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Franklin PA, Bašić T, Davison PI, Dunkley K, Ellis J, Gangal M, González-Ferreras AM, Gutmann Roberts C, Hunt G, Joyce D, Klöcker CA, Mawer R, Rittweg T, Stoilova V, Gutowsky LFG. Aquatic connectivity: challenges and solutions in a changing climate. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38584261 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The challenge of managing aquatic connectivity in a changing climate is exacerbated in the presence of additional anthropogenic stressors, social factors, and economic drivers. Here we discuss these issues in the context of structural and functional connectivity for aquatic biodiversity, specifically fish, in both the freshwater and marine realms. We posit that adaptive management strategies that consider shifting baselines and the socio-ecological implications of climate change will be required to achieve management objectives. The role of renewable energy expansion, particularly hydropower, is critically examined for its impact on connectivity. We advocate for strategic spatial planning that incorporates nature-positive solutions, ensuring climate mitigation efforts are harmonized with biodiversity conservation. We underscore the urgency of integrating robust scientific modelling with stakeholder values to define clear, adaptive management objectives. Finally, we call for innovative monitoring and predictive decision-making tools to navigate the uncertainties inherent in a changing climate, with the goal of ensuring the resilience and sustainability of aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Franklin
- National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Tea Bašić
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, UK
| | - Phil I Davison
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, UK
| | - Katie Dunkley
- Christ's College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jonathan Ellis
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Mayuresh Gangal
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
- Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore, India
| | - Alexia M González-Ferreras
- IHCantabria - Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria. C/Isabel Torres 15, Santander, Spain
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
| | | | - Georgina Hunt
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Domino Joyce
- Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK
| | - C Antonia Klöcker
- Institute of Marine Research, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rachel Mawer
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Timo Rittweg
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Division of Integrative Fisheries Management, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden, Berlin, Germany
| | - Velizara Stoilova
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
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Simeoni C, Furlan E, Pham HV, Critto A, de Juan S, Trégarot E, Cornet CC, Meesters E, Fonseca C, Botelho AZ, Krause T, N'Guetta A, Cordova FE, Failler P, Marcomini A. Evaluating the combined effect of climate and anthropogenic stressors on marine coastal ecosystems: Insights from a systematic review of cumulative impact assessment approaches. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 861:160687. [PMID: 36473660 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160687] [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: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cumulative impacts increasingly threaten marine and coastal ecosystems. To address this issue, the research community has invested efforts on designing and testing different methodological approaches and tools that apply cumulative impact appraisal schemes for a sound evaluation of the complex interactions and dynamics among multiple pressures affecting marine and coastal ecosystems. Through an iterative scientometric and systematic literature review, this paper provides the state of the art of cumulative impact assessment approaches and applications. It gives a specific attention to cutting-edge approaches that explore and model inter-relations among climatic and anthropogenic pressures, vulnerability and resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems to these pressures, and the resulting changes in ecosystem services flow. Despite recent advances in computer sciences and the rising availability of big data for environmental monitoring and management, this literature review evidenced that the implementation of advanced complex system methods for cumulative risk assessment remains limited. Moreover, experts have only recently started integrating ecosystem services flow into cumulative impact appraisal frameworks, but more as a general assessment endpoint within the overall evaluation process (e.g. changes in the bundle of ecosystem services against cumulative impacts). The review also highlights a lack of integrated approaches and complex tools able to frame, explain, and model spatio-temporal dynamics of marine and coastal ecosystems' response to multiple pressures, as required under relevant EU legislation (e.g., Water Framework and Marine Strategy Framework Directives). Progress in understanding cumulative impacts, exploiting the functionalities of more sophisticated machine learning-based approaches (e.g., big data integration), will support decision-makers in the achievement of environmental and sustainability objectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Simeoni
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari Venice, I-30170 Venice, Italy; Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici and Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, CMCC@Ca'Foscari - Edificio Porta dell'Innovazione, 2nd floor - Via della Libertà, 12 - 30175 Venice, Italy
| | - Elisa Furlan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari Venice, I-30170 Venice, Italy; Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici and Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, CMCC@Ca'Foscari - Edificio Porta dell'Innovazione, 2nd floor - Via della Libertà, 12 - 30175 Venice, Italy
| | - Hung Vuong Pham
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari Venice, I-30170 Venice, Italy; Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici and Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, CMCC@Ca'Foscari - Edificio Porta dell'Innovazione, 2nd floor - Via della Libertà, 12 - 30175 Venice, Italy
| | - Andrea Critto
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari Venice, I-30170 Venice, Italy; Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici and Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, CMCC@Ca'Foscari - Edificio Porta dell'Innovazione, 2nd floor - Via della Libertà, 12 - 30175 Venice, Italy.
