Showing papers on "Aquatic biodiversity research published in 2010"

Freshwater biodiversity conservation: recent progress and future challenges

Abstract: Freshwater habitats occupy ,1% of the Earth's surface, yet are hotspots that support ,10% of all known species, and ,M of vertebrate species. Fresh waters also are hotspots for human activities that have led to widespread habitat degradation, pollution, flow regulation and water extraction, fisheries overexploitation, and alien species introductions. These impacts have caused severe declines in the range and abundance of many freshwater species, so that they are now far more imperiled than their marine or terrestrial counterparts. Here, we review progress in conservation of freshwater biodiversity, with a focus on the period since 1986, and outline key challenges for the future. Driven by rising conservation concerns, freshwater ecologists have conducted a great deal of research over the past 25 y on the status, trends, autecology, and propagation of imperiled species, threats to these species, the consequences of biodiversity loss for ecosystem functioning, metapopulation dynamics, biodiversity hotspots, reserve design, habitat restoration, communication with stakeholders, and weaknesses of protective legislation. Nevertheless, existing efforts might be insufficient to stem the ongoing and coming multitude of freshwater extinctions. We briefly discuss 4 important challenges for freshwater conservation. First, climate change will imperil both freshwater species and human uses of fresh water, driving engineering responses that will further threaten the freshwater biota. We need to anticipate both ecological and human responses to climate change, and to encourage rational and deliberate planning of engineering responses to climate change before disasters strike. Second, because freshwater extinctions are already well underway, freshwater conservationists must be prepared to act now to prevent further losses, even if our knowledge is incomplete, and engage more effectively with other stakeholders. Third, we need to bridge the gap between freshwater ecology and conservation biology. Fourth, we suggest that scientific societies and scholarly journals concerned with limnology or freshwater sciences need to improve their historically poor record in publishing important papers and influencing practice in conservation ecology. Failure to meet these challenges will lead to the extinction or impoverishment of the very subjects of our research.

The Mediterranean Region: Biological Diversity in Space and Time

Abstract: Foreword Preface 1. Setting the Scene 2. Determinants of Present-Day Biodiversity 3. Present-Day Terrestrial Biodiversity 4. Present-Day Marine Biodiversity 5. Scales of Observation 6. A Patchwork of Habitats 7. Populations, Species, and Community Variations 8. Life Histories and Terrestrial Ecosystem Functioning 9. Life in the Sea 10. Humans as Sculptors of Mediterranean Landscapes 11. Biodiversity Downs and Ups 12. Biodiversity and Global Change 13. Challenges for the Future Glossary References Index

Deep-Sea Biodiversity: Pattern and Scale

Abstract: Frigid, dark, and energy-deprived, the deep sea was long considered hostile to life. However, new sampling technologies and intense international research efforts in recent decades have revealed a remarkably rich fauna and an astonishing variety of novel habitats. These recent discoveries have changed the way we look at global biodiversity. In "Deep-Sea Biodiversity", Michael Rex and Ron Etter present the first synthesis of patterns and causes of biodiversity in organisms that dwell in the vast sediment ecosystem that blankets the ocean floor. They provide the most comprehensive analysis to date of geographic variation in benthic animal abundance and biomass. The authors document geographic patterns of deep-sea species diversity and integrate potential ecological causes across scales of time and space. They also review the most recent molecular population genetic evidence to describe how and where evolutionary processes have generated the unique deep-sea fauna. "Deep-Sea Biodiversity" offers a new understanding of marine biodiversity that will be of general interest to ecologists and is crucial to responsible exploitation of natural resources at the deep-sea floor.

Biodiversity Losses and Ecosystem Function in Freshwaters: Emerging Conclusions and Research Directions

Abstract: Six conclusions have emerged from recent research that complicate the ability to predict how biodiversity losses may affect ecosystem function: (1) species traits determine ecosystem function, (2) species within functional groups are not always ecological equivalents, (3) biodiversity losses include declines in the abundance of common species, (4) biodiversity losses affect wholefood webs, (5) the effects of biodiversity losses depend on abiotic and biotic context and spatial and temporal scales, and (6) successfully predicting linkages between biodiversity and ecosystem function requires using multiple empirical approaches across scales. Nutrient recycling by freshwater mussel communities illustrates these conclusions. Nutrient excretion rates depend on the expression of mussel species traits, which vary with flow, temperature, and community structure. Nutrient contributions from mussels depend on which mussel species are dominant, but common species of mussels are declining, leading to shifts in species...

Biodiversity and biogeography of the atmosphere.

