Dr Mark Spalding

mspalding@tnc.org
Tel:
+44 (0)1223 760832 or +44 (0)1638 661961
Research Interests
Global and regional reviews and assessments of marine ecosystems, ecosystem services, threats and conservation efforts.
The Nature Conservancy is, by most metrics, one of the “big hitters” in the world of international nature conservation efforts – working on the ground in 35 countries, but also seeking to influence policy and society at local, national and global levels. TNC is one of the leading NGOs in marine conservation, with hundreds of field practitioner across the Americas, Pacific and Asia: we are actively engaged in fishing villages in Indonesia, restoring shellfish reefs in the USA, supporting national governments in marine spatial planning in the Caribbean and much much more. But such efforts would remain piecemeal without a broader vision and the means to tell the wider story and spread the messages of success.
The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Global Marine Team (www.nature.org/marine) attempts to connect the vast wealth of experiences within and beyond our organisation, to share ideas and to develop new ones. Within this group my own work has a strong focus on global assessments of biodiversity distribution and the ecosystem services from these. I also look at large-scale human impacts and conservation efforts. Such information is critical to influence regional to global-level decisions which are becoming increasingly important in the face of globalised threats such as climate change and overfishing.
It is essential that such large-scale assessments are fully informed by, and closely connected to, conservation practice on the ground. This needs to be a 2-way flow, with the big-picture information also feeding back down to finer scales in order to inform and provide context for conservation action on the ground. Being based in Cambridge University also provides a critical peer-network – a place where hard-thinking, and positive criticism helps to shape and build ideas; and also a place with an extraordinary web of other environmental NGOs and practitioners (see www.cambridgeconservationforum.org.uk).
Working with post-docs and partners we are helping to inform conservation management, priority setting and future investment policies. Our work aims to inform and influence not only the senior leadership within TNC, but also the global community: both through engagement in academic and policy fora, and in the regular and high profile, publication of scientific findings which will inform and direct academic, policy and public awareness.
Current work includes:
- Review and enumeration of historic and present ecosystem service delivery from shellfish reefs in North America (with Dr Philine zu Ermgassen - http://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/zoostaff/aldridge/line.htm)
- Detailed assessment of the coastal protection function of ecosystems (with Dr Anna McIvor, Department of Geography, and partners in the Mangrove Capital Project – www.naturalcoastalprotection.org)
- Reviews of the distribution of Marine Protected Areas
- Ecosystem Red Listing
- Other ongoing work on mangroves and blue carbon; coral reefs threats and protection efforts; biogeographic classification and gap analyses.
Publications
- Boucher, T., Spalding, M., and Revenga, C., in press, The Role and Trends of Protected Areas in Conservation, in Kareiva, P., ed., Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, 2nd Edition: Oxford, Elsevier.
- Spalding, M. D., Meliane, I., Milam, A., Fitzgerald, C., and Hale, L. Z., in press, Protecting Marine Spaces: global targets and changing approaches: Ocean Yearbook, v. 27.
- Spalding, M. D., Ruffo, S., Lacambra, C., Meliane, I., Hale, L. Z., Shepard, C. C., and Beck, M. W., in press, The role of ecosystems in coastal protection: adapting to climate change and coastal hazards: Ocean and Coastal Management.
Zu Ermgassen, P. S. E., Spalding, M. D., and Brumbaugh, R., in rev, Historic ecosystem service provision estimates can guide restoration efforts, in Kittinger, J. N. J., McClenachan, L. E., Gedan, K., and .Blight, L. K., eds., Applying Marine Historical Ecology to Conservation and Management: Using the Past to Manage for the Future. - Zu Ermgassen, P. S. E., Spalding, M. D., Grizzle, R., and Brumbaugh, R., in review, The past, present and future of a marine ecosystem service: filtration by the eastern oyster in US estuaries: Marine Ecology Progress Series.
