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Wang M, Song X, Wen Y, Zhong M, Zhang W, Luo C, Zhang Q. The wavelength dependence of oxygen-evolving complex inactivation in Zosteramarina. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 212:108739. [PMID: 38772168 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108739] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Zostera marina, a critical keystone marine angiosperm species in coastal seagrass meadows, possesses a photosensitive oxygen evolving complex (OEC). In harsh environments, the photoinactivation of the Z. marina OEC may lead to population declines. However, the factors underlying this photosensitivity remain unclear. Therefore, this study was undertaken to elucidate the elements contributing to Z. marina OEC photosensitivity. Our results demonstrated a gradual decrease in photosystem II performance towards shorter wavelengths, especially blue light and ultraviolet radiation. This phenomenon was characterized by a reduction in Fv/Fm and the rate of O2 evolution, as well as increased fluorescence at 0.3 ms on the OJIP curve. Furthermore, exposure to shorter light wavelengths and longer exposure durations significantly reduced the relative abundance of the OEC peripheral proteins, indicating OEC inactivation. Analyses of light-screening substances revealed that carotenoids, which increased most notably under 420 nm light, might primarily serve as thermal dissipators instead of efficient light filters. In contrast, anthocyanins reacted least to short-wavelength light, in terms of changes to both their content and the expression of genes related to their biosynthesis. Additionally, the levels of aromatically acylated anthocyanins remained consistent across blue-, white-, and red-light treatments. These findings suggest that OEC photoinactivation in Z. marina may be linked to inadequate protection against short-wavelength light, a consequence of insufficient synthesis and aromatic acylation modification of anthocyanins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxin Wang
- Ocean School, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - XiuKai Song
- Shandong Marine Resource and Environment Research Institute, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Restoration for Marine Ecology, Yantai, 264006, PR China
| | - Yun Wen
- Ocean School, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Mingyu Zhong
- Ocean School, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Wenhao Zhang
- Ocean School, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Chengying Luo
- Ocean School, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
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2
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Manca F, Benedetti-Cecchi L, Bradshaw CJA, Cabeza M, Gustafsson C, Norkko AM, Roslin TV, Thomas DN, White L, Strona G. Projected loss of brown macroalgae and seagrasses with global environmental change. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5344. [PMID: 38914573 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48273-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Although many studies predict extensive future biodiversity loss and redistribution in the terrestrial realm, future changes in marine biodiversity remain relatively unexplored. In this work, we model global shifts in one of the most important marine functional groups-ecosystem-structuring macrophytes-and predict substantial end-of-century change. By modelling the future distribution of 207 brown macroalgae and seagrass species at high temporal and spatial resolution under different climate-change projections, we estimate that by 2100, local macrophyte diversity will decline by 3-4% on average, with 17 to 22% of localities losing at least 10% of their macrophyte species. The current range of macrophytes will be eroded by 5-6%, and highly suitable macrophyte habitat will be substantially reduced globally (78-96%). Global macrophyte habitat will shift among marine regions, with a high potential for expansion in polar regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Manca
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, Viikinkaari 1, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
| | | | - Corey J A Bradshaw
- Global Ecology | Partuyarta Ngadluku Wardli Kuu, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (EpicAustralia.org.au), Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Mar Cabeza
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, Viikinkaari 1, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Camilla Gustafsson
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, J.A. Palménin tie 260, 10900, Hanko, Finland
| | - Alf M Norkko
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, J.A. Palménin tie 260, 10900, Hanko, Finland
| | - Tomas V Roslin
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Ulls väg 16, 756 51, Uppsala, Sweden
- Spatial Foodweb Ecology Group, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, Latokartanonkaari 5, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - David N Thomas
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, Viikinkaari 1, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lydia White
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, J.A. Palménin tie 260, 10900, Hanko, Finland
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3