Abstract: The variation of life has predominantly been studied on land and in water, but this focus is changing. There is a resurging interest in the distribution of life in the atmosphere and the processes that underlie patterns in this distribution. Here, we review our current state of knowledge about the biodiversity and biogeography of the atmosphere, with an emphasis on micro-organisms, the numerically dominant forms of aerial life. We present evidence to suggest that the atmosphere is a habitat for micro-organisms, and not purely a conduit for terrestrial and aquatic life. Building on a rich history of research in terrestrial and aquatic systems, we explore biodiversity patterns that are likely to play an important role in the emerging field of air biogeography. We discuss the possibility of a more unified understanding of the biosphere, one that links knowledge about biodiversity and biogeography in the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.

Soil biodiversity: functions, threats and tools for policy makers

Abstract: Human societies rely on the vast diversity of benefits provided by nature, such as food, fibres, construction materials, clean water, clean air and climate regulation. All the elements required for these ecosystem services depend on soil, and soil biodiversity is the driving force behind their regulation. With 2010 being the international year of biodiversity and with the growing attention in Europe on the importance of soils to remain healthy and capable of supporting human activities sustainably, now is the perfect time to raise awareness on preserving soil biodiversity. The objective of this report is to review the state of knowledge of soil biodiversity, its functions, its contribution to ecosystem services and its relevance for the sustainability of human society. In line with the definition of biodiversity given in the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Convention1, soil biodiversity can be defined as the variation in soil life, from genes to communities, and the variation in soil habitats, from micro-aggregates to entire landscapes.

Life in the world's oceans: diversity, distribution, and abundance

Abstract: Foreword. Introduction. Acknowledgments. Contributors. The Scientific Steering Committee of the Census of Marine Life. PART I Oceans Past. 1 Marine Animal Populations: A New Look Back in Time. PART II Oceans Present - Geographic Realms. 2 Surveying Nearshore Biodiversity. 3 Biodiversity Knowledge and its Application in the Gulf of Maine Area. 4 Coral Reef Biodiversity. 5 New Perceptions of Continental Margin Biodiversity. 6 Biodiversity Patterns and Processes on the Mid- Atlantic Ridge. 7 Life on Seamounts. 8 Diversity of Abyssal Marine Life. 9 Biogeography, Ecology, and Vulnerability of Chemosynthetic Ecosystems in the Deep Sea. 10 Marine Life in the Arctic. 11 Marine Life in the Antarctic. PART III Oceans Present - Global Distributions. 12 A Global Census of Marine Microbes. 13 A Census of Zooplankton of the Global Ocean. PART IV Oceans Present - Animal Movements. 14 Tracking Fish Movements and Survival on the Northeast Pacific Shelf. 15 A View of the Ocean from Pacific Predators. PART V Oceans Future. 16 The Future of Marine Animal Populations. PART VI Using the Data. 17 Data Integration: The Ocean Biogeographic Information System. Index.

An Overview of Marine Biodiversity in United States Waters

Abstract: Marine biodiversity of the United States (U.S.) is extensively documented, but data assembled by the United States National Committee for the Census of Marine Life demonstrate that even the most complete taxonomic inventories are based on records scattered in space and time. The best-known taxa are those of commercial importance. Body size is directly correlated with knowledge of a species, and knowledge also diminishes with distance from shore and depth. Measures of biodiversity other than species diversity, such as ecosystem and genetic diversity, are poorly documented. Threats to marine biodiversity in the U.S. are the same as those for most of the world: overexploitation of living resources; reduced water quality; coastal development; shipping; invasive species; rising temperature and concentrations of carbon dioxide in the surface ocean, and other changes that may be consequences of global change, including shifting currents; increased number and size of hypoxic or anoxic areas; and increased number and duration of harmful algal blooms. More information must be obtained through field and laboratory research and monitoring that involve innovative sampling techniques (such as genetics and acoustics), but data that already exist must be made accessible. And all data must have a temporal component so trends can be identified. As data are compiled, techniques must be developed to make certain that scales are compatible, to combine and reconcile data collected for various purposes with disparate gear, and to automate taxonomic changes. Information on biotic and abiotic elements of the environment must be interactively linked. Impediments to assembling existing data and collecting new data on marine biodiversity include logistical problems as well as shortages in finances and taxonomic expertise.

Aquatic Insect Ecology

Abstract: Publisher Summary Aquatic insects are abundant in most freshwater habitats and often exhibit high diversity. In aquatic food webs, they serve as food items for nearly the full range of vertebrate and invertebrate predators, and many function as predators themselves. This chapter provides a brief overview of: constraints on aquatic insect species diversity, life history, and community structure; the role of aquatic insects in ecosystem processes; the impact of land use, climate change, and disturbances on their communities; and the utility of aquatic insects in biomonitoring studies. The review encompasses both lentic and lotic habitats, as well as a brief coverage of saline habitats. The discussion is placed in the context of how physical and life history factors constrain the distribution and abundance of aquatic insects, thereby altering communities and ecosystem function.

