I. Introduction
Two features set the Monterey Bay region apart from virtually all other
marine localities: an extraordinarily diverse array of marine habitats resulting
in one of the most biologically rich areas of the world, combined with an
unrivaled concentration of marine research and educational institutions
(Griggs 1995).This unique juxtaposition was given even greater national
emphasis with the formation of the MBNMS. As a result, marine research and
education continues to grow and attract new interest, ideas and technologies
to the Central California Coast at an ever-increasing rate. Support for
this MBNMS site characterization project clearly stems from these strong
regional influences. As explained in the project introduction (see
Introduction section), the content guidelines for the project were largely
habitat- and process-based. We therefore attempted to summarize existing
information using these categories, and asked section contributors to identify
resource needs from their perspectives. We also used the project information-gathering
process, which included interviews of more than fifty marine science experts,
to poll representatives from virtually every institution and scientific
discipline in the MBNMS area regarding their views on the research potential
and needs of the region. We hope the responses by section authors and interviewees
which are summarized below will prove useful to resource managers and educational
institutions as a predictor of information which may emerge from future
research; and that they will also serve as a broad, multidisciplinary and
multi-institutional summary of research ideas and needs for regional researchers
and supporting institutions. Much of this type of information was first
assembled and summarized in the 1993 Scientific Research Plan for MBNMS.
Prepared by the MBNMS Research Advisory Panel (RAP), it provided a synthesis
of research priorities recommended to the MBNMS, and is available from the
MBNMS office. The synopsis we provide here should be viewed as a complement
to the existing RAP Scientific Research Plan. This summary is clearly research-,
rather than conservation- or education-oriented. Though we recognize the
critical importance of identifying resource needs and potential from all
three perspectives, our primary mission of compiling existing information
about the MBNMS natural resources required that we focus on information
obtained from scientists and resource managers, rather than educators or
conservationists, to cover a wide range of biological and oceanographic
disciplines. Inclusion of conservation and education-related resource needs
will be best directed by the Conservation Working Group and Sanctuary Education
Program, which are both advisory groups to the MBNMS.
Next - Section II. Resource Needs Summarized
from MBNMS Site Characterization sections
Resource Needs Table of
Contents
