A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems.
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.
Halpern
Benjamin S
BS
National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, 735 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA. halpern@nceas.ucsb.edu
Walbridge
Shaun
S
Selkoe
Kimberly A
KA
Kappel
Carrie V
CV
Micheli
Fiorenza
F
D'Agrosa
Caterina
C
Bruno
John F
JF
Casey
Kenneth S
KS
Ebert
Colin
C
Fox
Helen E
HE
Fujita
Rod
R
Heinemann
Dennis
D
Lenihan
Hunter S
HS
Madin
Elizabeth M P
EM
Perry
Matthew T
MT
Selig
Elizabeth R
ER
Spalding
Mark
M
Steneck
Robert
R
Watson
Reg
R
D000818:Animals; D002980:Climate; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D005398:Fisheries; D006802:Human Activities; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009792:Oceans and Seas