- Burke, L., Reytar, K., Spalding, M., and Perry, A. L., 2012, Reefs at Risk Revisited in the Coral Triangle, Washington, D.C., World Resources Institute, with USAID-Asia, Coral Triangle Initiative, Coral Triangle Support Partnership, The Nature Conservancy, WorldFish Center, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre 72 www.wri.org/project/reefs-at-risk
- McIvor, A. L., Möller, I., Spencer, T., and Spalding, M., 2012, Reduction of wind and swell waves by mangroves. Natural Coastal Protection Series: Report 1. The Nature Conservancy and Wetlands International. www.naturalcoastalprotection.org
- Spalding, M., 2012, Marine World Heritage: Toward a representative, balanced and credible World Heritage List.: World Heritage Centre, UNESCO
- Spalding, M., Agostini, V., Grant, S., and Rice, J., 2012, Pelagic provinces of the world: a biogeographic classification of the world’s surface pelagic waters: Ocean and Coastal Management, v. 90, p. 19-30.
- Zu Ermgassen, P. S. E., Spalding, M. D., Blake, B., Coen, L. D., Dumbauld, B., Geiger, S., Grabowski, J. H., Grizzle, R., Luckenbach, M., McGraw, K., Rodney, B., Ruesink, J. L., Powers, S. P., and Brumbaugh, R., 2012, Historical ecology with real numbers: Past and present extent and biomass of an imperilled estuarine habitat: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
- Burke, L., Reytar, K., Spalding, M., and Perry, A. L., 2011, Reefs at Risk Revisited, Washington, D.C., World Resources Institute, The Nature Conservancy, WorldFish Center, International Coral Reef Action Network, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre and Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, 114p.
- Jacquet, J., Boyd, I., Carlton, J. T., Fox, H. E., Johnson, A. E., Mee, L., Roman, J., Spalding, M., and Sutherland, W., 2011, Scanning the Oceans for Solutions: Solutions, v. 2, no. 1, p. 46-55.
- Sutherland, W., Bardsley, S., Bennun, L., Clout, M., Cote, I., Depledge, M., Dicks, L., Dobson, A., Fellman, L., Fleishman, E., W.Gibbons, D., Impey, A. J., H.Lawton, J., FionaLickorish, B.Lindenmayer, D., Lovejoy, T. E., MacNally, R., Madgwick, J., Peck, L. S., Pretty, J., Prior, S. V., Redford, K. H., Scharlemann, J. P. W., Spalding, M., and Watkinson, A. R., 2011, Horizon scan of global conservation issues for 2011: Trends in Ecology & Evolution, v. 26, no. 1, p. 10-16.
- Brumbaugh, R. D., Beck, M., Hancock, B., Wrona Meadows, A., Spalding, M., and zu Ermgassen, P., 2010, Changing a management paradigm and rescuing a globally imperiled habitat: National Wetlands Newsletter, v. 32, no. 6, p. 16-20.
- Graham, N. A. J., Spalding, M., and Sheppard, C., 2010, Reef shark declines in remote atolls highlight the need for multi-faceted conservation action: Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, v. DOI: 10.1002/aqc.1116.
- Hoekstra, J., Molnar, J., Jennings, M., Revenga, C., Spalding, M., Boucher, T., Robertson, J., Heibel, T. J., and Ellison, K., 2010, The Atlas of Global Conservation: changes, challenges and opportunities to make a difference, Berkeley, CA, University of California Press.
- Rodríguez, J. P., Rodríguez-Clark, K. M., Baillie, J. E. M., Ash, N., Benson, J., Boucher, T., Brown, C., Burgess, N., Collen, B., Jennings, M., Keith, D. A., Nicholson, E., Revenga, C., Reyers, B., Rouget, M., Smith, T., Spalding, M., Taber, A., Walpole, M., Zager, I., and Zamin, T., 2010, Establishing IUCN Red List Criteria for threatened ecosystems: Conservation Biology, p. DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01598.x.
