24
G.R. Carvalho et al.
assessing the nature of selection imposed by shifts in conditions, and estimating the
potential of populations to respond to natural and anthropogenic change (Hoffmann
and Willi 2008). In addition to the well established use of neutral molecular markers
(Carvalho et al. 2002; Avise 2004), there has been an increasing shift in the study of
adaptive genes directly involved in phenotypic response, that is, within a genomics
framework. The excitement of many new species discoveries (Venter et al. 2004,
Santelli et al. 2008) is, however, tainted by continuing population crashes of many
exploited species, increase in number of endangered marine species, and continued
degradation of habitats and ecosystem services (Palumbi et al. 2008b). The utilisation of genomic technologies, in combination with appropriate genetically and
ecosystem-based conservation strategies offers one potent approach to halting such
impacts (Fig. 1.5).
Fig. 1.5 Schematic representation of ecosystem benefits of marine biodiversity (after Palumbi
et al. 2008b). Biodiversity (red portion) at the various biological levels (genetic, species, ecosystem and functional) enhances a variety of ecological processes (blue portion). Ecological processes
enhance the benefits that ecosystems cab provide in terms of recovery, resistance, protection,
recycling etc. (green portion)
The above inclusive consideration of marine biodiversity represents the range of
hierarchical levels that description and monitoring can take place, as well as the
close relationship among them. In many cases it is more practical to identify and
monitor discrete species, such as when defining the management units for exploited
species, whereas, a focus on genes and metabolic pathways may be more appropriate
when tackling the effects of temperature on such processes as carbon assimilation in
benthic biota. Ultimately, it is evident that the components of ecosystem stability –
recovery, resistance and reversibility (Palumbi et al. 2008a), are indicators of overall
resilience or robustness in the face of environmental change, and as such, necessitate
the study of targets at different biological, spatial and temporal scales. As recently
emphasized (Palumbi et al. 2008b), at least two key approaches can be identified
G.R. Carvalho et al.
assessing the nature of selection imposed by shifts in conditions, and estimating the
potential of populations to respond to natural and anthropogenic change (Hoffmann
and Willi 2008). In addition to the well established use of neutral molecular markers
(Carvalho et al. 2002; Avise 2004), there has been an increasing shift in the study of
adaptive genes directly involved in phenotypic response, that is, within a genomics
framework. The excitement of many new species discoveries (Venter et al. 2004,
Santelli et al. 2008) is, however, tainted by continuing population crashes of many
exploited species, increase in number of endangered marine species, and continued
degradation of habitats and ecosystem services (Palumbi et al. 2008b). The utilisation of genomic technologies, in combination with appropriate genetically and
ecosystem-based conservation strategies offers one potent approach to halting such
impacts (Fig. 1.5).
Fig. 1.5 Schematic representation of ecosystem benefits of marine biodiversity (after Palumbi
et al. 2008b). Biodiversity (red portion) at the various biological levels (genetic, species, ecosystem and functional) enhances a variety of ecological processes (blue portion). Ecological processes
enhance the benefits that ecosystems cab provide in terms of recovery, resistance, protection,
recycling etc. (green portion)
The above inclusive consideration of marine biodiversity represents the range of
hierarchical levels that description and monitoring can take place, as well as the
close relationship among them. In many cases it is more practical to identify and
monitor discrete species, such as when defining the management units for exploited
species, whereas, a focus on genes and metabolic pathways may be more appropriate
when tackling the effects of temperature on such processes as carbon assimilation in
benthic biota. Ultimately, it is evident that the components of ecosystem stability –
recovery, resistance and reversibility (Palumbi et al. 2008a), are indicators of overall
resilience or robustness in the face of environmental change, and as such, necessitate
the study of targets at different biological, spatial and temporal scales. As recently
emphasized (Palumbi et al. 2008b), at least two key approaches can be identified