From sea to sea: Canada's three oceans of biodiversity.

Abstract: Evaluating and understanding biodiversity in marine ecosystems are both necessary and challenging for conservation. This paper compiles and summarizes current knowledge of the diversity of marine taxa in Canada's three oceans while recognizing that this compilation is incomplete and will change in the future. That Canada has the longest coastline in the world and incorporates distinctly different biogeographic provinces and ecoregions (e.g., temperate through ice-covered areas) constrains this analysis. The taxonomic groups presented here include microbes, phytoplankton, macroalgae, zooplankton, benthic infauna, fishes, and marine mammals. The minimum number of species or taxa compiled here is 15,988 for the three Canadian oceans. However, this number clearly underestimates in several ways the total number of taxa present. First, there are significant gaps in the published literature. Second, the diversity of many habitats has not been compiled for all taxonomic groups (e.g., intertidal rocky shores, deep sea), and data compilations are based on short-term, directed research programs or longer-term monitoring activities with limited spatial resolution. Third, the biodiversity of large organisms is well known, but this is not true of smaller organisms. Finally, the greatest constraint on this summary is the willingness and capacity of those who collected the data to make it available to those interested in biodiversity meta-analyses. Confirmation of identities and intercomparison of studies are also constrained by the disturbing rate of decline in the number of taxonomists and systematists specializing on marine taxa in Canada. This decline is mostly the result of retirements of current specialists and to a lack of training and employment opportunities for new ones. Considering the difficulties encountered in compiling an overview of biogeographic data and the diversity of species or taxa in Canada's three oceans, this synthesis is intended to serve as a biodiversity baseline for a new program on marine biodiversity, the Canadian Healthy Ocean Network. A major effort needs to be undertaken to establish a complete baseline of Canadian marine biodiversity of all taxonomic groups, especially if we are to understand and conserve this part of Canada's natural heritage.

Assessing macroinvertebrate biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems: advances and challenges in DNA-based approaches

Abstract: Assessing the biodiversity of macroinvertebrate fauna in freshwater ecosystems is an essential component of both basic ecological inquiry and applied ecological assessments. Aspects of taxonomic diversity and composition in freshwater communities are widely used to quantify water quality and measure the efficacy of remediation and restoration efforts. The accuracy and precision of biodiversity assessments based on standard morphological identifications are often limited by taxonomic resolution and sample size. Morphologically based identifications are laborious and costly, significantly constraining the sample sizes that can be processed. We suggest that the development of an assay platform based on DNA signatures will increase the precision and ease of quantifying biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems. Advances in this area will be particularly relevant for benthic and planktonic invertebrates, which are often monitored by regulatory agencies. Adopting a genetic assessment platform will alleviat...

The status and distribution of freshwater biodiversity in the Eastern Himalaya

Abstract: Biodiversity within inland water ecosystems in the Eastern Himalaya region is both highly diverse and of great regional importance to livelihoods and economies. However, development activities are not always compatible with the conservation of this diversity, and the ecosystem requirements of biodiversity are frequently not considered in the development planning process. One of the main reasons cited for inadequate representation of biodiversity is a lack of readily available information on the status and distribution of inland water taxa. In response to this need for information, the IUCN Species Programme, in collaboration with Zoo Outreach Organisation (ZOO) conducted the Eastern Himalaya Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment, a review of the global conservation status of 1,073 freshwater species belonging to three taxonomic groups – fishes (520 taxa), molluscs (186 taxa), and Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) (367 taxa).

Methods to Estimate the Diversity in the Marine Photosynthetic Protist Community with Illustrations from Case Studies: A Review

Abstract: We review the application of molecular methods to estimate biodiversity in the marine environment. All of the methods reviewed here, which are at the forefront of molecular research, can be applied to all organisms in all habitats, but the case studies used to illustrate the points are derived from marine photosynthetic eukaryotic protists. It has been accepted that we know less than 10% of the identified diversity in the marine microbial world and the marine micro- and pico-eukaryotes are no exception. Even the species that we think we can easily recognize are often poorly described, and even less is known of their life histories and spatial and temporal trends in their abundance and distribution. With new molecular and analytical techniques, we can advance our knowledge of marine biodiversity at the species level to understand how marine biodiversity supports ecosystem structure, dynamics and resilience. Biogeochemical reactions performed by marine photosynthetic microbial organisms constitute a major sustaining component of ecosystem functioning, and therefore, affect climate changes. New interpretations of how environmental, ecological and evolutionary processes control and structure marine ecosystem biodiversity can be made so that we can augment our understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics in especially the pico- and nano-fractions of the plankton as well as in the deep sea benthos, both of which are very difficult to study without good analytical methods.

