§16§§Marine hard bottoms feature some of the most spectacular and diverse biological communities on this planet. These not only contain a rich treasure of genetic, taxonomic and functional information but also deliver irreplaceable ecosystem services. At the same time, they are highly vulnerable and increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures. This volume has collected contributions by 50 scientists from numerous biogeographic regions, dealing with characteristics of hard bottom communities. Distributional patterns in space and time are described, followed by analyses of the intrinsic and extrinsic dynamics producing these patterns. A strong emphasis is placed on the ongoing changes occurring in the structure and diversity of these communities in response to spiralling environmental impacts, and on state-of-the-art countermeasures aiming to preserve these ecological treasures. Finally, various values of diversity are assessed, hopefully as an incentive for enhanced conservat §16§ion efforts.§ §04§Part I Habitat, substrata and communities1. Aquatic particularities and functional groups2. Communities on different shallow substrata3. Communities on deep-sea hard bottoms4. Communities on living substrata: epibiosesPart II Diversity patterns and their causes5. Latitudinal patterns of species richness in hard bottom communities6. Regional scale patterns7. Patterns along environmental gradients8. Evolutionary patterns of diversity and their causes9. Environmental variability: analysis and ecological implicationsPart III Community Dynamics10. Fertilization strategies11. Larval supply and dispersal12. Settlement and recruitment13. Seasonal dynamics14. Disruption, succession and stochasticity15. Changes in diversity and ecosystem functioning during succession16. Simple and complex interactionsPart IV Changing Biodiversity17. Anthropogenic changes in patterns of diversity on hard substrata: an overview18. Shifts in abiotic variables and consequences for diversity19. The loss of natur §04§al habitats and the addition of artificial substrata20. Multiple stressors 〓13§From the reviews: "The volume is divided into six parts and 30 chapters. The chapters, written by eminent scholars in the field, are well referenced and easy to read. ... The book is an invaluable resource for scientists, resource managers, policy makers and students ... . A thoroughly enjoyable read. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections." (A. K. Volety, Choice, Vol. 47 (6), February, 2010)
