Marine ecological research in seashore and seafloor systems: accomplishments and future directions

Research in seashore and seafloor communities has contributed immensely to the conceptual growth of ecology. Here we summarize some of the most import ant findings and discuss needs and opportunities for future work. Dispropor tionately large numbers of the most influential contributions are derived f rom studies of rocky shores and coral reefs because aspects of these System s (accessibility) and of their most common species (sessile or weakly motil e, high density, short generation time) make them well suited to manipulati ve experiments. Foremost among the research contributions from seashore and seafloor systems are increased understanding of (1) competition and consum er-prey interactions, (2) trophic cascades and other indirect species inter actions, (3) the evolution of defense and resistance in consumer-prey syste ms, (4) the importance of propagule transport and recruitment variation to adult populations, (5) the impacts of physical disturbance, and (6) the gen eration and maintenance of species diversity on ecological time scales. We acknowledge the importance of manipulative experiments in the growth of mar ine ecology, but question whether a strict adherence to this approach will best serve future needs. Some of the most pressing needs for future knowled ge are: (1) documenting the complex influences of spatial and temporal scal es on ecological processes, (2) identifying the role of large, mobile preda tors in marine ecosystems, (3) understanding factors limiting marine autotr ophs, (4) integrating historical biology and neontology, and (5) appreciati ng intersystem linkages. Increased attention to conducting arrays of experi ments, taking measurements and observations, and documenting change at larg er scales of space and time will provide insights that are unattainable by the commonly used methodological protocols. Novel approaches, including (1) evaluating and managing human disturbance for the joint purpose of conserv ation and learning, (2) developing stronger ties between scientists working in open-ocean and near-shore systems, and (3) developing collaborative pro jects among scientists in the academic, governmental, and private sectors a re required to understand many of these processes.