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Marine hard bottoms feature some of the most spectacular and diverse biological communities on this planet. These not only contain a rich treasure of genetic, taxonomic and functional information but also deliver irreplaceable ecosystem services. At the same time, they are highly vulnerable and increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures. This volume has collected contributions by 50 scientists from numerous biogeographic regions, dealing with characteristics of hard bottom communities. Distributional patterns in space and time are described, followed by analyses of the intrinsic and extrinsic dynamics producing these patterns. A strong emphasis is placed on the ongoing changes occurring in the structure and diversity of these communities in response to spiralling environmental impacts, and on state-of-the-art countermeasures aiming to preserve these ecological treasures. Finally, various values of diversity are assessed, hopefully as an incentive for enhanced conservation efforts.

Ocean bottom ecology. --- Ocean bottom ecology --- Earth & Environmental Sciences --- Ecology --- Seabed ecology --- Life sciences. --- Biodiversity. --- Ecosystems. --- Aquatic ecology. --- Plant science. --- Botany. --- Marine sciences. --- Freshwater. --- Life Sciences. --- Plant Sciences. --- Life Sciences, general. --- Freshwater & Marine Ecology. --- Marine & Freshwater Sciences. --- Fresh waters --- Freshwater --- Freshwaters --- Inland water --- Inland waters --- Water --- Ocean sciences --- Aquatic sciences --- Botanical science --- Phytobiology --- Phytography --- Phytology --- Plant biology --- Plant science --- Biology --- Natural history --- Plants --- Aquatic biology --- Biocenoses --- Biocoenoses --- Biogeoecology --- Biological communities --- Biomes --- Biotic community ecology --- Communities, Biotic --- Community ecology, Biotic --- Ecological communities --- Ecosystems --- Natural communities --- Population biology --- Biological diversification --- Biological diversity --- Biotic diversity --- Diversification, Biological --- Diversity, Biological --- Biocomplexity --- Ecological heterogeneity --- Numbers of species --- Biosciences --- Sciences, Life --- Science --- Aquatic biology. --- Endangered ecosystems. --- Marine Sciences. --- Threatened ecosystems --- Biotic communities --- Nature conservation --- Hydrobiology --- Water biology --- Marine ecology --- Aquatic ecology . --- Floristic botany