- Mangi, S., Hooper, T., Rodwell, L., Simon, D., Snoxell, D., Spalding, M., and Williamson, P., 2010, Establishing a marine protected area in the Chagos Archipelago: socio-economic considerations. Report of workshop held 7 January 2010, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK: Royal Holloway, University of London.
- Spalding, M., Wood, L., Fitzgerald, C., and Gjerde, K., 2010, The 10% Target: Where Do We stand?, in Toropova, C., Meliane, I., Laffoley, D., Matthews, E., and Spalding, M., eds., Global Ocean Protection: Present Status and Future Possibilities: Gland, Switzerland, Arlington, USA, Cambridge, UK, Nairobi, Kenya, Tokyo, Japan, and Brest, France, IUCN, The Nature Conservancy, UNEP-WCMC, UNEP, UNU-IAS, Agence des aires marines protégées, France, p. 25-40.
- Spalding, M. D., Kainuma, M., and Collins, L., 2010, World Atlas of Mangroves, London, Earthscan, with International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, The Nature Conservancy, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organisation, United Nations University.
- Sutherland, W. J., Clout, M., Côté, I. M., Daszak, P., Depledge, M. H., Fellman, L., Fleishman, E., Garthwaite, R., Gibbons, D. W., De Lurio, J., Impey, A. J., Lickorish, F., Lindenmayer, D., Madgwick, J., Margerison, C., Maynard, T., Peck, L. S., Pretty, J., Prior, S., Redford, K. H., Scharlemann, J. P. W., Spalding, M., and Watkinson, A. R., 2010, A Horizon Scan of Global Conservation Issues for 2010: Trends in Ecology and Evolution, v. 25, no. 1, p. 1-7.
- Toropova, C., Meliane, I., Laffoley, D., Matthews, E., and Spalding, M., 2010, Global Ocean Protection: Present Status and Future Possibilities: Gland, Switzerland, Arlington, USA, Cambridge, UK, Nairobi, Kenya, Tokyo, Japan, and Brest, France, IUCN, The Nature Conservancy, UNEP-WCMC, UNEP, UNU-IAS, Agence des aires marines protégées, France, p. 96.
- Zu Ermgassen, P., and Spalding, M., 2010, Shellfish reefs United States oyster restoration case study - enhancing fisheries, in Nellemann, C., and Corcoran, E., eds., Dead Planet, Living Planet. Biodversity and ecosystem restoration for sustainable development: Arendal, Norway, United Nations Environment Programme, GRID-Arendal, p. 56-57.
- Graham, N. A. J., Wilson, S. K., Pratchett, M. S., Polunin, N. V. C. & Spalding, M. D. (2009) Coral mortality versus structural collapse as drivers of corallivorous butterflyfish decline. Biodiversity and Conservation, 18, 3325-3336.
- Hale, L. Z., Meliane, I., Davidson, S., Sandwith, T., Beck, M., Hoekstra, J., Spalding, M., Murawski, S., Cyr, N., Osgood, K., Hatziolos, M., Eijk, P. V., Davidson, N., Eichbaum, W., Dreus, C., Obura, D., Tamelander, J., Herr, D., McClennen, C. & Paul (2009) Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Marine and Coastal Ecosystems. Renewable Resources Journal, 25.
- Spalding, M., Agostini, V., Grant, S. & Rice, J. (2009) Pelagic systems. IN UNESCO (Ed.) Global Open Oceans and Deep Seabed (GOODS) – Biogeographic Classification. Paris, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC).
- Veron, J. E. N., Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Lenton, T. M., Lough, J. M., Obura, D. O., Pearce-Kelly, P., Sheppard, C. R. C., Spalding, M., Stafford-Smith, M. G. & Rogers, A. D. (2009) The coral reef crisis: The critical importance of <350ppm CO2. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 58, 1428-1437.
- Spalding M.D., Kainuma M. & Collins L. (forthcoming) World Mangrove Atlas. Earthscan, with International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organisation, United Nations University, London.
