About this Research Topic
Island ecosystems are overly sensitive to anthropogenic disturbances which are increasing in intensity, geographic scope, and type. Remote archipelagos surrounded by pelagic environments are also often hotspots for biodiversity with unique and essential marine habitats (i.e., Island Mass Effect). Along these oceanic hotspots of marine life, apex predators play a pivotal ecosystem service in maintaining the structure and function of marine and terrestrial habitats. These species can also be useful indicators of ecosystem health, and in the case of large predators, many of which are threatened, they can also play a significant role as climate change mitigators by acting as natural carbon reservoirs. Such apex predators comprise animals from several taxonomic groups (e.g., mammals, fishes, reptiles, birds, cephalopods), and are known to be exposed to varying levels of human-induced pressures that can include overfishing, pollution, marine traffic, marine litter, and climate change. Nevertheless, studies in remote insular or oceanic environments face numerous challenges and are unbalanced when compared to coastal habitats.
The proposed Research Topic will advance our understanding of ecological and behavioral traits of apex predators that inhabit, permanently or temporarily, marine waters adjacent to, or nest on, remote or small islands. We will seek a broad taxonomic representation including marine mammals, fishes, reptiles, seabirds, and cephalopods. Our goal is to encourage contributions from among the major ocean basins and to recruit papers not just from well-established scientists but also from early career researchers.
We seek studies that include, but are not limited to, a focus on:
- foraging and movement ecology as they relate to distribution patterns and relationships among trophic structures
- biological, biogeochemical, and physical drivers as they relate to the structure of food webs
- population ecology, biogeography, and behavior of apex predators
- climate change as it relates to trophic structure, foraging behavior, and diet
- anthropogenic and environmental stressors as they relate to foraging behavior, conservation physiology, and population dynamics
- new technologies or methodologies
- conservation and management of species and habitats
Studies should provide information of global significance. Papers that contribute to advances in research through innovative methodologies, or that address the importance of, and challenges associated with developing studies on islands or pelagic habitats are also welcome. Papers describing original research and review papers will be welcome.
Photo credits to: "Nuno Sá".
Keywords: Island systems, food webs, functional ecology, marine sentinels, pelagic habitat, environmental change, anthropogenic pressures
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.
