1 Processes

2 Primary Production Processes 33

2.1 Introduction 33

2.2 Photosynthesis 36

2.3 Light in Water 42

2.4 Light and Photosynthesis 44

2.5 Supply of Inorganic Nutrients 46

2.6 The Main Limiting Nutrients for Growth 51

2.7 Algal Growth 59

2.8 Seasonal Trends in Primary Production 66

2.9 Global Trends in Primary Production 67

2.10 Primary Production in Seaweeds 74

2.11 Measurement of Primary Production 76

2.12 Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey (1930s to present) 82

2.13 Hawaii Ocean Time Series, HOT (1988 to present) 83

Further Reading 85

3 Marine Microbial Secondary Production 88

3.1 Introduction 88

3.2 Organic Matter in the Ocean 89

3.3 Key Marine Microbial Secondary Producers 90

3.4 Prokaryotic Primary Producers 93

3.5 Major Metabolic Strategies in Marine Prokaryotes 102

3.6 Sources and Processing of Organic Carbon 107

3.7 Marine Microbes and the Oceanic Nitrogen Cycle 108

3.8 The Importance of Small Organisms in Oceanic Food Webs and Organic-matter Cycling 109

3.9 The Dynamics of Bacterial Growth and its Measurement 113

3.10 Growth Yield and Trophic Yield 115

3.11 Marine Microbial Food Webs 117

3.12 Marine Bacterial Populations 118

3.13 Viruses 120

3.14 Protozoa 124

3.15 Metazoan Zooplankton 125

3.16 Food Web Dynamics and Growth Control in Oceanic Microbial Food Webs 126

3.17 The Seasonal Cycle of Production and Consumption 127

3.18 Oceanic Microbes in Global Carbon and Nutrient Cycles 129

Further Reading 132

4 Secondary Production: The Macrobiota 133

4.1 Introduction 133

4.2 Measuring Secondary Production 137

4.3 Drivers of Secondary Production 143

4.4 Size Structuring in Marine Food-Webs 146

4.5 Human Impacts on Secondary Production 147

Further Reading 151

Part 2 Systems

5 Estuaries 155

5.1 Introduction 155

5.2 Estuarine Organisms 164

5.3 Productivity and Food Webs 171

5.4 Diversity Patterns in Estuaries 177

5.5 Other 'Brackish-water' Systems 179

Further Reading 183

6 Rocky and Sandy Shores 184

6.1 Introduction 184

6.2 What is the Shore? 185

6.3 Environmental Gradients and the Shore 186

6.4 Causes of Zonation 192

6.5 The Organization of Shore Communities 194

6.6 The Shore Network 203

6.7 The Future of Rocky and Sandy Shores 205

Further Reading 207

7 Pelagic Ecosystems 208

7.1 Introduction 208

7.2 Definitions and Environmental Features 209

7.3 Pelagic Inhabitants: Consequences of Size 214

7.4 Diel Vertical Migration 215

7.5 Size-structured Pelagic Food-webs 215

7.6 Longevity in the Plankton 216

7.7 Temporal and Spatial Variability in Pelagic Ecosystems 217

7.8 Sampling the Open Ocean 225

7.9 Pelagic Fisheries 230

7.10 Regime Shifts in Pelagic Marine Ecosystems 232

7.11 The Future for Pelagic Marine Ecosystems 233

Further Reading 234

8 Continental Shelf Seabed 236

8.1 Introduction 236

8.2 Definitions and Environmental Features 237

8.3 The Seabed Habitat and Biota 244

8.4 Functional Roles of the Biota 248

8.5 Food Webs in Shelf Systems 252

8.6 Characterization of Seabed Communities 256

8.7 Specific Habitats 258

Further Reading 268

9 The Deep Sea 269

9.1 Introduction 269

9.2 Definitions and Environmental Features 270

9.3 Food Supply to the Deep Sea 278

9.4 The Organisms of the Deep Sea 283

9.5 Habitats of the Deep Sea 289