- Hoekstra J., Molnar J., Jennings M., Revenga C., Spalding M., Boucher T., Robertson J., Heibel T.J. & Ellison K. (forthcoming) The Atlas of Global Conservation: changes, challenges and opportunities to make a difference. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.
- Agostini V., Arico S., Briones E.E., Clark M., Cresswell I., Gjerde K., Niewijk D.J.A., Polacheck A., Raymond B., Rice J., Roff J., Scanlon K.M., Spalding M., Tong E., Vierros M. & Watling L. (2008) Global Open Oceans and Deep Seabed (GOODS) bioregional classification. CoP 9 Information Document 44. In: Ninth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, p. 79. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Bonn, Germany
- Chape S., Spalding M. & Jenkins M. (2008) The World's Protected Areas. Status, values, and prospects in the twenty-first century. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
- Graham N.A.J., McClanahan T.R., MacNeil M.A., Wilson S.K., Polunin N.V.C., Jennings S., Chabanet P., Clark S., Spalding M.D., Letourneur Y., Bigot L., Galzin R., Ohman M.C., Garpe K.C., Edwards A.J. & Sheppard C.R.C. (2008) Climate warming, marine protected areas and the ocean-scale integrity of coral reef ecosystems. PLoS ONE, 3, 9
- Halpern B.S., Walbridge S., Selkoe K.A., Kappel C.V., Micheli F., D'Agrosa C., Bruno J.F., Casey K.S., Ebert C., Fox H.E., Fujita R., Heinemann D., Lenihan H.S., Madin E.M.P., Perry M.T., Selig E.R., Spalding M., Steneck R. & Watson R. (2008) A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems. Science, 319, 948-952
- Molnar J.L., Gamboa R.L., Revenga C. & Spalding M.D. (2008) Assessing the global threat of invasive species to marine biodiversity. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 6, 485-492
- Spalding M., Fish L. & Wood L. (2008) Towards representative protection of the world’s coasts and oceans – progress, gaps and opportunities. Conservation Letters, 1, 217-226
- Spalding M.D. (2008) Detecting and monitoring coral bleaching events. In: Coral Bleaching: Patterns, Processes, Causes and Consequences (eds. van Oppen M & Lough JM), pp. 69-82. Springer Verlag
- Spalding M.D., Fox H.E., Allen G.R., Davidson N., Ferdaña Z.A., Finlayson M., Halpern B.S., Jorge M.A., Lombana A., Lourie S.A., Martin K.D., McManus E., Molnar J., Recchia C.A. & Robertson J. (2007) Marine Ecoregions of the World: a bioregionalization of coast and shelf areas. BioScience, 57, 573-583
- Spalding M., Fox H., Davidson N., Ferdana Z., Finlayson M., Halpern B., Jorge M., Lombana A., Lourie S., Martin K., McManus E., Molnar J., Newman K., Recchia C. & Robertson J. (2006a) Global Coastal and Marine Biogeographic Regionalization as a Support Tool for Implementation of CBD Programmes of Work. COP8 Information Document 34. In: Eighth Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity Information Documents, p. 21. Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal, Canada
- Spalding M., Kelleher G., Boucher T. & Fish L. (2006) How protected are coral reefs? Science, 314, 758
- Spalding M.D. (2006) Illegal sea cucumber fisheries in the Chagos Archipelago. SPC Beche-de-mer Information Bulletin, 23, 32-34
- Chape S., Harrison J., Spalding M. & Lysenko I. (2005) Measuring the extent and effectiveness of protected areas as an indicator for meeting global biodiversity targets. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B, 360, 443-455
- Spencer T. & Spalding M.D. (2005) Coral reefs of Southeast Asia: controls, patterns and human impacts. In: Physical Geography of Southeast Asia (ed. Gupta A), pp. 402-427. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK
- Spalding M. & Kramer P. (2004) The Caribbean. In: Defying Ocean's End: an agenda for action (eds. Glover LK & Earle SA), pp. 7-41. Island Press, Washington DC
- Spalding M.D. (2004a) A Guide to the Coral Reefs of the Caribbean. University of California Press, Berkeley, USA.