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Seal S, Bayyana S, Pande A, Ghanekar C, Hatkar PS, Pathan S, Patel S, Rajpurkar S, Prajapati S, Gole S, Iyer S, Nair A, Prabakaran N, Sivakumar K, Johnson JA. Spatial prioritization of dugong habitats in India can contribute towards achieving the 30 × 30 global biodiversity target. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13984. [PMID: 38886526 PMCID: PMC11183059 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64760-8] [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: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Indian coastal waters are critical for dugong populations in the western Indian Ocean. Systematic spatial planning of dugong habitats can help to achieve biodiversity conservation and area-based protection targets in the region. In this study, we employed environmental niche modelling to predict suitable dugong habitats and identify influencing factors along its entire distribution range in Indian waters. We examined data on fishing pressures collected through systematic interview surveys, citizen-science data, and field surveys to demarcate dugong habitats with varying risks. Seagrass presence was the primary factor in determining dugong habitat suitability across the study sites. Other variables such as depth, bathymetric slope, and Euclidean distance from the shore were significant factors, particularly in predicting seasonal suitability. Predicted suitable habitats showed a remarkable shift from pre-monsoon in Palk Bay to post-monsoon in the Gulf of Mannar, indicating the potential of seasonal dugong movement. The entire coastline along the Palk Bay-Gulf of Mannar region was observed to be at high to moderate risk, including the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, a high-risk area. The Andaman Islands exhibited high suitability during pre- and post-monsoon season, whereas the Nicobar Islands were highly suitable for monsoon season. Risk assessment of modelled suitable areas revealed that < 15% of high-risk areas across Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu, fall within the existing protected areas. A few offshore reef islands are identified under high-risk zones in the Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat. We highlight the utility of citizen science and secondary data in performing large-scale spatial ecological analysis. Overall, identifying synoptic scale 'Critical Dugong Habitats' has positive implications for the country's progress towards achieving the global 30 × 30 target through systematic conservation planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohom Seal
- Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 001, India
| | - Sharad Bayyana
- Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 001, India
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Environment, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Anant Pande
- Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 001, India
- Marine Program, Wildlife Conservation Society - India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560 097, India
| | - Chinmaya Ghanekar
- Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 001, India
| | - Prachi Sachchidanand Hatkar
- Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 001, India
| | - Sameeha Pathan
- Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 001, India
| | - Shivani Patel
- Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 001, India
| | - Sagar Rajpurkar
- Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 001, India
| | - Sumit Prajapati
- Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 001, India
| | - Swapnali Gole
- Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 001, India
| | - Sweta Iyer
- Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 001, India
| | - Aditi Nair
- Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 001, India
| | - Nehru Prabakaran
- Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 001, India
| | - Kuppusamy Sivakumar
- Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 001, India
- Department of Ecology and Environment, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
| | - Jeyaraj Antony Johnson
- Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248 001, India.
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4
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Leong RC, Bugnot AB, Ross PM, Erickson KR, Gibbs MC, Marzinelli EM, O'Connor WA, Parker LM, Poore AGB, Scanes E, Gribben PE. Recruitment of a threatened foundation oyster species varies with large and small spatial scales. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024; 34:e2968. [PMID: 38562000 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Understanding how habitat attributes (e.g., patch area and sizes, connectivity) control recruitment and how this is modified by processes operating at larger spatial scales is fundamental to understanding population sustainability and developing successful long-term restoration strategies for marine foundation species-including for globally threatened reef-forming oysters. In two experiments, we assessed the recruitment and energy reserves of oyster recruits onto remnant reefs of the oyster Saccostrea glomerata in estuaries spanning 550 km of coastline in southeastern Australia. In the first experiment, we determined whether recruitment of oysters to settlement plates in three estuaries was correlated with reef attributes within patches (distances to patch edges and surface elevation), whole-patch attributes (shape and size of patches), and landscape attributes (connectivity). We also determined whether environmental factors (e.g., sedimentation and water temperature) explained the differences among recruitment plates. We also tested whether differences in energy reserves of recruits could