Adams, Aaron (11/06/98)

Question 2. What are the major opportunities open to biological oceanography in the next two decades and what challenges need to be overcome to realize these opportunities?

I submit these suggestions as unsolicited support of the comments of Elliot Norse. It is heartening to see others with similar views.

Considering the state of many marine environments, the pursuit of scientific knowledge for its own sake is no longer appropriate. All other things being equal, perhaps the greatest challenge to proper management of marine systems is a lack of fundamental knowledge. It is difficult, if not impossible to study system level processes when there is insufficient knowledge of even species presence and relative abundance. Furthermore, large-scale system level processes are intricately related to small-scale processes (e.g., species-habitat associations, interspecific interactions) that are dynamic in character (e.g., may change with ontological niche shifts). As the marine systems under anthropogenic pressures change, our best chance of understanding these changes will be based on our knowledge of the members of these systems before and during these changes. In many cases we do not have the baseline data (e.g., species lists, relative abundance, habitat characterizations) that will allow us to understand and possibly correct these changes.

In order to adequately address a task of the magnitude at hand, it will be essential to pursue a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency approach. The merit of a proposed project should be based in part on the applicability of the expected results to a recognized problem and a targeted benefactor. For example, managers of coral reef fisheries may be in need of information on the population dynamics and life histories of parrotfishes to address fisheries regulations. Researchers will thus have to incorporate information and co-investigators from various disciplines and research or management entities.

Research that focuses on 1) baseline data for marine ecosystems, 2) system processes based upon this baseline data, and 3) enacts monitoring protocols will provide our best chance at establishing marine conservation biology as an agent in long term resource management. This approach will be challenging because, although it will require innovation and creative thought, it may not adhere to traditional academic disciplinary structure. Science has often lead society in new directions, and in order to continue doing so must adapt to challenges that transcend tradition.

Aaron Adams

Biology Department

University of Massachusetts Boston