| | - Silvia de Juan
- Instituto Mediterraneo de Estudios Avanzados, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Miquel Marques 21, Esporles, Islas Baleares, Spain
| | - Ewan Trégarot
- Centre for Blue Governance, Portsmouth Business School, University of Portsmouth, Richmond Building, Portland Street, Portsmouth PO1 3DE, UK
| | - Cindy C Cornet
- Centre for Blue Governance, Portsmouth Business School, University of Portsmouth, Richmond Building, Portland Street, Portsmouth PO1 3DE, UK
| | - Erik Meesters
- Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University and Research, 1781, AG, Den Helder, the Netherlands; Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University and Research, 6700, AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Catarina Fonseca
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of the Azores, Rua da Mãe de Deus, 9500-321, Ponta Delgada, Portugal; CICS.NOVA - Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FCSH/NOVA), Avenida de Berna 26-C, Lisboa 1069-061, Portugal
| | - Andrea Zita Botelho
- Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal; CIBIO (CIBIO - Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBio Associate Laboratory, Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - Torsten Krause
- Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies, P.O. Box 170, 221-00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Alicia N'Guetta
- Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies, P.O. Box 170, 221-00 Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Pierre Failler
- Centre for Blue Governance, Portsmouth Business School, University of Portsmouth, Richmond Building, Portland Street, Portsmouth PO1 3DE, UK
| | - Antonio Marcomini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari Venice, I-30170 Venice, Italy; Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici and Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, CMCC@Ca'Foscari - Edificio Porta dell'Innovazione, 2nd floor - Via della Libertà, 12 - 30175 Venice, Italy
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Pugnetti A, Manea E, Vilibić I, Sarretta A, Capotondi L, Cataletto B, De Maio E, Franzosini C, Golec I, Gottardi M, Kurtović Mrčelić J, Mihanovic H, Oggioni A, Pleslic G, Ravaioli M, Rova S, Valentini A, Bergami C. The Ecological Observing System of the Adriatic Sea (ECOAdS): structure and perspectives within the main European biodiversity and environmental strategies. RESEARCH IDEAS AND OUTCOMES 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/rio.8.e82597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This Policy Brief succinctly presents the Ecological Observing System of the Adriatic Sea (ECOAdS), aimed at integrating the ecological and oceanographic dimensions within the conservation strategy of the Natura 2000 network, and to propose a way to go for its future development and maintenance. After a definition of marine ecological observatories, we describe the current structure of ECOAdS, its key components and potential relevance in relation to the main European strategies for biodiversity and marine observation for the next decade. Finally, we suggest some actions that could be undertaken for the future development of ECOAdS, targeting possible perspectives in different regional, macro-regional, national and European strategic contexts. This Policy Brief is one of the outcomes of the Interreg Italy-Croatia Project ECOSS (ECological Observing System in the Adriatic Sea: oceanographic observations for biodiversity; https://www.italy-croatia.eu/web/ecoss), which had the main purpose to design and carry out the first steps for the establishment of ECOAdS.
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Evaluating eDNA for Use within Marine Environmental Impact Assessments. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse10030375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
In this review, the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) within Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is evaluated. EIA documents provide information required by regulators to evaluate the potential impact of a development project. Currently eDNA is being incorporated into biodiversity assessments as a complementary method for detecting rare, endangered or invasive species. However, questions have been raised regarding the maturity of the field and the suitability of eDNA information as evidence for EIA. Several key issues are identified for eDNA information within a generic EIA framework for marine environments. First, it is challenging to define the sampling unit and optimal sampling strategy for eDNA with respect to the project area and potential impact receptor. Second, eDNA assay validation protocols are preliminary at this time. Third, there are statistical issues around the probability of obtaining both false positives (identification of taxa that are not present) and false negatives (non-detection of taxa that are present) in results. At a minimum, an EIA must quantify the uncertainty in presence/absence estimates by combining series of Bernoulli trials with ad hoc occupancy models. Finally, the fate and transport of DNA fragments is largely unknown in environmental systems. Shedding dynamics, biogeochemical and physical processes that influence DNA fragments must be better understood to be able to link an eDNA signal with the receptor’s state. The biggest challenge is that eDNA is a proxy for the receptor and not a direct measure of presence. Nonetheless, as more actors enter the field, technological solutions are likely to emerge for these issues. Environmental DNA already shows great promise for baseline descriptions of the presence of species surrounding a project and can aid in the identification of potential receptors for EIA monitoring using other methods.
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