Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning
EU Network of Excellence

 
Main Menu

· Home
· Contacts
· Data Systems
· Documents
· FAQ
· Links
· MarBEF Open Archive
· Network Description
· Outreach
· Photo Gallery
· Quality Assurance
· Register of Resources
· Research Projects
· Rules and Guidelines
· Training
· Wiki
· Worldconference

 

Register of Resources (RoR)

 People  |  Datasets  |  Literature  |  Institutes  |  Projects 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Protecting the Commons: the use of subtidal ecosystem engineers in marine management
Braeckman, U.; Rabaut, M.; Vanaverbeke, J.; Degraer, S.; Vincx, M. (2014). Protecting the Commons: the use of subtidal ecosystem engineers in marine management. Aquat. Conserv. 24(2): 275-286. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2448
In: Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. Wiley: Chichester; New York . ISSN 1052-7613; e-ISSN 1099-0755
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Aquatic communities > Benthos
    Coastal
Author keywords
    Subtidal; Habitats Directive; Marine protected area; Ecosystem approach

Authors  Top 
  • Braeckman, U., more
  • Rabaut, M., more
  • Vanaverbeke, J., more

Abstract
  • Biodiversity conservation often focuses on threatened or rare species. While this structural asset of biodiversity is indeed important, the functional diversity aspect has to be considered as an even more important criterion for marine management and conservation. This paper explores the use of functionally important ecosystem engineers in North Sea management approaches.
  • An overview of several North Sea ecosystem engineering species shows that ecosystem engineers such as bulldozing echinoderms and burrowing shrimps as well as bio-irrigating polychaetes are bound to receive more attention in the management of marine areas than they do now, given their important structuring aspect in associated fauna and implications for seafloor ecosystem functioning.
  • The use of ecosystem engineers could contribute considerably to the concept of Ecosystem-Based Management in the marine realm. This is clearly illustrated in the present case study of the bio-irrigating polychaete Lanice conchilega. Since this species manifests both autogenic and allogenic ecosystem engineering properties, the management of human activities that affect common species such as L. conchilega reefs can enhance protection of the entire local ecosystem. In the North Sea, some commonly occurring ecosystem engineers and their engineered habitat can be protected under the European Habitats Directive and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors 


If any information here appears to be incorrect, please contact us
Back to Register of Resources
 
Quick links

MarBEF WIKI

Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (EMBC)
Outreach

Science
Responsive Mode Programme (RMP) - Marie Nordstrom, copyright Aspden Rebecca

WoRMS
part of WoRMS logo

ERMS 2.0
Epinephelus marginatus Picture: JG Harmelin

EurOBIS

Geographic System

Datasets

 


Web site hosted and maintained by Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) - Contact data-at-marbef.org