Exposure of Africa's freshwater biodiversity to a changing climate

Abstract: Anthropogenic climate change and increased human water use are widely expected to place great stress on available water resources across Africa and Madagascar, but the effects of these changes on freshwater biodiversity have only begun to be considered. We used a comprehensive species database and a global hydrologic model to examine the exposure of freshwater biodiversity to discharge and runoff alterations across Africa and Madagascar. Our results show that by the 2050s, ecoregions containing over 80% of freshwater fish species and several outstanding ecological and evolutionary phenomena are likely to experience hydrologic conditions substantially different from the present, with alterations in annual discharge or runoff of more than 10%. We recommend early action to buffer these species and systems from the expected changes, including reducing nonclimate stresses and implementing measures that buy species time to adjust to novel ecosystem characteristics.

Marine fishery resources of the Pacific Islands.

Abstract: This document updates and expands an earlier review by FAO of the marine fishery resources of the Pacific Islands (Gillett, 2005a). The Pacific Islands region consists of 14 independent countries and 8 territories located in the western and central Pacific Ocean. In this area, there are about 200 high islands and some 2 500 low islands and atolls. The main categories of marine fishing in the area are: • Offshore (oceanic) fishing. This type of fishing is undertaken mainly by large, industrial-scale fishing vessels. Approximately 1 500 of these vessels operate in the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of Pacific Island countries, mainly using purse-seine, longline and pole-and-line gear to catch tuna. • Coastal fishing. This type of fishing can be divided into three categories: (1) small-scale commercial fishing (also referred to as “artisanal”), which can be further broadly subdivided into those operations supplying domestic markets and those operations producing export commodities; (2) subsistence fisheries, which support rural economies and are extremely important to the region’s nutrition and food security; and (3) the industrial-scale shrimp fisheries, which in the region only occur in Papua New Guinea. The region’s fishery resources can be broadly split into two main categories: oceanic (offshore) and coastal (inshore). Oceanic or offshore resources include tunas, billfish and allied species. They are characterized by an open-water pelagic habitat and potentially extensive individual movements. Coastal or inshore resources include a wide range of finfish and invertebrates. They are characterized by their shallow-water habitats or demersal life-styles, and restriction of individual movements to coastal areas. This paper discusses these two resource categories. Information is provided on the major types of fishing, the important species, the status of those resources and the fisheries management that occurs. In general, the coastal fishery resources are heavily fished and often show signs of overexploitation, especially in areas close to population centres and for fishery products in demand by the rapidly-growing Asian economies. With respect to the status of oceanic fishery resources, it is clear that there is most concern with bigeye. By contrast, the skipjack resource is in relatively good condition, with the large, recent catches considered to be sustainable. Gillett, R. Marine fishery resources of the Pacific Islands. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper. No. 537. Rome, FAO. 2010. 58p.

The cost of non-native aquatic species introductions in Spain: fact or fiction?

Abstract: The ecological and economic impact of non-native species introduction on local native biodiversity is often reported as undeniable scientific evidence on which to base management and sound policy. Here I used a combination of databases (Fishbase, FAO and IMPASSE) and an extensive review of existing literature to establish the proportion of non-native aquatic species introductions in Spain that are responsible for ecological and economic impacts. In Spain, aquaculture and angling are the two main ecosystem services responsible for introduction of non-native aquatic species. In total, forty two percent of all nonnative aquatic introductions are intentional. Very little ecological impact resulting from these non-native species introductions has been demonstrated with some representing a benefit to Spanish ecosystem services. In 2007, the economic benefits to Spanish aquaculture arising from non-native aquatic species (n=9) was close to €46.73 million (about U.S. $69 million) annually for an estimated average ecological risk for all introductions of 16.5% (SD= 26.85). These results must be seen in the context of other environmental factors such as habitat destruction, water abstraction and pollution from agricultural farming which represent major environmental pressures on Spanish aquatic fauna.

