About this Research Topic

Background

Marine biodiversity hotspots are regions that host high numbers of endemic or endangered species. At the same time, they are threatened by severe habitat loss and are considered as conservation priority regions. Although these areas are of high importance for biodiversity, they are impacted by considerable pressures and suffer substantial degradation.

Nowadays, marine hotspots encounter a whole new reality. Habitat loss or fragmentation is more rapid than ever since the demand for natural resources and the construction of coastal and maritime infrastructures is constantly increasing. Great ecological challenges of the modern era such as climate change and invasions of non-indigenous species bring marine hotspots into the spotlight as they are facing an increased risk of destruction. Therefore, research dedicated to elucidating the impacts of these threats on marine biodiversity hotspots can provide very important insights into their protection.
This Research Topic, entitled "Marine Biodiversity Hotspots - Challenges and Resilience", intends to increase the available knowledge on, and our understanding of, the different challenges threatening marine hotspots. Effective restoration and protection methods need to be tested in selected case study key areas, and their potential to be applied widely needs to be investigated and reported.

Papers on marine biological hotspots under threat that also suggest approaches to address these impacts are encouraged for submission. Suggested approaches should provide effective solutions for the protection and/or restoration of these fragile marine areas and can cover fields such as marine ecology and genetics. This Research Topic also aims to provide guidance for ecosystem managers and other related stakeholders who could benefit from the information in the scientific studies that will be published and promoted in this special issue.

Please note that given the broad scope of this Research Topic, if your work is dedicated to one of the specific regions mentioned below, please consider submitting to the corresponding Research Topic instead:
"Impacts on Neotropical Diversity: A Call for More Integrative Coastal Management"
"The Philippine Seas: Biodiversity and Ecological Impacts of Natural and Anthropogenic stressors in Tropical Reef Systems"
"Benthic Biodiversity of the Indian Ocean"

Keywords: marine biodiversity hotspots, ecology, genetics, resilience, conservation

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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