ABSTRACT

This major textbook provides a broad coverage of the ecological foundations of marine conservation, including the rationale, importance and practicalities of various approaches to marine conservation and management. The scope of the book encompasses an understanding of the elements of marine biodiversity - from global to local levels - threats to marine biodiversity, and the structure and function of marine environments as related to conservation issues. The authors describe the potential approaches, initiatives and various options for conservation, from the genetic to the species, community and ecosystem levels in marine environments. They explore methods for identifying the units of conservation, and the development of defensible frameworks for marine conservation. They describe planning of ecologically integrated conservation strategies, including decision-making on size, boundaries, numbers and connectivity of protected area networks. The book also addresses relationships between fisheries and biodiversity, novel methods for conservation planning in the coastal zone and the evaluation of conservation initiatives.

chapter 1|22 pages

Introduction: Why Marine Conservation is Necessary

Significance, threats and management of the oceans and biodiversity

chapter 2|23 pages

The Marine Environment: Physico-chemical Characteristics

Structures and processes – enduring and recurrent factors

chapter 3|27 pages

The Marine Environment: Ecology and Biology

Pelagic and benthic realms and coastal fringing communities

chapter 4|27 pages

Approaches to Marine Conservation

Traditional strategies and ecological frameworks

chapter 5|19 pages

Representative Areas: Global to Ecoregional

Marine conservation at the ecosystem/habitat level

chapter 6|24 pages

Habitats and Communities: Ecoregional to Local

Reality, variability and scales of relationships

chapter 7|14 pages

Distinctive areas: Species and Ecosystem Processes

Ecosystem processes – ergoclines and hotspots

chapter 8|30 pages

Patterns of Biodiversity: Species Diversity

Theories and relationships – global, regional, local

chapter 9|21 pages

Species and Focal Species

Keystones, umbrellas, flagships, indicators and others

chapter 10|22 pages

Genetic Diversity

Significance of genetics: From genes to ecosystems

chapter 11|28 pages

Coastal Zones

Components, complexities and classifications

chapter 12|23 pages

High Seas and Deep Seas

Pelagic and benthic, hydrography and biogeography

chapter 13|17 pages

Linking Fisheries Management with Marine Conservation Objectives through Ecosystem Approaches

Compatibility of exploitation and preservation

chapter 14|28 pages

Size and Boundaries of Protected Areas

Rationale for function, location, dimensions

chapter 15|17 pages

Evaluation of Protected Areas

The concept of ‘value' as applied to marine biodiversity

chapter 16|27 pages

Sets of Protected Areas

Integrating distinctive and representative protected areas

chapter 17|23 pages

Networks of Protected Areas

Patterns of connectivity in the oceans

chapter 18|18 pages

Approaches to the Establishment of Marine Monitoring Programmes

Stabilizing the baselines

chapter 19|10 pages

Remaining Problems in Marine Conservation

Present problems, future solutions