- Spalding M.D. (2004b) Mangroves. In: Encyclopedia of Forest Sciences (eds. Burley J, Evans J & Youngquist J), pp. 1704-1712. Academic Press, California
- Spalding M.D. (2004c) Partial recovery of sharks in the Chagos Archipelago. Shark News, newsletter of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, 15, 12-3
- Chape S., Blyth S., Fish L., Fox P. & Spalding M. (2003) 2003 United Nations List of Protected Areas. IUCN - World Conservation Union and UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge UK.
- Sheppard C.R.C. & Spalding M.D. (2003) Chagos Conservation Management Plan. p. 53. British Indian Ocean Territory Administration, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London
- Spalding M.D. (2003) Mangroves. In: Encyclopedia of World Environmental History (eds. Krech Iii S, McNeill JR & Merchant C). Routledge, New York
- Spalding M.D., Taylor M.L., Ravilious C., Short F.T. & Green E.P. (2003) Global overview: the distribution and status of seagrasses. In: World Atlas of Seagrasses (eds. Green EP & Short FT), pp. 5-26, 262-286. University of California Press, Berkeley, USA
- Burke L., Selig L. & Spalding M. (2002) Reefs at Risk in Southeast Asia. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC.
- Roberts C.M., McLean C.J., Allen G.R., Hawkins J.P., McAllister D.E., Mittermeier C., Schueler F., Spalding M., Veron J.E.N., Wells F., Vynne C. & Werner T. (2002) Marine biodiversity hotspots and conservation priorities for tropical reefs. Science, 295, 1280-4
- Sheppard C.R.C., Spalding M., Bradshaw C. & Wilson S. (2002) Erosion vs. recovery of coral reefs after El Niño: Chagos reefs, Indian Ocean. Ambio, 31, 40-8
- Spalding M. (2002) The World Heritage List - the best of all worlds? Parks, 12, 50-7
- Spalding M.D. (2002) Spatial variation in coral reef fish biodiversity at intermediate scales around oceanic islands. Proceedings of the Ninth International Coral Reef Symposium, Bali, 1, 81-7
- Spalding M.D. & Jarvis G.E. (2002) The impact of the 1998 coral mortality on reef fish communuities in the Seychelles. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 44, 309-21
- Burke L., Kura Y., Kassem K., Revenga C., Spalding M. & McAllister D. (2001) Pilot Analysis of Global Ecosystems: Coastal ecosystems. World Resources Institute, Washington, D.C.
- Green R., Harley M., Spalding M. & Zockler C. (2001) The Impacts of Climate Change on Wildlife. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Sandy, UK.