9.6 Chemosynthetic Habitats-Hydrothermal Vents and Cold Seeps 293

Further Reading 298

10 Mangrove Forests and Seagrass Meadows 299

10.1 Introduction 299

10.2 Mangrove Forests 300

10.3 Seagrass Meadows 312

Further Reading 327

11 Coral Reefs 328

11.1 Introduction 328

11.2 Reef Development and Distribution 328

11.3 Reef Growth and Bioerosion 332

11.4 Corals' Biology and Reproduction 334

11.5 Constraints on Coral Growth and Distribution 335

11.6 Coral Reef Productivity and Food Chains 336

11.7 Diversity Patterns on Coral Reefs 338

11.8 Dynamics of Reef Animals 339

11.9 Threats to Coral Reefs 342

11.10 Reefs and Human Society 346

Further Reading 349

12 Polar Regions 350

12.1 Introduction 350

12.2 What is Pack Ice? 354

12.3 Arctic vs Antarctic Pack Ice 356

12.4 Life in a Block of Ice 357

12.5 Sea-Ice Edges 362

12.6 Polar Benthos 365

12.7 Polar Bentho-Pelagic Coupling 368

12.8 Endemism in Polar Benthos 368

12.9 Gigantism in Polar Waters 369

12.10 Birds and Mammals 370

Further Reading 377

Part 3 Impacts

13 Fisheries 381

13.1 Introduction 381

13.2 Global Fisheries 381

13.3 Fish Production 386

13.4 Fished Species and their Fisheries 386

13.5 Fish Population Biology 388

13.6 Fishing Methods 388

13.7 Fish Stock Assessment 390

13.8 The Management Process 395

13.9 Environmental Impacts of Fishing 397

13.10 Ecosystem-based Fishery Management 402

13.11 The Future of Fisheries 403

Further Reading 403

14 Aquaculture 404

14.1 Introduction 404

14.2 Aquaculture Past and Present 405

14.3 How do we Produce Food from the Sea? 410

14.4 What is Cultivated and Where? 412

14.5 Food Requirements and Constraints 414

14.6 The Role of Biotechnology 414

14.7 Negative Effects of Biotechnology 415

14.8 Cultivation Systems 415

14.9 Cultivation of Fish in Cages 416

14.10 Cage Cultivation: A Lousy System? 417

14.11 Breaking Away from the Coastal Margin 420

14.12 Shrimp Cultivation: The Gold Rush 422

14.13 Shrimp Farming and Mangroves 423

14.14 Cultivation of Molluscs 423

14.15 Ranching at Sea 426

14.16 A Conservation Role for Aquaculture? 427

Further Reading 428

15 Pollution, Disturbance, and Environmental Monitoring 430

15.1 Introduction 430

15.2 Ecological Role of Disturbance 431

15.3 Measuring the Effects of Human Activities 435

15.4 Agents of Change 442

15.5 Interaction of Multiple Factors 453

Further Reading 455

16 Conservation 456

16.1 Introduction 456

16.2 Why Conserve? 458

16.3 What to Conserve 460

16.4 Implementing Conservation Policy 461

16.5 Conservation in Action 466

16.6 The Role of Science 471

16.7 The Future 472

Further Reading 474

17 Climate Change 475

17.1 Introduction 475

17.2 The Mechanisms of Climate Change 476

17.3 Temperature Change in the Oceans 480

17.4 Polar Ice Melt and Sea Level Rise 487

17.5 Ocean Circulation, Weather and Land Run-off 489

17.6 Ocean Acidification 490

Further Reading 496

18 Sea and Society 497

18.1 Introduction 497

18.2 Ecosystem Goods and Services 498

18.3 An Economic Perspective 498

18.4 Integrating Ecosystem Value into Spatial Planning 509

18.5 Life-cycle Analysis 511

18.6 Innovating to Reduce Carbon and Environmental Footprint 513

18.7 Citizen Science 516

18.8 Use of Social Media 517

Further Reading 519

References 521

Weblinks 567

Index 569