Assessments and Conservation of Biological Diversity from Coral Reefs to the Deep Sea: Uncovering Buried Treasures and the Value of the Benthos examines marine benthic habitats around the world that are linked by their physical location at the bottom of the oceans. The book approaches deep sea marine biodiversity with perspectives on genetics, microbiology and evolution, weaving a narrative of vital expert linkages with the goal of protecting something that most people cannot view or experience. Heterogeneity becomes operative across one of the largest continuous habitats of the planet. The book provides a full assessment of biological diversity within various benthic habitats, from coral reefs to plankton and fish species, and offers global case studies.
It is the ideal resource for marine conservationists and biologists aiming to expand their knowledge and efforts to the rarely seen, yet equally important, realms of the ocean and respective benthic species. As deep-sea ecosystems and their species face unprecedented threats of disruption and extinction due to factors including disease, disinformation, pollution and climate change, this book provides current, sweeping knowledge of this undersea world along with remedies for its conservation.
- Compares and contrasts between shallow and marine habitats to reveal revolutionary connections and continuity
- Analyzes modern threats and gaps in biological knowledge regarding benthic communities
- Examines benthic biodiversity through vertical vs. horizontal gradients
- Poses possible solutions for the conservation of benthic habitats and organisms
1. The seabed - where life began and still evolves
2. Multiple approaches to understanding the benthos
3. Diversity hotspots case studies highlight diversity
4. Threats to benthic diversity
5. Possible solutions for the conservation of benthic habitats and organisms
Professor Lopezs research at Nova Southeastern Universitys Halmos College of Arts and Sciences (NSU HCAS) pivots on the action of genes/genomes, microbes and evolution. For nearly 25 years, his lab has applied genomics tools to address various specific questions in marine invertebrate-microbial symbiosis, microbial ecology, forensics, metagenomics, gene expression of oil-exposed organisms, and systematics/phylogenetics. Dr. Lopez is part of the DEEPEND Consortium to better understand food webs and microbial distributions in the deep Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. His laboratory was one of the founding members for the Global Invertebrate Genomics Alliance or GIGA. Professor Lopez and GIGA is also part of the wider Earth Biogenome Project. He was recently recognized as NSUs Presidents Distinguished Professor, and Halmos College Of Natural Sciences and Oceanography Professor of the Year (2018-2019).