explain the differences between two of the estuaries (one high- and one low-sedimentation estuary). In the second experiment, across six estuaries (three with nominally high and three with nominally low sedimentation rates), we tested the hypothesis that, at the estuary scale, recruitment and survival were negatively correlated to sedimentation. Overall, total oyster recruitment varied mostly at the scale of estuaries rather than with reef attributes and was negatively correlated with sedimentation. Percentage recruit survival was, however, similar among estuaries, although energy reserves and condition of recruits were lower at a high- compared to a low-sediment estuary. Within each estuary, total oyster recruitment increased with patch area and decreased with increasing tidal height. Our results showed that differences among estuaries have the largest influence on oyster recruitment and recruit health and this may be explained by environmental processes operating at the same scale. While survival was high across all estuaries, growth and reproduction of oysters on remnant reefs may be affected by sublethal effects on the health of recruits in high-sediment estuaries. Thus, restoration programs should consider lethal and sublethal effects of whole-estuary environmental processes when selecting sites and include environmental mitigation actions to maximize recruitment success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rick C Leong
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, University of New South Wales Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ana B Bugnot
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
- CSIRO Environment, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Pauline M Ross
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Katherine R Erickson
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, University of New South Wales Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mitchell C Gibbs
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ezequiel M Marzinelli
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wayne A O'Connor
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Anna Bay, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Laura M Parker
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, University of New South Wales Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alistair G B Poore
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, University of New South Wales Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Elliot Scanes
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul E Gribben
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, University of New South Wales Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
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5
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Ren Y, Liu S, Luo H, Jiang Z, Liang J, Wu Y, Huang X, Macreadie PI. Seagrass decline weakens sediment organic carbon stability. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 937:173523. [PMID: 38797423 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Seagrass meadows are globally recognized as critical natural carbon sinks, commonly known as 'blue carbon'. However, seagrass decline attributed to escalating human activities and climate change, significantly influences their carbon sequestration capacity. A key aspect in comprehending the impact of seagrass decline on carbon sequestration is understanding how degradation affects the stored blue carbon, primarily consisting of sediment organic carbon (SOC). While it is widely acknowledged that seagrass decline affects the input of organic carbon, little is known about its impact on SOC pool stability. To address this knowledge, we examined variations in total SOC and recalcitrant SOC (RSOC) at a depth of 15 cm in nine seagrass meadows located on the coast of Southern China. Our findings revealed that the ratio of RSOC to SOC (RSOC/SOC) ranged from 27 % to 91 % in the seagrass meadows, and the RSOC/SOC increased slightly with depth. Comparing different seagrass species, we observed that SOC and RSOC stocks were 1.94 and 3.19-fold higher under Halophila beccarii and Halophila ovalis meadows compared to Thalassia hemprichii and Enhalus acoroides meadows. Redundancy and correlation analyses indicated that SOC and RSOC content and stock, as well as the RSOC/SOC ratio, decreased with declining seagrass shoot density, biomass, and coverage. This implies that the loss of seagrass, caused by human activities and climate change, results in a reduction in carbon sequestration stability. Further, the RSOC decreased by 15 %, 29 %, and 40 % under unvegetated areas compared to adjacent Halophila spp., T. hemprichii and E. acoroides meadows, respectively. Given the anticipated acceleration of seagrass decline due to climate change and increasing coastal development, our study provides timely information for developing coastal carbon protection strategies. These strategies should focus on preserving seagrass and restoring damaged seagrass meadows, to maximize their carbon sequestration capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzheng Ren
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Songlin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China.
| | - Hongxue Luo
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Zhijian Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Jiening Liang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Yunchao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Xiaoping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China.
