About this book
Sandy beaches are the most abundant coastal environments worldwide, which have an undeniable and unique ecological value. Presently, they are amongst the most endangered ecosystems in the biosphere, mainly due to the influence of several human activities. In this book, renowned scientists from around the world describe key attributes of sandy beaches and highlight the problems which impact them. Specific tools encompassing the physical environment and the biota are pointed out, at different levels of ecological organization. Sandy Beaches as Endangered Ecosystems also covers suitable management, conservation programmes and respective actions, where ecologic, economic and social dimensions are comprehensively integrated.
Contents
1. Sandy Beach Heterogeneity: Intertidal and Supralittoral Communities / Leonardo L. Costa, Abílio Soares-Gomes and Ilana R. Zalmon
2. The Biology and Ecology of Sandy Beach Surf Zones / Jose R. Marin Jarrin, Alan L. Shanks and Jessica A. Miller
3. Human Impacts over Sandy Beaches / María Victoria Laitano, Nicolás Mariano Chiaradia and Jesús Darío Nuñez
4. Urbanization of Coastal Areas: Loss of Coastal Dune Ecosystems in Japan / Hajime Matsushima and Susana M.F. Ferreira
5. Strategies to Mitigate Coastal Erosion / Carlos Coelho, Ana Margarida Ferreira and Rita Pombo
6. Exploring the Sun and the Sea — Vulnerabilities and Mitigation Tools Regarding Touristic and Recreational Activities on Coastal and Beach Systems / João Paulo Jorge, Paulo F.C. Lourenço, Verónica N. Oliveira and Ilaha Guliyeva
7. Validation and Use of Biological Metrics for the Diagnosis of Sandy Beach Health / Jenyffer Vierheller Vieira and Carlos Alberto Borzone
8. Conservation Shortcuts: A Promisor Approach for Impact Assessments and Management of Sandy Beaches / Leonardo Lopes Costa, Nina Aguiar Mothé, Ariane da Silva Oliveira and Vitor Figueira Arueira
9. Towards a New Integrated Ecosystem-Based Model for Beach Management: The Case of S’Abanell Beach (Catalonia-Spain: North-Western Mediterranean) / Rafael Sardá, Enric Sagristà and Annelies Broekman
10. The Beach Ecology Coalition: Enhancing Ecosystem Conservation and Beach Management to Balance Natural Resource Protection and Recreational Use / Karen L.M. Martin, Dennis R. Reed, Dennis J. Simmons, Julianne E. Steers and Melissa Studer
11. Sandy Beach Management and Conservation: The Integration of Economic, Social and Ecological Values / Iván F. Rodil, Linda R. Harris, Serena Lucrezi and Carlo Cerrano
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Biography
Sílvia C. Gonçalves is a Portuguese researcher, with a PhD in Biology (with a speciality in Ecology) from the University of Coimbra, Portugal. She is presently a Coordinating Professor at the School of Tourism and Maritime Technology (ESTM), of the Polytechnic of Leiria (Portugal), lecturing mainly in the scientific areas of ecology, biological diversity and marine environment. She is also a Senior Researcher at MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre and focusses her research on marine ecology, in the following domains: (1) bio-ecology of crustacean populations on sandy beaches and their potential as ecological indicators of human impacts; (2) structure and function of macrobenthic communities; (3) monitoring and evaluation of environmental quality in coastal ecosystems, especially on sandy beaches and coastal lagoons. Her scientific research activities also include environmental biotechnology (e.g., bioremediation of trace metals by halophyte plants) and aquaculture (e.g., maintenance and reproduction of sea urchins and fish). Her scientific production includes book chapters in international books, peer-reviewed research papers in international scientific periodicals, peer-reviewed publications in international congresses, oral and poster presentations on international scientific meetings and the authorship of one documentary of scientific outreach about marine life in coastal areas. She is also a referee of several international scientific periodicals from leading publishers (e.g., Elsevier, Springer Verlag, Taylor & Francis) and Associate Editor of the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.
Susana M.F. Ferreira is a Portuguese researcher, with a PhD in Biology (specialization in Ecology) from the University of Coimbra (Portugal), since 2005. She is currently an Adjunct Professor at the Polytechnic of Leiria Portugal), where she lectures biology, zoology, histology, embryology, population dynamics, and is a Coordination Commission member of the Higher Professional Technical Course in Laboratory Analysis. She is also a Senior Researcher at MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (PLeiria), Collaborator at CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology (University of Coimbra), and member of the ORBEA - Body Responsible for the Animal Welfare of MARE-PLeiria. Her scientific activity includes areas of ecology, biotechnology and aquaculture. The domain of her specialization relates with research on biological and ecological processes in aquatic ecosystems: environmental impact studies, with emphasis on eutrophication processes; population dynamics, biology and secondary production of benthic organisms; community structure and functioning of coastal systems; influence of trematode parasites on estuarine crustaceans and molluscs. Her fascination for the sea and marine life encouraged her to pursue several nautical and underwater activities (local skipper, VHF-A operator, PADI advanced open water and enriched air diver, plus digital underwater photographer). She is currently developing research on trace metals and phytoremediation in coastal habitats; stock assessment of aquatic organisms and their use in aquaculture and biotechnology (namely, sea anemones, polychaetes, sea urchins and fish); animal welfare; and ocean literacy. Her scientific production counts on an international book, chapters in international books, peer-reviewed articles in international journals, peer-reviewed abstracts in international congress proceedings, oral and panel communications, an invention of a feed for rearing omnivorous fish patented in Europe, plus the direction and authorship of a documentary on marine life.
