Outlook Online 2009

A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems

Halpern et al., 2008:

"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 seventeen global data sets of anthropogenic drivers of ecological change for twenty marine ecosystems. Our analysis indicates that no area is unaffected by human influence and that a large fraction (41 per cent) 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."

 Human_impacts_global_map

 


Citation and/or URL

Halpern, B.S., Walbridge, S., Selkoe, K.A., Kappel, K.V., Micheli, F., D’Agrosa, C., Bruno, J.F., Casey, K.S., Ebert, C., Fox, H.E., Fujita, R., Heinemann, D., Lenihan, H.S., Madin, E.M.P.,  Perry, M.T., Selig, E.R., Spalding, M., Steneck, R. and Watson, R., 2008, A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems, Science 319: 948-952.

Further information


Source

Multiple


Spatial Coverage

 Global


Temporal Coverage

 Not applicable


Update Frequency

Once-off


Other Information

Link to further information

 

Bookmark and Share

Have your say