| | - Peter I Macreadie
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia; Biosciences and Food Technology Discipline, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
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6
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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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7
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Jiménez-Ramos R, Egea LG, Pérez-Estrada CJ, Balart EF, Vergara JJ, Brun FG. Patch age alters seagrass response mechanisms to herbivory damage. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 197:106443. [PMID: 38507985 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106443] [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: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Natural disturbances can produce a mosaic of seagrass patches of different ages, which may affect the response to herbivory. These pressures can have consequences for plant performance. To assess how seagrass patch age affects the response to herbivory, we simulated the effect of herbivory by clipping leaves of Halodule wrightii in patches of 2, 4 and 6 years. All clipped plants showed ability to compensate herbivory by increasing leaf growth rate (on average 4.5-fold). The oldest patches showed resistance response by increasing phenolic compounds (1.2-fold). Contrastingly, the concentration of phenolics decreased in the youngest patches (0.26-fold), although they had a similar leaf carbon content to controls. These results suggest that younger plants facing herbivory pressure reallocate their phenolic compounds towards primary metabolism. Results confirm the H. wrightii tolerance to herbivory damage and provides evidence of age-dependent compensatory responses, which may have consequences for seagrass colonization and growth in perturbed habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Jiménez-Ramos
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Marine Research INMAR, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea (CEIMAR), 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
| | - Luis G Egea
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Marine Research INMAR, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea (CEIMAR), 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Claudia J Pérez-Estrada
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Marine Research INMAR, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea (CEIMAR), 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain; Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Del Noroeste, S.C., Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, 23096, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico
| | - Eduardo F Balart
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Del Noroeste, S.C., Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, 23096, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico
| | - Juan J Vergara
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Marine Research INMAR, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea (CEIMAR), 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Fernando G Brun
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Marine Research INMAR, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea (CEIMAR), 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
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8
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Unsworth RKF, Jones BLH. Map and protect seagrass for biodiversity. Science 2024; 384:394. [PMID: 38662848 DOI: 10.1126/science.adp0937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- R K F Unsworth
- Seagrass Ecosystem Research Group, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
- Project Seagrass, Bridgend CF31 2AQ, UK
| | - B L H Jones
- Project Seagrass, Bridgend CF31 2AQ, UK
- Department of Earth and Environment, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, FL, Miami 33199, USA
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9
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Ndhlovu A, Adams JB, von der Heyden S. Large-scale environmental signals in seagrass blue carbon stocks are hidden by high variability at local scales. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 921:170917. [PMID: 38367728 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170917] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Increasing focus on nature-based climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies has led to the recognition of seagrasses as globally significant organic carbon (Corg) stocks. However, estimates of carbon stocks have been generally confined to a few regions, with few African studies represented in global datasets. In addition, the extent to which biogeographical and environmental variation shape carbon stocks in marine vegetated environments remains uncertain. For South Africa, Zostera capensis is the dominant seagrass species with limited mapping and quantification of its Corg stocks. Here, we measured Z. capensis Corg stocks at six South African estuaries spanning ∼1800 km of the cool-temperate to subtropical marine environmental gradient. Targeting the intertidal zone of the upper and lower estuary reaches, we collected Z. capensis sediments to a depth of 50 cm and measured the Corg, with the median Corg stock estimated at 24.11 Mg C ha-1 (40.4 ± 53.02; mean ± SD). While this is lower than the global average, these data demonstrate that Z. capensis ecosystems are important contributors to blue carbon stocks in the region. Measured Corg stocks showed significant differences between sampling sites for estuaries; however, we did not detect significant differences between estuaries due to high intra-estuarine Corg variability. Examination of biogeographical regions, terrestrial and marine environmental variables as drivers of Corg variability revealed that annual mean sea surface temperature may explain variation in Corg stocks. Furthermore, we found evidence of signals of biogeographical regions and precipitation driving some of the variability in Corg stocks; however, this requires further investigation. Overall, our estimates for Z. capensis add to ongoing national and global efforts to quantify seagrass Corg stocks across environmental and biogeographic gradients to better determine their contributions as nature-based solutions to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Ndhlovu
- School for Climate Studies, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Provate Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa.
