Marine systems vary in their sensitivities to perturbation. Perturbation may be insidious – such as increasing eutrophication of coastal areas – or it may be dramatic – such as a response to an oil spillage or some other accident. Climate change may occur incrementally or it may be abrupt, and ecosystem resilience is likely to be a complex function of the interactions of those assemblages or species mediating key biogeochemical processes.

Biogeochemistry of Marine Systems considers issues of marine system resilience, focusing on a range of marine systems that exemplify major global province types but are also interesting and topical in their own right, on account of their sensitivity to natural or anthropogenic change or their importance as ecological service providers. Authors concentrate on advances of the last decade.