Understanding Marine Biodiversity -- Foreword -- Preface -- Contents -- Executive Summary -- One Introduction -- MARINE BIODIVERSITY IS CHANGING AND IT MATTERS -- THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF UNDERDESCRIBED MARINE BIODIVERSITY -- SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORGING NEW HORIZONS -- Genetic Diversity -- Species Diversity -- Habitat and Ecosystem Diversity -- Two Linking Pattern to Process: A Regional-Scale Approach -- THE SPATIAL CONTINUUM -- TEMPORAL CONSIDERATIONS -- DEFINING THE MOST MEANINGFUL SCALES OF STUDY -- A RATIONALE FOR STUDYING SEVERAL TYPES OF REGIONAL MODEL SYSTEMS -- OBJECTIVES OF THIS INITIATIVE -- Three Biodiversity Changes Due to Anthropogenic Effects: Critical Environmental Issues -- FISHERIES OPERATIONS -- Direct Fisheries Effects -- Indirect Fisheries Effects -- Mariculture Effects -- Effects of Scientific Collecting -- CHEMICAL POLLUTION AND EUTROPHICATION -- ALTERATIONS IN PHYSICAL HABITAT -- INVASIONS OF EXOTIC SPECIES -- GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE -- Four Regionally Defined Model Systems: Examples of Habitats -- ESTUARIES AND BAYS -- CORAL REEFS -- TEMPERATE ZONE ROCKY SHORES -- CONTINENTAL SHELVES AND SLOPES -- PELAGIC OPEN OCEAN -- DEEP SEA -- Five The Critical Role of Taxonomy -- Six Biodiversity Research Program -- CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK -- Patterns -- Processes -- Consequences -- BASIC RESEARCH QUESTIONS -- CONTINGENT AND REASONABLE PREDICTION -- APPROACHES -- Theory and Modeling -- Retrospective Analysis: Importance of an Historical Perspective -- Linking Biotic Surveys with Ecological and Oceanographic Experiments -- METHODS -- Taxonomic Methods -- Molecular Genetics -- Instrumentation -- Sampling -- Special Opportunities -- IMPLEMENTATION -- RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PROGRAMS -- Scientific Programs and Initiatives -- Federal Agency Programs -- Seven Summary -- References -- Appendixes -- Appendix A Workshop Agenda.

Appendix B Workshop Participants -- Appendix C Acronyms -- Appendix D Glossary -- Index.