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. 2008 Feb 15;319(5865):948-52.
doi: 10.1126/science.1149345.

A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems

Benjamin S Halpern  1 , Shaun Walbridge, Kimberly A Selkoe, Carrie V Kappel, Fiorenza Micheli, Caterina D'Agrosa, John F Bruno, Kenneth S Casey, Colin Ebert, Helen E Fox, Rod Fujita, Dennis Heinemann, Hunter S Lenihan, Elizabeth M P Madin, Matthew T Perry, Elizabeth R Selig, Mark Spalding, Robert Steneck, Reg Watson
Affiliations

A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems

Benjamin S Halpern et al. Science. .

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 conservation resources; to implement ecosystem-based management; and to inform marine spatial planning, education, and basic research.

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Comment in

  • Southern ocean not so pristine.
    Blight LK, Ainley DG. Blight LK, et al. Science. 2008 Sep 12;321(5895):1443. doi: 10.1126/science.321.5895.1443b. Science. 2008. PMID: 18787149 No abstract available.
  • Diminishing sea ice.
    Ray GC, Hufford GL, Krupnik II, Overland JE. Ray GC, et al. Science. 2008 Sep 12;321(5895):1443-5; author reply 1443-5. doi: 10.1126/science.321.5895.1443c. Science. 2008. PMID: 18787150 No abstract available.
  • Comment on "A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems".
    Heath MR. Heath MR. Science. 2008 Sep 12;321(5895):1446; author reply 1446. doi: 10.1126/science.1157390. Science. 2008. PMID: 18787153

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