Paper by: Bulleri, Fabio, and Maura G. Chapman

Presented by: Michael SegalBiology and Geography Major3/1/10GEOG 370

There is an expanding population of people living near the coast and as a result of the environment being able to accommodate the increasing amount of people new infrastructure is being built. Structures such as jetties, bulkheads and floating docks alter the marine environment and have adverse effects that are destroy marine ecosystems and may impact global warming.

What is the impact of urban infrastructure on marine environments and how can this be solved in the future?

Reference multiple case scenarios in which altering the marine environment alters and disrupts the habitat.

Only empirical data used since it is a general study is using algae.

Exotic species are spread from these unnatural formations and what impact this may have

Display how animal diversity and speciation is diminished by the manmade structures.

There is much less biodiversity found in the unnatural manmade structures that only facilitate certain species and may also allow for the spread of an exotic species into a region they wouldn’t normally inhabit.

Manmade structures homogenize species and disrupts marine ecology by fragmenting habitats

Biodiversity can be restored if manmade structures mimic the natural diversity of habitats instead of homogeneous flat walls or rock jetties

However more research is necessary to see if these basic biological principles can be applied.

The case study does not present its own critique

Alternative issues that should be accounted for:◦ Pollution associated with increasing infrastructure◦ Disrupting tidal flows and currents

Ex) Dubai World