Marine Macrophytes As Foundation Species

Marine macrophytes (macroalgae, seagrasses, and mangroves) comprise thousands of species distributed in shallow water areas along the world's coastlines. They play a key role in marine ecosystems regarding biodiversity and energy flow. A large proportion of macrophyte species can be characterised as ecosystem engineers--organisms that directly or indirectly affect the availability of resources to other species by modifying, maintaining, and creating habitats.

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Marine macrophytes (macroalgae, seagrasses, and mangroves) comprise thousands of species distributed in shallow water areas along the world's coastlines. They play a key role in marine ecosystems regarding biodiversity and energy flow. A large proportion of macrophyte species can be characterised as ecosystem engineers--organisms that directly or indirectly affect the availability of resources to other species by modifying, maintaining, and creating habitats.

This book is divided into three main themes:

* Marine macroalgae and seagrasses as sources of biodiversitygives an overview of the diversity of the main organisms associated with macrophytes, and their functional role and interactions within their hosts.

* Primary and secondary production of Macrophytes synthesizes research on food web structures derived from/or associated with, macrophytes and the transfer of macrophytic primary and secondary production from one ecosystem to another.

* Threats to macrophytic ecosystem engineersaddresses human-induced effects including eutrophication, physical destruction, invasive species, and global warming.

The book is among the first one to concentrate on the value of macrophytes for the well-being of marine habitats. The book is aimed at academics but may be useful for students, policy makers, and laymen alike.