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Floyd M, East HK, Traganos D, Musthag A, Guest J, Hashim AS, Evans V, Helber S, Unsworth RKF, Suggitt AJ. Rapid seagrass meadow expansion in an Indian Ocean bright spot. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10879. [PMID: 38740840 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61088-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The areal extent of seagrass meadows is in rapid global decline, yet they provide highly valuable societal benefits. However, their conservation is hindered by data gaps on current and historic spatial extents. Here, we outline an approach for national-scale seagrass mapping and monitoring using an open-source platform (Google Earth Engine) and freely available satellite data (Landsat, Sentinel-2) that can be readily applied in other countries globally. Specifically, we map contemporary (2021) and historical (2000-2021; n = 10 maps) shallow water seagrass extent across the Maldives. We found contemporary Maldivian seagrass extent was ~ 105 km2 (overall accuracy = 82.04%) and, notably, that seagrass area increased threefold between 2000 and 2021 (linear model, + 4.6 km2 year-1, r2 = 0.93, p < 0.001). There was a strongly significant association between seagrass and anthropogenic activity (p < 0.001) that we hypothesize to be driven by nutrient loading and/or altered sediment dynamics (from large scale land reclamation), which would represent a beneficial anthropogenic influence on Maldivian seagrass meadows. National-scale tropical seagrass expansion is unique against the backdrop of global seagrass decline and we therefore highlight the Maldives as a rare global seagrass 'bright spot' highly worthy of increased attention across scientific, commercial, and conservation policy contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Floyd
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK.
| | - Holly K East
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Dimosthenis Traganos
- German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Remote Sensing Technology Institute, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Azim Musthag
- Small Island Research Group, Faresmaathoda, 10780, Maldives
| | - James Guest
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Aminath S Hashim
- Blue Marine Foundation, M. Beach Side, Handhuvaree Hingun, Malé, 20285, Maldives
| | - Vivienne Evans
- Blue Marine Foundation, Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA, UK
| | - Stephanie Helber
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Richard K F Unsworth
- Seagrass Ecosystem Research Group, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
| | - Andrew J Suggitt
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
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van Woesik R, Kratochwill C. A global database on coral recovery following marine heatwaves. Sci Data 2024; 11:367. [PMID: 38605060 PMCID: PMC11009248 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03221-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs support the world's most diverse marine ecosystem and provide invaluable goods and services for millions of people worldwide. They are however experiencing frequent and intensive marine heatwaves that are causing coral bleaching and mortality. Coarse-grained climate models predict that few coral reefs will survive the 3 °C sea-surface temperature rise in the coming century. Yet, field studies show localized pockets of coral survival and recovery even under high-temperature conditions. Quantifying recovery from marine heatwaves is central to making accurate predictions of coral-reef trajectories into the near future. Here we introduce the world's most comprehensive database on coral recovery following marine heatwaves and other disturbances, called Heatwaves and Coral-Recovery Database (HeatCRD) encompassing 29,205 data records spanning 44 years from 12,266 sites, 83 countries, and 160 data sources. These data provide essential information to coral-reef scientists and managers to best guide coral-reef conservation efforts at both local and regional scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert van Woesik
- Institute for Global Ecology, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida, 32901, United States of America.
| | - Chelsey Kratochwill
- Institute for Global Ecology, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida, 32901, United States of America
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Chan YKS, Affendi YA, Ang PO, Baria-Rodriguez MV, Chen CA, Chui APY, Giyanto, Glue M, Huang H, Kuo CY, Kim SW, Lam VYY, Lane DJW, Lian JS, Lin SMNN, Lunn Z, Nañola CL, Nguyen VL, Park HS, Suharsono, Sutthacheep M, Vo ST, Vibol O, Waheed Z, Yamano H, Yeemin T, Yong E, Kimura T, Tun K, Chou LM, Huang D. Decadal stability in coral cover could mask hidden changes on reefs in the East Asian Seas. Commun Biol 2023; 6:630. [PMID: 37301948 PMCID: PMC10257672 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05000-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs in the Central Indo-Pacific region comprise some of the most diverse and yet threatened marine habitats. While reef monitoring has grown throughout the region in recent years, studies of coral reef benthic cover remain limited in spatial and temporal scales. Here, we analysed 24,365 reef surveys performed over 37 years at 1972 sites throughout East Asia by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network using Bayesian approaches. Our results show that overall coral cover at surveyed reefs has not declined as suggested in previous studies and compared to reef regions like the Caribbean. Concurrently, macroalgal cover has not increased, with no indications of phase shifts from coral to macroalgal dominance on reefs. Yet, models incorporating socio-economic and environmental variables reveal negative associations of coral cover with coastal urbanisation and sea surface temperature. The diversity of reef assemblages may have mitigated cover declines thus far, but climate change could threaten reef resilience. We recommend prioritisation of regionally coordinated, locally collaborative long-term studies for better contextualisation of monitoring data and analyses, which are essential for achieving reef conservation goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y K S Chan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Y A Affendi
- Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - P O Ang
- Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - M V Baria-Rodriguez
- Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon, Philippines
| | - C A Chen
- Biodiversity Research Centre, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - A P Y Chui
- Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Giyanto
- Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - M Glue
- Fauna & Flora International, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - H Huang
- South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - C-Y Kuo
- Biodiversity Research Centre, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - S W Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - V Y Y Lam
- Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Washington D.C., USA
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - D J W Lane
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
| | - J S Lian
- South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - S M N N Lin
- Fauna & Flora International, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Z Lunn
- Fauna & Flora International, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - C L Nañola
- University of the Philippines Mindanao, Davao, Philippines
| | - V L Nguyen
- Institute of Oceanography, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Nha Trang, Vietnam
| | - H S Park
- Korean Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Suharsono
- Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - M Sutthacheep
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - S T Vo
- Institute of Oceanography, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Nha Trang, Vietnam
| | - O Vibol
- Department of Fisheries Conservation, Ministry of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Z Waheed
- Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - H Yamano
- National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukaba, Japan
| | - T Yeemin
- Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - E Yong
- Reef Check Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
| | - T Kimura
- Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network East Asia Region, Tokyo, Japan
- Palau International Coral Reef Center, Koror, Palau
| | - K Tun
- Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network East Asia Region, Tokyo, Japan
- National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board, Singapore, Singapore
| | - L M Chou
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - D Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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