Aquatic Ecosystems

Description:

Concern about future supplies of fresh water to society, to meet the full range of human needs, now comes very high on the priority list of global societal issues. An overarching issue which the book tries to address is whether global climate change is a dominant driver of change in the structure and function of natural aquatic ecosystems, or whether direct human population growth and accelerated consumption are playing an equal or greater role.

This book divides the aquatic realm into 21 ecosystems, from those on land (both saline and fresh water) to those of the open and deep oceans. It draws on the understanding of leading ecologists to summarise the state and likely condition by the year 2025 of each of the ecosystems.

Written for academic researchers and environmental professionals, the aim is to put the climate change debate into a broader context as a basis for conservation science and planning.