- Spalding M.D. (2001) Changes in marine and coastal areas. In: The Impacts of Climate Change on Wildlife (eds. Green R, Spalding MD, Z”ckler C & Harley M), pp. 32-33. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Sandy, UK
- Spalding M.D. (2001) Mangroves. In: Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences (eds. Steele JH, Turekian KK & Thorpe SA), pp. 1533-1542. Academic Press, California
- Spalding M.D. & Kemp J.M. (2001) Patterns of biodiversity in coral reefs at intermediate scales: implications for conservation. In:
- Spalding M.D., Ravilious C. & Green E.P. (2001) World Atlas of Coral Reefs. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
- Spalding M.D., Teleki K.A. & Spencer T. (2001) Climate change and coral bleaching. In: The Impacts of Climate Change on Wildlife (eds. Green R, Spalding MD, Zockler C & Harley M), pp. 40-41. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Sandy, UK
- Spalding M.D. (2000) Making large marine environmental datasets available in a useful format for decision-makers. In: Proceedings of the UNEP/AIMS meeting in Townsville Dec 1999 (ed. Done T)
- Spalding M.D. (2000) Overview of biogeographical, ecosystem, and other regional classification schemes for the marine biome. In: Ecoregional Approaches to Conservation in the Marine Biome. Report of a WWF workshop on marine ecoregion-based conservation (ERBC) (eds. Newman K & Jones T). Unpublished draft
- Spalding M.D. (2000) The state of coral reefs, and especially coral reef fisheries, in developing countries. In:
- Spalding M.D. (2000d The Status of Commercially Important Reef Fishes of the Chagos Archipelago: a report for the British Indian Ocean Territories Administration, Foreign and Commonwealth Office. 42p
- Spencer T., Teleki K.A., Bradshaw C. & Spalding M.D. (2000) Coral bleaching in the Southern Seychelles during the 1997-1998 Indian Ocean warm event. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 40, 569-86
- Spalding M.D. (1999) Biodiversity patterns in Chagos reef fishes. In: Ecology of the Chagos Archipelago (eds. Sheppard CRC & Seaward MRD), pp. 119-136. Published for the Linnean Society of London, by Westbury Publishing, London
- Spalding M.D. & Phillips P. (1999) Mangroves and Seagrasses of the Indian Ocean. CD-ROM identification guide
- Anderson R.C., Sheppard C.R.C., Spalding M.D. & Crosby R. (1998) Shortage of Sharks at Chagos. Shark News, newsletter of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, 10, 1-3
- Bryant D., Burke L., McManus J. & Spalding M. (1998) Reefs at Risk: a map-based indicator of threats to the world's coral reefs. World Resources Institute, International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management, World Conservation Monitoring Centre and United Nations Environment Programme, Washington, D.C.
- Spalding M.D. (1998) Biodiversity Patterns in Coral Reefs and Mangrove Forests: global and local scales. PhD Thesis. Department of Geography, University of Cambridge
- Eakin C.M., McManus J.W., Spalding M.D. & Jameson S.C. (1997) Coral reef status around the world: where are we and where do we go from here. Proceedings of the Eighth International Coral Reef Symposium, Panama, 1, 277-82
- Spalding M.D. (1997a) The global distribution and status of mangrove ecosystems. Intercoast Network, 1 (Spec. Ed.), 20-1
- Spalding M.D. (1997b) Mapping global coral reef distribution. Proceedings of the Eighth International Coral Reef Symposium, Panama, 2, 1555-60
- Spalding M.D. & Anderson R.C. (1997) Reef Fishes of Chagos. Friends of the Chagos, London.
- Spalding M.D., Blasco F. & Field C.D. (1997) World Mangrove Atlas. International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, Okinawa, Japan.
- Spalding M.D. & Grenfell A.M. (1997) New estimates of global and regional coral reef areas. Coral Reefs, 16, 225-30
- Baker J.M., Spalding M.D., Moore J. & Tortell P. (1996) Sensitivity Mapping for Oil Spill Response. International Maritime Organization and International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association, London, UK.
- Wells S.M., Spalding M.D. & Grenfell A.M. (1996) Coral Reefs and Mangroves of the World. Lovell Johns and Maps International Ltd.
- Baker J.M., Spalding M. & Moore J. (1995) Sensitivity mapping worldwide: harmonisation and the needs of different user groups. Proceedings of the 1995 International Oil Spill Conference (Acheiving and Maintaining Preparedness), 77-81
- Jameson S.C., McManus J.W. & Spalding M.D. (1995) State of the Reefs: Regional and Global Perspectives. US Department of Commerce, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, USA.
- Spalding M.D. (1995a) Global reef mapping. Coral Reefs, 14, 214
- Spalding M.D. (1995b) The World Conservation Monitoring Centre: handling global biodiversity data. In: Marine and Coastal Biodiversity in the Tropical Island Pacific Region. Volume 1: Species systematics and information management priorities (eds. Maragos JE, Peterson MNA, Eldredge LG, Bardach JE & Takeuchi HF), pp. 291-301. East-West Center, Honolulu, USA
