A Global Map of Human Impact on Marine Ecosystems
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · University of Hawaii System · +8 more institutions
Abstract
The management and conservation of the world's oceans require synthesis of spatial data on the distribution and intensity of human activities and the overlap of their impacts on marine ecosystems. We developed an ecosystem-specific, multiscale spatial model to synthesize 17 global data sets of anthropogenic drivers of ecological change for 20 marine ecosystems. Our analysis indicates that no area is unaffected by human influence and that a large fraction (41%) is strongly affected by multiple drivers. However, large areas of relatively little human impact remain, particularly near the poles. The analytical process and resulting maps provide flexible tools for regional and global efforts to allocate…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 204.36
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 30
Authors
19- BSBenjamin S. HalpernCorresponding
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Hawaii System, Wildlife Conservation Society, State Street (United States), National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Pacific University
- SWShaun WalbridgeCorresponding
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Hawaii System, Wildlife Conservation Society, State Street (United States), National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Pacific University
- KAKimberly A. SelkoeCorresponding
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Hawaii System, Wildlife Conservation Society, State Street (United States), National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Pacific University
- CVCarrie V. Kappel
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Hawaii System, Wildlife Conservation Society, State Street (United States), National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Pacific University
- FMFiorenza Micheli
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Hawaii System, Wildlife Conservation Society, State Street (United States), National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Pacific University
Topics & keywords
- Marine ecosystem
- Ecosystem
- Environmental resource management
- Marine spatial planning
- Marine conservation
- Ecosystem-based management
- Marine protected area
- Ecosystem management
- Life below water