| | - Janine Barbara Adams
- DSI-NRF Research Chair in Shallow Water Ecosystems, Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa; Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
| | - Sophie von der Heyden
- School for Climate Studies, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Provate Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
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10
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Astudillo-Gutierrez C, Gracia V, Cáceres I, Sierra JP, Sánchez-Arcilla A. Influence of seagrass meadow length on beach morphodynamics: An experimental study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 921:170888. [PMID: 38402968 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
A novel flume experiment was conducted to compare the sheltering effect of surrogate seagrass meadows of two different lengths against a bare beach (benchmark). The analyses focused on assessing the impact of meadow cross-shore extent on wave height attenuation, behaviour of wave orbital velocity components, sediment transport, and shoreline erosion. Throughout the tests conducted in the large-scale CIEM wave flume at LIM/UPC Barcelona, meadow density and submergence ratio remained constant, while irregular waves were run over an initial 1:15 sand beach profile. In both meadow layouts, a persistent decrease in wave height from the offshore area in front of the meadow to the breaking zone was found. This reduction was directly correlated with the length of the seagrass meadow. As a result of the reduction in wave energy, less erosion occurred at the shoreline in accordance with the decrease in wave height. The mean velocities exhibited changes in the velocity profile from the meadow area to the immediate zone behind the meadow, a phenomenon not observed in more onshoreward positions. Orbital velocities displayed a reduction exclusively for the long meadow case. This decrease was persistent up to the breaking zone. As a consequence of these changes, the long meadow layout led to a decrease in the volume of sediment transport and a breaker bar closer to the shoreline. The short meadow layout resulted in a higher volume of sediment transport compared to the long meadow layout, although still less than the benchmark layout. Furthermore, in the short meadow layout, the final bar was situated in a location similar to that observed in the benchmark layout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Astudillo-Gutierrez
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria Marítima, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Jordi Girona 1-3, Mòdul D1, Barcelona 08034, Spain; Centre Internacional d'Investigació dels Recursos Costaners (CIIRC), Jordi Girona 1-3, Mòdul D1, Barcelona 08034, Spain.
| | - Vicente Gracia
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria Marítima, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Jordi Girona 1-3, Mòdul D1, Barcelona 08034, Spain; Centre Internacional d'Investigació dels Recursos Costaners (CIIRC), Jordi Girona 1-3, Mòdul D1, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - Iván Cáceres
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria Marítima, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Jordi Girona 1-3, Mòdul D1, Barcelona 08034, Spain; Centre Internacional d'Investigació dels Recursos Costaners (CIIRC), Jordi Girona 1-3, Mòdul D1, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - Joan Pau Sierra
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria Marítima, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Jordi Girona 1-3, Mòdul D1, Barcelona 08034, Spain; Centre Internacional d'Investigació dels Recursos Costaners (CIIRC), Jordi Girona 1-3, Mòdul D1, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria Marítima, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Jordi Girona 1-3, Mòdul D1, Barcelona 08034, Spain; Centre Internacional d'Investigació dels Recursos Costaners (CIIRC), Jordi Girona 1-3, Mòdul D1, Barcelona 08034, Spain
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11
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Román S, Olabarria C, Román M, Vázquez E. Recovery of fishery-stressed seagrass meadows is driven by improvements in wastewater management. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 201:116282. [PMID: 38522336 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Salvador Román
- CIM - Centro de Investigación Mariña and Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, Facultade de Ciencias do Mar, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain.
| | - Celia Olabarria
- CIM - Centro de Investigación Mariña and Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, Facultade de Ciencias do Mar, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - Marta Román
- CIM - Centro de Investigación Mariña and Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, Facultade de Ciencias do Mar, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - Elsa Vázquez
- CIM - Centro de Investigación Mariña and Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, Facultade de Ciencias do Mar, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
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12
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Jeffery NW, Vercaemer B, Stanley RRE, Kess T, Dufresne F, Noisette F, O'Connor MI, Wong MC. Variation in genomic vulnerability to climate change across temperate populations of eelgrass ( Zostera marina). Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13671. [PMID: 38650965 PMCID: PMC11033490 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
