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Challenges in marine, soft-sediment benthoscape ecology

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Abstract

In this paper I address three sets of challenges that face ecologists who are studying soft-sediment benthic landscapes (or benthoscapes). These include (a) development of technology and analytical approaches for sea floor mapping and quantifying benthoscape structure, (b) development of benthoscape ecology theory that integrates ideas from terrestrial and other marine systems, but focuses on the unique aspects of these environments, and (c) making empirical headway. Coordinated efforts in all three areas are needed to make progress in understanding soft-sediment systems, which arguably comprise the largest set of landscapes on the earth. In particular, much more work is needed in relating biotic patterns to the actual spatial structural aspects of soft-sediment benthoscapes.

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Acknowledgments

Mary DiGiacomo-Cohen kindly provided the digitized interpretation of the Fishers Island Sound side scan mosaic used in Fig. 4. The ideas presented here benefitted from the comments and suggestions of two anonymous reviewers, and discussions with Bob Whitlatch and Rick Osman. My thanks to them and also to Fran, Julia, and Katya.

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  1. Graduate Program in Environmental Science, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, 300 Boston Post Road, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA

    Roman N. Zajac

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Zajac, R.N. Challenges in marine, soft-sediment benthoscape ecology. Landscape Ecol 23 (Suppl 1), 7–18 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-007-9140-4

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