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Abstract Simple facts like the differences in density and light absorption between
air and water make terrestrial and marine ecosystems qualitatively different. The
knowledge on how terrestrial systems work and their comparative analysis with
the sea, has greatly improved our understanding of the functioning of the oceans.
Auxiliary energy is vital for primary production in the sea, and marine fronts are
places where this kind of energy becomes available for life processes, making
fronts fundamentally different from terrestrial ecosystems and more complex than
terrestrial ecotones. Of course, fronts are not the only places in the oceans that
provide auxiliary energy for life, but they are relatively small areas that concentrate a disproportionate quantity of such energy. Fluid processes that make available auxiliary energy are also responsible for the rest of the ecological properties of
fronts, including facilities such as retention and landmarks; all these features make
fronts sites of utmost ecological importance, they are the oases of the oceans.
Keywords Marine migrations cues · “Meeting point” hypothesis · Plankton
retention · Fish reproduction grounds · Marine ecosystems productivity · Plant
nutrients upwelling · Climate change · Mechanical energy redistribution
Fronts are structural and functional components of the seascape. They may affect
biological production, community structure, biogeography patterns, life history processes, and provide signals and pathways for pelagic species. In relation
to man, they are important for fisheries and conservation, and affected by pollution and global change. Marine fronts lead to conditions that allow organisms to
accomplish their vital challenges. They provide two essential facilities: landmarks
in a traceless realm and mechanical energy for plankton retention and biological
production.
Chapter 7
Final Remarks
© The Author(s) 2015
E.M. Acha et al., Ecological Processes at Marine Fronts,
SpringerBriefs in Environmental Science, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-15479-4_7
Abstract Simple facts like the differences in density and light absorption between
air and water make terrestrial and marine ecosystems qualitatively different. The
knowledge on how terrestrial systems work and their comparative analysis with
the sea, has greatly improved our understanding of the functioning of the oceans.
Auxiliary energy is vital for primary production in the sea, and marine fronts are
places where this kind of energy becomes available for life processes, making
fronts fundamentally different from terrestrial ecosystems and more complex than
terrestrial ecotones. Of course, fronts are not the only places in the oceans that
provide auxiliary energy for life, but they are relatively small areas that concentrate a disproportionate quantity of such energy. Fluid processes that make available auxiliary energy are also responsible for the rest of the ecological properties of
fronts, including facilities such as retention and landmarks; all these features make
fronts sites of utmost ecological importance, they are the oases of the oceans.
Keywords Marine migrations cues · “Meeting point” hypothesis · Plankton
retention · Fish reproduction grounds · Marine ecosystems productivity · Plant
nutrients upwelling · Climate change · Mechanical energy redistribution
Fronts are structural and functional components of the seascape. They may affect
biological production, community structure, biogeography patterns, life history processes, and provide signals and pathways for pelagic species. In relation
to man, they are important for fisheries and conservation, and affected by pollution and global change. Marine fronts lead to conditions that allow organisms to
accomplish their vital challenges. They provide two essential facilities: landmarks
in a traceless realm and mechanical energy for plankton retention and biological
production.
Chapter 7
Final Remarks
© The Author(s) 2015
E.M. Acha et al., Ecological Processes at Marine Fronts,
SpringerBriefs in Environmental Science, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-15479-4_7