The integration of biodiversity conservation with oil and gas exploration in sensitive tropical environments

Abstract: This paper describes the approach of TOTAL Exploration & Production concerning the protection of biodiversity during oil and gas exploration and production activities, particularly in sensitive environments such as tropical islands. This approach was developed according to three stages: knowing biodiversity, protecting biodiversity and, going further, by contributing to scientific research. This three step approach is embedded in an environment protection policy and an associated set of actions already implemented for many years. Knowledge of the biodiversity is an indispensable preliminary to evaluating the sensitivity of a site which is likely to be impacted by an industrial activity. TOTAL EP for example the Mahakam delta which includes the Tambora, Handil and Tunu fields. This area was initially covered by dense mangrove vegetation. Regular biodiversity surveys in the delta, especially for fishes, birds and benthos, have allowed TI to witness the progressive changes occurring in the delta. Reducing significant impacts and conserving biodiversity is considered as an integral part of sustainable development. With regard to the Mahakam delta, in the last decades there has been a marked increase of local population activities and deforestation due to shrimp-culture development. TI has made significant efforts with environmental management actions to protect the mangrove ecosystem through several environmental programs such as minimizing land clearing and reinstating cleared areas. The programs have involved local communities and other stakeholders such as NGO’s and governmental bodies. Contributing to scientific knowledge of biodiversity is of mutual interest to both science and industry. The TOTAL Group, through its Foundation for Biodiversity and the Sea, has supported the establishment of a comprehensive inventory of the marine biodiversity of the island of Panglao, situated southwest of Bohol, Philippines. The Panglao Marine Biodiversity project was driven in collaboration between the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, and the University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines. Recently, another major biodiversity inventory has been also supported by the TOTAL Foundation: the Santo 2006 biodiversity project. On this island, located in the Vanuatu archipelago, the research program has focused on four themes: marine, forest, karstic environments and alien species. Furthermore, TOTAL in partnership with IFREMER, a French oceanographic research centre, has also developed a comprehensive biodiversity research and development program dedicated to Deep Sea ecosystems. Even if initially focused off Western Africa, this emerging issue is also of concern in most of the tropical areas in the world where deep offshore environments are present.

Genomics in the Discovery and Monitoring of Marine Biodiversity

Abstract: Marine biodiversity encompasses a range of hierarchical levels, including genetic, species, ecosystem and functional diversity. Interactions among such levels determine ultimately the distribution and abundance, as well as evolutionary potential and resilience, of marine taxa. In the face of accelerating environmental change and ecosystem disruption, the detection and monitoring of structural and functional components becomes increasingly urgent. Classical ecological and conservation marine studies focused on species and communities- the emphasis has now shifted to enhancing our understanding of the relationships among the various components of biodiversity, especially their role in ecosystem services such as global nutrient recycling and climate. Here, we highlight the significance of genomics and genetic principles in elucidating the interactions among different biological levels of diversity, from genetic and cellular, to community and ecosystem-level processes. Genomic methods are especially powerful in disclosing previously undetected taxonomic (e.g. DNA barcoding), genetic (e.g. 454 sequencing) and functional (e.g. gene expression, analysis of metabolites) diversity, including the identification of new species and metabolic pathways.

UN body will assess ecosystems and biodiversity.

Abstract: The United Nations is setting up a body to monitor global ecology modelled on its influential climate panel. Last week, representatives from 85 countries gathered in Busan, South Korea, to approve the formation of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which will operate much like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. According to the document hammered out on 11 June, the IPBES will conduct periodic assessments of Earth’s biodiversity and ‘ecosystem services’ — ecosystems outputs, such as fresh water, fish, game, timber and a stable climate, that benefit humankind. These assessments, based on reviews of the scientific literature, will answer questions about how much biodiversity is declining and what the implications of extinctions and ecosystem change might be for humanity. Assessments will take place from global to sub-regional scales. The IPBES will help to train environmental scientists in the developing world, both with a budget of its own and by alerting funders to gaps in global expertise. The organization will also identify gaps in research and highlight tools — such as models — for policy-makers looking to apply a scientific approach to decisions on issues such as land management. Negotiations in Busan stretched late into the night as delegates debated the scope of the IPBES and how it would be funded. A key concern among developed countries was that the body should “not become a huge bureaucracy”, says Nick Nuttall, a spokesman for the United Nations Environment Programme. “Governments wanted to be reassured that it would be lean and mean and streamlined.” Among the governments that assented to the IPBES’s creation were the European Union, the United States and Brazil. This autumn the plan will come before the general assembly of the United Nations for official approval, which those involved say is a virtual certainty. Anne Larigauderie, executive director of Paris-based Diversitas, a facilitator for biodiversity science, says that the IPBES could turn the “fragmented” field of biodiversity research into a more coordinated “common enterprise” that will lead to better models of future biodiversity changes. ■ Emma Marris For a longer version of this story, see go.nature. com/cyOPX2.