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.

Habitat, Substrata and Communities

Habitat Characteristics and Typical Functional Groups
The Role of Mineral, Living and Artificial Substrata in the Development of Subtidal Assemblages
Communities on Deep-Sea Hard Bottoms
Epibiosis
Diversity Patterns and Their Causes
Latitudinal Patterns of Species Richness in Hard-Bottom Communities
Regional-Scale Patterns
Patterns Along Environmental Gradients
Evolutionary Patterns of Diversity and Their Causes
Environmental Variability
Community Dynamics
Fertilization Strategies
Larval Supply and Dispersal
Settlement and Recruitment
Seasonal Dynamics
Disruption, Succession and Stochasticity
Changes in Diversity and Ecosystem Functioning During Succession
Simple and Complex Interactions
Changing Biodiversity
Anthropogenic Changes in Patterns of Diversity on Hard Substrata: an Overview
Shifts in Abiotic Variables and Consequences for Diversity
The Loss of Natural Habitats and the Addition of Artificial Substrata
Multiple Stressors and Disturbances
Mass Mortalities and Extinctions
Biological Invasions
Habitat Distribution and Heterogeneity in Marine Invasion Dynamics: the Importance of Hard Substrate and Artificial Structure
Rehabilitation of Habitat and the Value of Artificial Reefs
Protection of Biota and the Value of Marine Protected Areas
Role of Diversity
The Role of Biodiversity for the Functioning of Rocky Reef Communities
Functional and Taxonomic Perspectives of Marine Biodiversity
Mechanisms Underpinning Diversity-Stability Relationships in Hard Bottom Assemblages
The Aesthetic Value of Littoral Hard Substrata and Consideration of Ethical Frameworks for Their Investigation and Conservation
Appropriate Research Methods
Field and Research Methods in Marine Ecology.