Coastal Marine Ecosystems of Latin AmericaU. Seeliger, B. Kjerfve Springer Science & Business Media, 2000 M10 18 - 366 pages Coastal and marine ecosystems, some severely degraded, other still pristine, control rich resources of inshore environments and coastal seas of Latin America's Pacific and Atlantic margins. Conflicts between the needs of the region's nations and diminishing revenues and environmental quality have induced awareness of coastal ecological problems and motivated financial support for restoration and management. The volume provides a competent review on the structure, processes and function of 22 important Latin American coastal marine ecosystems. Each contribution describes the environmental settings, biotic components and structure of the system, considers trophic processes and energy flow, evaluates the modifying influence of natural and human perturbations, and suggests management needs. Although the focus of the book is on basic ecological research, the results have application for coastal managers. |
Contents
The Tectonic and Geological Environment | 1 |
The North Andean and Caribbean Margins | 10 |
The Gulf of Honduras | 17 |
References | 31 |
The Coastal Lagoon Cienaga Grande De Santa Marta | 33 |
References | 44 |
References | 59 |
References | 69 |
References | 162 |
References | 182 |
References | 200 |
References | 215 |
References | 226 |
References | 243 |
The Gulf of Guayaquil and the Guayas River | 245 |
References | 260 |
References | 80 |
References | 95 |
The Cabo Frio Upwelling System Brazil | 97 |
References | 104 |
References | 115 |
The Subtropical Estuarine Complex | 131 |
References | 143 |
References | 279 |
Eastern Pacific Coral Reef Ecosystems | 281 |
References | 303 |
References | 312 |
References | 329 |
El NinoLa Nina Cycle | 344 |
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Common terms and phrases
Abrolhos abundant activities America annual areas Argentina associated Atlantic Baja basin beaches benthic biomass bottom Brazil California cause Central changes channel coast coastal Colombia concentrations continental coral reefs crabs Current delta depth discharge distribution diversity dominant ecological ecosystem ENSO environmental environments estuary et al extensive feed fish fisheries flow forests forms freshwater front Gulf habitats impact important increase influence inner Island lagoon levels lower major mangrove marine mean mouth northern nutrient occur oceanic organic owing Panama periods phytoplankton plankton Plata populations processes production range rates region represent result River runoff salinity salt sand Santa season sediments Seeliger shelf shore shrimp South southern species structure Studies summer surface temperature tidal tides tion tons tropical Universidade upper upwelling vary winds winter zone