Biodiversity in the Marine Environment

AcknowledgementsForewordIntroductionThe importance of marine biodiversityKey featuresHierarchical componentsThe impacts of human activities on marine biodiversityThe strategic values of researchStatus and trendsHow many marine species are there?Taxonomic recordsCryptic speciesThe drive to identify new speciesThe "taxonomic impediment"Species under pressureExtinct speciesEndangered speciesEcosystems under pressure: the deep seaSpatial patterning of characteristicsTemporal patternsConceptualising biodiversityConceptual frameworks for relationships between biodiversity and human societies. Choice of model frameworkMeasuring biodiversityBiodiversity as a macroscopic descriptor in the European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)Drivers of changes in biodiversity and its usesEnvironmental drivers: a working frameworkIntegrated scenarios and policiesPolicies and decision supportDeveloping scenariosQuantitative methods, models and integrated assessmentResearch needsThe framework: environmental researchNaturalistic dimensionsHuman dimensions of researchDeveloping modelling: a summarising approachSourcesReferencesDatabasesAbbreviations and acronymsGroup of experts

Philippe Goulletquer, PhD in biological oceanography, is in charge of issues of marine and coastal biodiversity at Ifremer. He is a member of the scientific council on Natural heritage & biodiversity.

Philippe Gros, a highly qualified professor of biological sciences at the École normale supérieure, joined Ifremer in 1984. He was director of Living resources there.

Gilles Boeuf, holding a PhD in developmental biology, is a professor at Pierre & Marie Curie university and President of the National museum of natural history (MNHN).

Jacques Weber, an economist and anthropologist, research director at the Cirad, lecturer at the École des hautes études and Pierre & Marie Curie university, is vice-chairman of the French committee for Man and biosphere.