Littoral ecological stability and economic development in small island states: The need for an equilibrium
Vicente VP. 1996. Littoral ecological stability and economic development in small island states: The need for an equilibrium. Pages 266-283. In Maul GA. Small Islands: Marine Science and Sustainable Development. American Geophysical Union. Coastal and Estuarine Studies; 51
Caribbean islands often share the following confining physical and biological coastal scenario: (1) a limited coastline; (2) a restricted shelf; (3) a permanent thermocline; (4) low nutrient waters; and (5) a sparsity of upwelling zones. Nonetheless, the littoral system surrounding the Caribbean islands are: (1) nuclei of biodiversity; (2) centers of origin; (3) responsible for coastal organic production; and (4) critical to small island state economies. This chapter emphasizes the values of submerged marine systems which, among other functions, create beaches, sustain fisheries, wildlife and protected resources, and protect shorelines from natural disasters and from impact associated with sea level rise. However, the submerged littoral systems responsible for the above functions are driven by light reaching the bottom. The vulnerability of benthic-driven tropical coastal systems to non-point sources of pollution and turbidity are also discussed. Hopefully, this chapter will alert small island state officials to the economic value of the three marine tropical phenomena which create and modify coastal resources: coral reefs, mangroves, and turtle grass beds. The vulnerability of these systems represents the potentially irreversible loss of a not yet fully exploited nor understood resource which may be the ultimate source of income for small islands when other economic attempts fail. Abstract provided by author.
- Type
- Book Chapter
- Authors
- Vicente, Vance
- Units
- BISC
- Keywords
- Biodiversity, Coastline, Coral Reefs, Development, Economic, Ecosystems, Eelgrass, Effect, equilibrium, Islands, Littoral, mangroves, Nutrients, Shelf, Stable, states, systems, thermocline, Turtle Grass, Zostera marina