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Project Description-
• Two major impediments to conserving marine ecosystems are a lack of understanding of the basic ecological processes governing these systems, and ineffective transfer of new scientific knowledge to the public and to policy makers. Recent breakthroughs in numerous disciplines have made possible larger spatial- and temporal-scale studies and new syntheses across disciplines – all of which show much promise for providing better guidance for management and conservation. For example, although it is recognized that marine reserves may play a key role in marine conservation efforts, basic information about the natural transport of organisms and materials in and out of reserves is essential.
• PISCO performs integrated studies of the coastal ocean, rocky intertidal and kelp forest ecosystems of the U.S. West Coast. By conducting these large-scale studies over many years and at many sites, PISCO is developing a comprehensive understanding of how coastal marine ecosystems function. The central goals are to: (a) describe the large-scale patterns and long-term dynamics of these coastal ecosystems, (b) determine the environmental, ecological, and human causes of the patterns revealed by these monitoring studies, (c) initiate a novel program of interdisciplinary training and research, (d) contribute to the scientific basis for the effective design, monitoring, and evaluation of marine protected areas and other conservation measures, and (e) begin to integrate this knowledge into the public and policy arenas.
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