ABSTRACT
Ecological extinction caused by overfishing precedes all other pervasive human disturbance to coastal ecosystems, including pollution, degradation of water quality, and anthropogenic climate change. Historical abundances of large consumer species were fantastically large in comparison with recent observations. Paleoecological, archaeological, and historical data show that time lags of decades to centuries occurred between the onset of overfishing and consequent changes in ecological communities, because unfished species of similar trophic level assumed the ecological roles of overfished species until they too were overfished or died of epidemic diseases related to overcrowding. Retrospective data not only help to clarify underlying causes and rates of ecological change, but they also demonstrate achievable goals for restoration and management of coastal ecosystems that could not even be contemplated based on the limited perspective of recent observations alone.
Subject(s)
Ecosystem , Fishes , Marine Biology , Animals , Archaeology , Bacteria , Cnidaria , Conservation of Natural Resources , Eutrophication , Geologic Sediments , Humans , Seaweed , Shellfish , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Alternating translucent and opaque bands on the roots of mammal teeth are used to determine the age and season of death. These structures are preserved in teeth from archeological sites. However, the standard sectioning technique, which includes decalcification, often destroys archeological specimens. A new, less destructive technique provides analyzable solid sections at costs comparable to decalcification.
