Asia and wet tropical regions of S America and Africa, forest habitats harbour many
more endemic and threatened species than open and semi-open landscapes. At the
same time, these are regions where forest range decreases.
In contrast, in Europe, W and Central Asia, habitat types of open and semi-open
landscapes harbour more endemic and threatened species than forests. Across
Europe, the range of non-forest habitats is decreasing.
Also in the case of hyperendemics, forest harbours the largest number of taxa.
However, with respect to mainland and island regions, there are obvious differences
among habitat affinities. For example, coastal and marine, shrubland and rocky areas
of islands harbour absolutely and relatively (percentage) more hyperendemics than
mainland regions. The situation in wetland and grassland habitats seems to be the
opposite, with more taxa on the mainland.
5.2.1 Marine Ecosystems
For marine habitats, biological resource use (e.g. fisheries) in combination with
pollution are the most powerful pressures on the species. In general, the pressure
increases from deep and pelagic water bodies to neritic and coastal waters. There is
no other general solution for problems related to both threat categories, other than to
reduce these anthropogenic impacts and establish zero-use zones and broad buffer
zones. Pollution includes the noise that humans increasingly put into the water;
acoustic noise has a much stronger physical effect in water than in the atmosphere.
Therefore, the communication and behaviour of mammals and fish species is
impaired by artificial sounds, especially in coastal and shallow waters.
Zero-use zones can have positive side-effects for ecosystem services, such as
eventually replenishing fish populations to boost fisheries outside the protected
zones. In general, the amount of fish and total fish extraction must not be reduced
with a patchwork of protected and unprotected zones, particularly if regulations
focus on the long run.
5.2.2 Coastal and Saline Ecosystems
Coastal and saline habitats such as coral reefs, kelp forests, seagrass beds,
saltmarshes, brackish swamps and shrublands, mangroves, beaches, coastal cliffs,
dune ecosystems, and inland saline steppe represent unique structures and have
special species compositions. Moreover, they also serve as nurseries for fish stocks
or as territory for ground-breeding birds.
Dunes, saltmarshes and mangroves serve as barrier systems against damage
caused by storms, and support wastewater purification. These habitats are heavily
affected by destruction from residential housing development, commercial infrastructure for tourism, and infrastructure that disregards natural coastal dynamics.
Shipping traffic, tourism activities, and fisheries are the main threats in coastal
waters. As a consequence, and to decrease this pressure, the natural seashore
Land Use Change and the Future of Biodiversity
471
more endemic and threatened species than open and semi-open landscapes. At the
same time, these are regions where forest range decreases.
In contrast, in Europe, W and Central Asia, habitat types of open and semi-open
landscapes harbour more endemic and threatened species than forests. Across
Europe, the range of non-forest habitats is decreasing.
Also in the case of hyperendemics, forest harbours the largest number of taxa.
However, with respect to mainland and island regions, there are obvious differences
among habitat affinities. For example, coastal and marine, shrubland and rocky areas
of islands harbour absolutely and relatively (percentage) more hyperendemics than
mainland regions. The situation in wetland and grassland habitats seems to be the
opposite, with more taxa on the mainland.
5.2.1 Marine Ecosystems
For marine habitats, biological resource use (e.g. fisheries) in combination with
pollution are the most powerful pressures on the species. In general, the pressure
increases from deep and pelagic water bodies to neritic and coastal waters. There is
no other general solution for problems related to both threat categories, other than to
reduce these anthropogenic impacts and establish zero-use zones and broad buffer
zones. Pollution includes the noise that humans increasingly put into the water;
acoustic noise has a much stronger physical effect in water than in the atmosphere.
Therefore, the communication and behaviour of mammals and fish species is
impaired by artificial sounds, especially in coastal and shallow waters.
Zero-use zones can have positive side-effects for ecosystem services, such as
eventually replenishing fish populations to boost fisheries outside the protected
zones. In general, the amount of fish and total fish extraction must not be reduced
with a patchwork of protected and unprotected zones, particularly if regulations
focus on the long run.
5.2.2 Coastal and Saline Ecosystems
Coastal and saline habitats such as coral reefs, kelp forests, seagrass beds,
saltmarshes, brackish swamps and shrublands, mangroves, beaches, coastal cliffs,
dune ecosystems, and inland saline steppe represent unique structures and have
special species compositions. Moreover, they also serve as nurseries for fish stocks
or as territory for ground-breeding birds.
Dunes, saltmarshes and mangroves serve as barrier systems against damage
caused by storms, and support wastewater purification. These habitats are heavily
affected by destruction from residential housing development, commercial infrastructure for tourism, and infrastructure that disregards natural coastal dynamics.
Shipping traffic, tourism activities, and fisheries are the main threats in coastal
waters. As a consequence, and to decrease this pressure, the natural seashore
Land Use Change and the Future of Biodiversity
471