Benthic fisheries ecology in a changing environment: Unraveling process to achieve prediction

摘要: Marine fisheries and the ecosystems that sustain them are increasingly beset by environmental deterio- ration, problem is particularly acute in coastal zones where human populations increasing. In best of circumstances, fishery managers faced with multiple, often conflicting, demands resource users, politicians, scientists when considering strategies for management. A further challenge management decisions must be made against a backdrop deteriorating environment shifting status ecosystem integrity. Traditional tools single-species may inadequate these settings. Furthermore, necessary em- pirical data to appropriately parameterize models vital rates representative an altered lacking. Thus, we need approaches better approximate complicated dynamics between condi- tions, impacts, multi-species interactions. Spatially-explicit, individual-based simulation modeling poten- tially permits this kind integration, but it has seen limited use marine management, especially respect benthic resources. My colleagues I have used approach, combined targeted experimental work, ex- plore impacts nursery habitat deterioration, freshwater activities on Caribbean spiny lobster sponge community structure Florida Keys, (USA). Although not applicable all situations, our experiences provide example potential spatially-explicit, empirical science predicting conditions dynamic environment.