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Massei K, Souza MCS, Silva RMD, Costa DDA, Vianna PCG, Crispim MC, Miranda GECD, Eggertsen L, Eloy CC, Santos CAG. Analysis of marine diversity and anthropogenic pressures on Seixas coral reef ecosystem (northeastern Brazil). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:166984. [PMID: 37704134 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs, vital and ecologically significant ecosystems, are among the most jeopardized marine environments in the Atlantic Ocean, particularly along the northeastern coast of Brazil. The persistent lack of effective management and conservation has led to fragmented information on reef use and pressures, hindering the understanding of these ecosystems' health. Major difficulties and challenges include inadequate data, diverse anthropogenic pressures, and the complex interaction between marine species. This study sought to bridge this knowledge gap by conducting a comprehensive analysis of marine diversity and anthropogenic pressures, specifically focusing on Seixas coral reef near João Pessoa city, an area notably impacted by tourism. Utilizing 25 monitoring transects, subdivided into 1 m2 quadrants, the marine diversity was meticulously evaluated through innovative procedures including (a) sedimentological and geochemical field surveys, (b) application of Shannon-Weaver diversity and Simpson dominance indices, (c) cluster analysis, (d) species identification of macroalgae, coral, and fish, and (e) an examination of anthropogenic interactions and pressures on the coral reef. The assessment encompassed three distinct zones: Back Reef, Reef Top, and Fore Reef, and identified a total of 25 species across 15 genera and 10 fish families. The findings revealed the prevalence of brown macroalgae, fish, and coral, with heightened abundance of red macroalgae in the Fore Reef, which also exhibited the greatest diversity (2.816) and dominance (0.894). Original achievements include the identification of specific spatial variations, recognition of the anthropogenic factors leading to ecological changes, and the formulation of evidence-based recommendations. The study concludes that escalating urbanization and burgeoning daily tourist visits to the reef have exacerbated negative impacts on Seixas coral reef's marine ecosystem. These insights underscore the urgent need for strategic planning and resource management to safeguard the reef's biodiversity and ecological integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Massei
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Environmental Monitoring (PPGEMA), Federal University of Paraíba, 58297-000 Rio Tinto, Paraíba, Brazil.
| | - Maria Cecilia Silva Souza
- Graduate Program in Geography, Federal University of Paraíba, 58051-900 João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
| | | | - Dimítri de Araújo Costa
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; Environmental Smoke Institute (ES-Inst), 58055-060 João Pessoa, Brazil.
| | - Pedro Costa Guedes Vianna
- Graduate Program in Geography, Federal University of Paraíba, 58051-900 João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Crispim
- Development and Environmental Program (PRODEMA), Federal University of Paraíba, 58051-900 João Pessoa, Brazil
| | | | - Linda Eggertsen
- Graduate Program in Ecology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christinne Costa Eloy
- Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Paraíba, Cabedelo, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Celso Augusto Guimarães Santos
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Paraíba, 58051-900 João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
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