This multidisciplinary volume comprehensively reviews our current knowledge of the effects of urban, industrial and agricultural pollution on the biology of shallow coastal marine lagoons. All the authors are internationally recognized authorities and have had many years of experience in their respective fields. The major strength of this volume is that it integrates several fields of research including biogeochemistry, marine microbiology, marine algology and marine zoology. By adopting such a strategy the reader is provided with a clear insight of the key processes involved in lagoon eutrophication and dystrophy and their impact on the different biological communities which live in such environments. This book will therefore provide an essential reference work for environmental biologists, ecologists, microbiologists and those involved in the management and commercial exploitation of these economically important ecosystems.

Coastal Lagoons: Ecosystem Processes and Modeling for Sustainable Use and Development describes the concepts, models, and data needed to design and implement management programs for long-term sustainability of coastal lagoons. Based on a project conducted under the auspices of NATO-CCMS, the book provides information and methodologies essential for

This is a broad-based review of the environmental, oceanographic, engineering, and management aspects of coastal lagoons summarized in a convenient single volume. A comprehensive literature review, as well as references add to the utility of this volume, creating an invaluable resource for academics, scientists, and laymen.

This is the first comprehensive science-based textbook on the biology and ecology of the Baltic Sea, one of the world’s largest brackish water bodies. The aim of this book is to provide students and other readers with knowledge about the conditions for life in brackish water, the functioning of the Baltic Sea ecosystem and its environmental problems and management. It highlights biological variation along the unique environmental gradients of the brackish Baltic Sea Area (the Baltic Sea, Belt Sea and Kattegat), especially those in salinity and climate. pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:#262626">The first part of the book presents the challenges for life processes and ecosystem dynamics that result from the Baltic Sea’s highly variable recent geological history and geographical isolation. The second part explains interactions between organisms and their environment, including biogeochemical cycles, patterns of biodiversity, genetic diversity and evolution, biological invasions and physiological adaptations. In the third part, the subsystems of the Baltic Sea ecosystem – the pelagic zone, the sea ice, the deep soft sea beds, the phytobenthic zone, the sandy coasts, and estuaries and coastal lagoons – are treated in detail with respect to the structure and function of communities and habitats and consequences of natural and anthropogenic constraints, such as climate change, discharges of nutrients and hazardous substances. Finally, the fourth part of the book discusses monitoring and ecosystem-based management to deal with contemporary and emerging threats to the ecosystem’s health.

First book to consider citizens playing a role in the science-policy interface to help formulate durable responses to sustainability challenges Discusses all aspects to enhance the connectivity of actors in the sustainable water management field, with three pilot case studies showing how citizens and stakeholders can be engaged early and effectively in the river basins and coastal waters planning processes Provides tips and recommendations for the transferability of the approach in different coastal areas of Europe and beyond. Sustainable Water Ecosystems Management in Europe examines the anthropogenic deterioration of water ecosystems, in particular in coastal areas. It proposes a new approach to enhance connectivity between research and policy-making. The book exploits the concept of integrated adaptive ecosystem management, by engaging scientists, policy makers and the public (the latter including both stakeholders and lay citizens/water users) in comparable case studies. Emphasis is given to the role of the public to enlarge the concept of organisational learning to the wider concept of social learning. The EC 7th Research Framework Program funded project AWARE engaged a panel of randomly selected citizens living in three different coastal areas of Europe – in a pilot experience of knowledge brokerage with water scientists and decision makers focused on coastal waters quality. Results and lessons learned from the project are summarized in this volume, and recommendations are made for this pilot’s replication and transferability to different coastal areas and sustainable water management tasks - and beyond to other sustainability research and policy issues. This book is a must-read for water managers and policy makers looking to effectively organize citizen and stakeholder participation in river basin and coastal water planning, as required by the EU Water Framework Directive. Sustainable Water Ecosystems Management in Europe provides useful recommendations for organising effective participation of citizens in the science and policy dialogue, promoting a collective awareness of the plans and actions needed to protect the water environment and ensure sustainable use of water resources. Editor: Carlo Sessa, AWARE Project Coordinator, Director at ISIS – Institute of Studies for the Integration of Systems, Italy