A global decline in seagrass populations has led to renewed calls for their conservation as important providers of biogenic and foraging habitat, shoreline stabilization and carbon storage. Eelgrass (Zostera marina) occupies the largest geographic range among seagrass species spanning a commensurately broad spectrum of environmental conditions. In Canada, eelgrass is managed as a single phylogroup despite occurring across three oceans and a range of ocean temperatures and salinity gradients. Previous research has focused on applying relatively few markers to reveal population structure of eelgrass, whereas a whole-genome approach is warranted to investigate cryptic structure among populations inhabiting different ocean basins and localized environmental conditions. We used a pooled whole-genome re-sequencing approach to characterize population structure, gene flow and environmental associations of 23 eelgrass populations ranging from the Northeast United States to Atlantic, subarctic and Pacific Canada. We identified over 500,000 SNPs, which when mapped to a chromosome-level genome assembly revealed six broad clades of eelgrass across the study area, with pairwise F ST ranging from 0 among neighbouring populations to 0.54 between Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Genetic diversity was highest in the Pacific and lowest in the subarctic, consistent with colonization of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans from the Pacific less than 300 kya. Using redundancy analyses and two climate change projection scenarios, we found that subarctic populations are predicted to be potentially more vulnerable to climate change through genomic offset predictions. Conservation planning in Canada should thus ensure that representative populations from each identified clade are included within a national network so that latent genetic diversity is protected, and gene flow is maintained. Northern populations, in particular, may require additional mitigation measures given their potential susceptibility to a rapidly changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas W. Jeffery
- Fisheries and Oceans CanadaBedford Institute of OceanographyDartmouthNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Benedikte Vercaemer
- Fisheries and Oceans CanadaBedford Institute of OceanographyDartmouthNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Ryan R. E. Stanley
- Fisheries and Oceans CanadaBedford Institute of OceanographyDartmouthNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Tony Kess
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries CentreSt. John'sNewfoundland and LabradorCanada
| | - France Dufresne
- Département de BiologieUniversité du Québec à RimouskiRimouskiQuebecCanada
| | - Fanny Noisette
- Institut des Sciences de la mer, Université du Québec à RimouskiRimouskiQuebecCanada
| | - Mary I. O'Connor
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research CentreUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Melisa C. Wong
- Fisheries and Oceans CanadaBedford Institute of OceanographyDartmouthNova ScotiaCanada
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13
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Campbell JE, Kennedy Rhoades O, Munson CJ, Altieri AH, Douglass JG, Heck KL, Paul VJ, Armitage AR, Barry SC, Bethel E, Christ L, Christianen MJA, Dodillet G, Dutton K, Fourqurean JW, Frazer TK, Gaffey BM, Glazner R, Goeke JA, Grana-Valdes R, Jenkins VJ, Kramer OAA, Linhardt ST, Martin CW, Martinez Lopez IG, McDonald AM, Main VA, Manuel SA, Marco-Méndez C, O'Brien DA, O'Shea OR, Patrick CJ, Peabody C, Reynolds LK, Rodriguez A, Rodriguez Bravo LM, Sang A, Sawall Y, Smith K, Smulders FOH, Sun U, Thompson JE, van Tussenbroek B, Wied WL. Herbivore effects increase with latitude across the extent of a foundational seagrass. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:663-675. [PMID: 38366132 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02336-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is altering the functioning of foundational ecosystems. While the direct effects of warming are expected to influence individual species, the indirect effects of warming on species interactions remain poorly understood. In marine systems, as tropical herbivores undergo poleward range expansion, they may change food web structure and alter the functioning of key habitats. While this process ('tropicalization') has been documented within declining kelp forests, we have a limited understanding of how this process might unfold across other systems. Here we use a network of sites spanning 23° of latitude to explore the effects of increased herbivory (simulated via leaf clipping) on the structure of a foundational marine plant (turtlegrass). By working across its geographic range, we also show how gradients in light, temperature and nutrients modified plant responses. We found that turtlegrass near its northern boundary was increasingly affected (reduced productivity) by herbivory and that this response was driven by latitudinal gradients in light (low insolation at high latitudes). By contrast, low-latitude meadows tolerated herbivory due to high insolation which enhanced plant carbohydrates. We show that as herbivores undergo range expansion, turtlegrass meadows at their northern limit display reduced resilience and may be under threat of ecological collapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin E Campbell
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA.
