Depletion degradation, and recovery potential of estuaries and coastal seas

Heike K. Lotze; Hunter S. Lenihan; Bruce J. Bourque; Roger H. Bradbury; Richard G. Cooke; Matthew C. Kay; Susan M. Kidwell; Michael X. Kirby; Charles H. Peterson; Jeremy B.C. Jackson

doi:10.1126/science.1128035

Depletion degradation, and recovery potential of estuaries and coastal seas

Heike K. Lotze^*, Hunter S. Lenihan, Bruce J. Bourque, Roger H. Bradbury, Richard G. Cooke, Matthew C. Kay, Susan M. Kidwell, Michael X. Kirby, Charles H. Peterson, Jeremy B.C. Jackson

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2558 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Estuarine and coastal transformation is as old as civilization yet has dramatically accelerated over the past 150 to 300 years. Reconstructed time lines, causes, and consequences of change in 12 once diverse and productive estuaries and coastal seas worldwide show similar patterns: Human impacts have depleted >90% of formerly important species, destroyed >65% of seagrass and wetland habitat, degraded water quality, and accelerated species invasions. Twentieth-century conservation efforts achieved partial recovery of upper trophic levels but have so far failed to restore former ecosystem structure and function. Our results provide detailed historical baselines and quantitative targets for ecosystem-based management and marine conservation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1806-1809
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	312
Issue number	5781
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1128035
Publication status	Published - 23 Jun 2006

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title = "Depletion degradation, and recovery potential of estuaries and coastal seas",

abstract = "Estuarine and coastal transformation is as old as civilization yet has dramatically accelerated over the past 150 to 300 years. Reconstructed time lines, causes, and consequences of change in 12 once diverse and productive estuaries and coastal seas worldwide show similar patterns: Human impacts have depleted >90% of formerly important species, destroyed >65% of seagrass and wetland habitat, degraded water quality, and accelerated species invasions. Twentieth-century conservation efforts achieved partial recovery of upper trophic levels but have so far failed to restore former ecosystem structure and function. Our results provide detailed historical baselines and quantitative targets for ecosystem-based management and marine conservation.",

author = "Lotze, {Heike K.} and Lenihan, {Hunter S.} and Bourque, {Bruce J.} and Bradbury, {Roger H.} and Cooke, {Richard G.} and Kay, {Matthew C.} and Kidwell, {Susan M.} and Kirby, {Michael X.} and Peterson, {Charles H.} and Jackson, {Jeremy B.C.}",

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AU - Lotze, Heike K.

AU - Lenihan, Hunter S.

AU - Bourque, Bruce J.

AU - Bradbury, Roger H.

AU - Cooke, Richard G.

AU - Kay, Matthew C.

AU - Kidwell, Susan M.

AU - Kirby, Michael X.

AU - Peterson, Charles H.

AU - Jackson, Jeremy B.C.

PY - 2006/6/23

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AB - Estuarine and coastal transformation is as old as civilization yet has dramatically accelerated over the past 150 to 300 years. Reconstructed time lines, causes, and consequences of change in 12 once diverse and productive estuaries and coastal seas worldwide show similar patterns: Human impacts have depleted >90% of formerly important species, destroyed >65% of seagrass and wetland habitat, degraded water quality, and accelerated species invasions. Twentieth-century conservation efforts achieved partial recovery of upper trophic levels but have so far failed to restore former ecosystem structure and function. Our results provide detailed historical baselines and quantitative targets for ecosystem-based management and marine conservation.

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U2 - 10.1126/science.1128035

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VL - 312

SP - 1806

EP - 1809

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 5781

ER -

Depletion degradation, and recovery potential of estuaries and coastal seas

Abstract

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