Complexity and Complex Ecological Systems - Chapter 6 - Biodiversity maintenance in food webs

This chapter introduces the reader to the subject of trophic relationships in coastal and estuarine ecosystems. A classification is made for these nearshore ecosystems, and diverse approaches are outlined that scientists and managers have taken to classify estuaries and nearshore coasts. Classification of estuaries and coasts is motivated by different perspectives (e.g., landform geomorphology, evolutionary origins, and formative processes), purposes (e.g., understanding structure, variability and dynamics, functions and values, and interaction with adjoining fluvial and coastal ecosystems), and applications (e.g., categorizing, mapping, and management) over diverse temporal and spatial scales. The author introduces Elsevier's volume on the classification of estuarine and nearshore coastal ecosystems and describes the diverse approaches that scientists and managers use to classify estuaries and nearshore coasts. The classification is motivated by different perspectives (e.g., landform geomorphology, evolutionary origins, and formative processes) and purposes (e.g., understanding structure, variability and dynamics, functions and values, and interaction with adjoining fluvial and coastal ecosystems). Applications (such as categorizing, mapping, and management) work over diverse temporal and spatial scales. Many basic references are discussed to make this review chapter useful and comprehensive for the reader.