Dan Baird

Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystem Modeling

[Extract] In Volume 9 of this treatise, the main focus is on the theory of ecosystem modeling, the application of these theoretical formulations to living ecosystems, and the use and application of modeling protocols in modern ecosystem research and management. Most of the chapters in this volume contribute to assessments of the functioning of coastal ecosystems by means of examples of systems and process models. The objectives of this chapter can be summarized as follows: • to provide an in-depth overview of the philosophy, mathematical foundation, and ecosystem modeling protocols in modern ecological research; • to illustrate the application of these mathematical and modeling frameworks to coastal ecosystems by means of a large number of examples from different regions of the world; • to explore novel approaches to the modeling of coastal ecosystems; • to examine the linkages between physical, chemical, and biological processes in estuarine and coastal ecosystems; and • to assess the management applications of modeling to estuarine and coastal ecosystems.

Ecology and Conservation of Estuarine Ecosystems: Acknowledgements

List of contributors Foreword Alan Whitfield Preface 1. South Africas first World Heritage Site Roger N. Porter 2. Management history Ricky H. Taylor 3. Geological history Greg A. Botha, Sylvi Haldorsen and Naomi Porat 4. The marine environment Allan D. Connell and Sean N. Porter 5. Catchment hydrology Derek D. Stretch and Andrew Z. Maro 6. The Wetlands William N. Ellery, Suzanne E. Grenfell, Michael C. Grenfell, Marc S. Humphries and Kirsten B. Barnes 7. Estuary and lake hydrodynamics Derek D. Stretch, Clint P. Chrystal, Robynne A. Chrystal, Christopher Maine and Justin J. Pringle 8. Groundwater hydrology Bruce E. Kelbe, Ricky H. Taylor and Sylvi Haldorsen 9. Physico-chemical environment Renzo Perissinotto, Nicola K. Carrasco and Ricky H. Taylor 10. Microalgae Renzo Perissinotto, Guy C. Bate and David G. Muir 11. Macrophytes Janine B. Adams, Sibulele Nondoda and Ricky H. Taylor 12. Benthic invertebrates Deena Pillay, Sarah J. Bownes and Holly A. Nel 13. Zooplankton Nicola K. Carrasco, Renzo Perissinotto and Hendrik L. Jerling 14. Penaeid prawns Anthony T. Forbes and Nicolette T. Forbes 15. Fish and fisheries Digby Cyrus 16. Birds Jane Turpie, Ricky H. Taylor, Meyrick Bowker and Caroline Fox 17. Crocodiles Xander Combrink, Jonathan Warner and Colleen T. Downs 18. Hippopotamuses Ricky H. Taylor 19. Alien and invasive species Nelson A. F. Miranda and Janine B. Adams 20. Food webs and ecosystem functioning Ursula M. Scharler and Fiona C. MacKay 21. Climate change impacts Andrew A. Mather, Derek D. Stretch and Andrew Z. Maro References Appendix: web page database, 1900-2010 Nuette Gordon Index.