About Book

Marine ecosystems are aquatic environments with high levels of dissolved salt, such as those found in or near the ocean. Marine ecosystems are defined by their unique biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) factors. Biotic factors include plants, animals, and microbes; important abiotic factors include the amount of sunlight in the ecosystem, the amount of oxygen and nutrients dissolved in the water, proximity to land, depth, and temperature. Sunlight is one the most important abiotic factors for marine ecosystems. Marine ecosystems include nearshore systems, such as the salt marshes, mudflats, seagrass meadows, mangroves, rocky intertidal systems and coral reefs. Marine ecosystems are characterized by the biological community of organisms that they are associated with and their physical environment. This book is a compilation of chapters that discuss the most vital concepts in the field of marine ecosystems. It gives thorough insights about this vast field and provides detailed information about the various advances in this area. It deals with threats to ultraoligotrophic, marine ecosystem biomonitoring, marine benthic ecosystems and marine ecosystem diversity. It also focuses on bottom trawling, nutrient cycling and marine coastal zones. This book is compiled in such a manner that it will provide in-depth knowledge about the theory and practice of marine ecosystems. Coherent flow of topics, student-friendly language and extensive use of examples make this book an invaluable source of knowledge. Those in search of information to further their knowledge will be greatly assisted by this book.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Ecosystem Services Provided by Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in Marine Coastal Zones.................................................1

Abstract ..................................................................................................1

1. Introduction............................................................................................2

2. Ecosystem services provided..............................................................7

3. Conclusions..........................................................................................17

Chapter 2 Nutrient Cycling in the Mediterranean Sea: The Key to Understanding How the Unique Marine Ecosystem Functions and Responds to Anthropogenic Pressures1...................................................................................23

Abstract ................................................................................................23

1. Introduction and background...........................................................24

2. Understanding the unusual properties of the Mediterranean

Sea..........................................................................................................33

3. Environmental implications..............................................................44

Acknowledgements.............................................................................53

Glossary of terms................................................................................53

Chapter 3 Meiofauna as a Tool for Marine Ecosystem Biomonitoring..........62

1. Introduction..........................................................................................62

2. Meiofauna as an environmental bio-indicator in marine

ecosystems............................................................................................62

3. Two representative meiofaunal groups: Foraminifera and

Nematoda.............................................................................................63

4. Foraminiferal and nematode responses to different pollution

sources and disturbances...................................................................64

5. Conclusions..........................................................................................83

Chapter 4 Threats to Ultraoligotrophic Marine Ecosystems............................100

1. Introduction........................................................................................100

2. Ultraoligotrophic ecosystems..........................................................101

3. Threats.................................................................................................113

4. Conclusions........................................................................................123

5. Acknowledgment..............................................................................125

Chapter 5 Interactions Between Marine Ecosystems and Tourism on the

Adriatic and Mediterranean.................................................................147

1. Introduction ......................................................................................147

2. Approach to the problem and the concepts of coastal and marine

resources management in the adriatic and mediterranean

tourism ...............................................................................................149

3. Selected concepts and models for ecosystems management ..196

4. Conclusion .........................................................................................202

Chapter 6 Chemical Interactions in Antarctic Marine Benthic

Ecosystems................................................................................................207

1. Introduction........................................................................................207

2. Material and methods......................................................................209

3. Results.................................................................................................215

4. Discussion and conclusions............................................................219

5. Acknowledgements...........................................................................225

Citation......................................................................................................233

Index...........................................................................................................235

About Author

Johanna Lekin attained his Ph.D. Marine Science from Science University, Queensland. His academic interests lie in salt marshes, marine habitats and sea floor. He is an Associate Lecturer at University College, Kazan. He has won over 10 awards and recognitions for his researches and teaching services. Lekin has also authored and edited a number of academic periodicals, journal papers, articles and books in the field of marine ecology. He is an active member of several scientific and technical societies, where he continues to share his expertise and knowledge in the field of marine science.