tern 



I-A-11 



Clark, J.R. 1974. Coastal ecosystems; ecological considerations for 



management of the coastal zone. The Conservation Foundation, 



Washington, D.C. 178 pp. 



Environmental management of coastal waters and shorelands has as one 

 of its fundamental goals the maintenance of coastal ecosystems in 

 their best condition, or at the level of best achievable ecosysten 

 function, which usually means as near to the natural condition as 

 possible. This publication presents ecologic principles, management 

 principles and rules, controls, and prog^^am elements that can be used 

 to improve management of coastal lands and waters. 



The book is intended as an overview rather than as a source of 

 extensive background data or as a comprehensive examination of the 

 merits of different opinions or scientific results. Sections are 

 included on ecologic considerations relating to coastal waters and 

 biota; ecological concepts, including productivity and the food web; 

 environmental disturbance; resource evaluation and protection; and 

 constraints on specific uses. 



A principle that is stressed throughout the book is that no single 

 part of an ecosystem operates independently of any other and that 

 each coastal ecosystem must, therefore, be managed as a whole system. 

 While attention is focused somewhat on ocean water areas, a higher 

 degree of attention is given to estuaries because, in the opinion of 

 the author, they tend to be more productive than either the sea or 

 freshwater areas and they are the most sensitive and stress-vulnerable 

 coastal ecosystems. (B.W.) 



Keywords: coastal zone, ecosystems, planning and management, 

 productivity, food web, environmental change, U.S. 

 coastal regions 



I-A-12 



De la Cruz, A. A. 1976. The functions of coastal wetlands. Association of 

 Southeastern Biologists Bulletin 23(4) :179-185. 



The various functions of coastal wetlands are reviewed at two levels: 

 (1) at an ecosystem level, the use of wetlands as a whole including the 

 intertidal zone and the immediate dryland and neighboring littoral 

 areas for various system functions; and (2) at a component level, the 

 use of the major biotic component, mainly the vascular plants, for 

 various purposes. 



There are many uses of coastal wetlands at an ecosystem level. These 

 include: 



8 



