Preface : Marine conservation ecology: concepts and frameworks
Introduction : Why marine conservation is necessary : Significance, threats and management of the oceans and biodiversity
The marine environment: physiochemical characteristics : Structures and processes: enduring and recurrent factors
The marine environment: ecology and biology : Pelagic and benthic realms and coastal fringing communities
Approaches to marine conservation : Traditional strategies and ecological frameworks
Representative areas: global to ecoregional : Marine conservation at the ecosystem/habitat level
Habitats and communities: ecoregional to local : Reality, variability and scales of relationships
Distinctive areas: species and ecosystem processes : Ecosystem processes: ergoclines and hotspots
Patterns of biodiversity: species diversity : Theories and relationships: global, regional, local
Species and focal species : Keystones, umbrellas, flagships, indicators and others
Genetic diversity : Significance of genetics: from genes to ecosystems
Coastal zones : Components, complexities and classifications
High seas and deep seas : Pelagic and benthic, hydrography and biogeography
Linking fisheries management with marine conservation objectives through ecosystem approaches : Compatibility of exploitation and preservation
Size and boundaries of protected areas : Rationale for function, location, dimensions
Evaluation of protected areas : The concept of 'value' as applied to marine biodiversity
Sets of protected areas : Integrating distinctive and representative protected areas
Networks of protected areas : Patterns of connectivity in the oceans
Approaches to establishment of marine monitoring programmes : Stabilizing the baselines
Remaining problems in marine conservation : Present problems, future solutions.