Conference, Loughborough University, UK, 22nd-23rd April 2010

Para quem gosta de Mar, aqui vai uma Conferência sobre Ecologia Costeira no presente e no passado!

Call for Papers - Conference, Loughborough University, UK, 22nd-23rd April
2010:
All at Sea? Synergies between past and present coastal processes and ecology
Organisers: Dr D. B. Ryves, Professor N. J. Anderson & Dr P.J. Wood

Coastal zones are dynamic systems. They are high-energy environments
exhibiting rapid spatial and temporal change and are constantly evolving. The
complex interaction of physical processes operating on both short (e.g. tides,
fluvial input of nutrients and sediment) and longer-term timescales (e.g.
climate & sea level change) form the driving force for many of the biological,
chemical and sedimentological processes that occur in these systems. Coastal
zones are unique in their steep gradation of conditions (e.g. salinity) which
produce distinctive ecological communities.

In recent years human impact has seriously altered many of these coastal
systems resulting in issues such as eutrophication, over-exploitation of
resources and pollution catching media attention. Such major anthropogenic
changes make it increasingly difficult to understand the already complex
natural physical processes and ecological changes operating within the coastal
zone. These complex issues must be dealt with before we can begin to use
these archives as palaeo-records for understanding the past, for which they
offer great potential to integrate the independent terrestrial and marine
records of past climatic and environmental change. By understanding the past
in these terms we can provide valuable context for investigating recent and
future change.

This conference aims to address the following questions:
1. How do physical, biological and chemical processes in the coastal zone
impact ecological communities and how do these communities change and
evolve over time?
2. Can we successfully isolate natural environmental change from human
impact in modern and recent coastal systems?
3. How can we most effectively apply complex contemporary ecological
information to improve our interpretation of palaeo-records?
4. How can we integrate complex contemporary ecological data with time-
averaged palaeo-data to improve policy and management of coastal ecological
systems and future predictions under changing climate?

This conference will be composed of four sessions entitled:
1. The contemporary coastal zone: physical, biological and chemical impacts
on ecology.
2. Assessment of the strength of climatic and environmental change
inferences from palaeoecological investigations.
3. Formation of the palaeo-record in high-energy environments: chronology,
taphonomy and diagenesis
4. Integrating contemporary and palaeo datasets from the coastal zone:
synthesis and visions for the future.

Abstract deadline: 31st January 2010
For more information and registration details see:
(http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/gy/allatsea/) or e-mail
allatsealboro@gmail.com