| | - O Kennedy Rhoades
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Calvin J Munson
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Andrew H Altieri
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama
| | - James G Douglass
- The Water School, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL, USA
| | - Kenneth L Heck
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, USA
| | | | - Anna R Armitage
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Savanna C Barry
- UF|IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL, USA
| | - Enrique Bethel
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- The Centre for Ocean Research and Education (CORE), Gregory Town, Bahamas
| | - Lindsey Christ
- International Field Studies, Inc., Forfar Field Station, Blanket Sound, Bahamas
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Grace Dodillet
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- CSA Ocean Sciences Inc., Stuart, FL, USA
| | | | - James W Fourqurean
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Thomas K Frazer
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Bethany M Gaffey
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Rachael Glazner
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Janelle A Goeke
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Rancel Grana-Valdes
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Victoria J Jenkins
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, USA
| | | | - Samantha T Linhardt
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, USA
| | - Charles W Martin
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, USA
| | - Isis G Martinez Lopez
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | - Ashley M McDonald
- UF|IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL, USA
- Soil and Water Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Vivienne A Main
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Sarah A Manuel
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Bermuda, 'Shorelands', Hamilton Parish, Bermuda
| | - Candela Marco-Méndez
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, USA
- CEAB (CSIC), Girona, Spain
| | - Duncan A O'Brien
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- The Centre for Ocean Research and Education (CORE), Gregory Town, Bahamas
| | - Owen R O'Shea
- The Centre for Ocean Research and Education (CORE), Gregory Town, Bahamas
| | - Christopher J Patrick
- Coastal and Ocean Processes Section, Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, USA
| | - Clare Peabody
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Laura K Reynolds
- Soil and Water Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Alex Rodriguez
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, USA
| | | | - Amanda Sang
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- The Water School, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL, USA
| | - Yvonne Sawall
- Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), St. George's, Bermuda
| | - Khalil Smith
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Bermuda, 'Shorelands', Hamilton Parish, Bermuda
| | - Fee O H Smulders
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Uriah Sun
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
| | - Jamie E Thompson
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Brigitta van Tussenbroek
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | - William L Wied
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
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14
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Sutera A, Bonaviri C, Spinelli P, Carimi F, De Michele R. Fruit encasing preserves the dispersal potential and viability of stranded Posidonia oceanica seeds. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6218. [PMID: 38486018 PMCID: PMC10940675 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56536-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Posidonia oceanica meadows are the most productive coastal ecosystem in the Mediterranean. Posidonia oceanica seeds are enclosed in buoyant fleshy fruits that allow dispersal. Many fruits eventually strand on beaches, imposing a remarkable energy cost for the plant. This study aims to assess whether stranded seeds retain functional reproductive potential under a variety of environmental conditions. First, we measured the possibility that seeds could be returned to the sea, by tagging fruits and seeds. Second, we quantified the effect of air, sun and heat exposure on the viability and fitness of stranded fruits and naked seeds. The results showed that on average more than half of fruits and seeds are returned to the sea after stranding events and that fruits significantly protect from desiccation and loss of viability. Furthermore, in fruits exposed to the sun and in naked seeds, seedlings development was slower. This study indicates that a significant portion of stranded P. oceanica fruits have a second chance to recruit and develop into young seedlings, relieving the paradox of large energy investment in seed production and apparent low recruitment rate. Additionally, we provide practical indications for seed collection aimed at maximizing seedling production, useful in meadow restoration campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Sutera
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Ugo la Malfa 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Chiara Bonaviri
- Department of Earth and Sea Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 22, 90123, Palermo, Italy
- Fano Marine Center, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 61032, Fano, Italy
| | - Patrizia Spinelli
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Ugo la Malfa 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Carimi
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Ugo la Malfa 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Roberto De Michele
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Ugo la Malfa 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy.
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15
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Twomey AJ, Nunez K, Carr JA, Crooks S, Friess DA, Glamore W, Orr M, Reef R, Rogers K, Waltham NJ, Lovelock CE. Planning hydrological restoration of coastal wetlands: Key model considerations and solutions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 915:169881. [PMID: 38190895 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.169881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
The hydrological restoration of coastal wetlands is an emerging approach for mitigating and adapting to climate change and enhancing ecosystem services such as improved water quality and biodiversity. This paper synthesises current knowledge on selecting appropriate modelling approaches for hydrological restoration projects. The selection of a modelling approach is based on project-specific factors, such as costs, risks, and uncertainties, and aligns with the overall project objectives. We provide guidance on model selection, emphasising the use of simpler and less expensive modelling approaches when appropriate, and identifying situations when models may not be required for project managers to make informed decisions. This paper recognises and supports the widespread use of hydrological restoration in coastal wetlands by bridging the gap between hydrological science and restoration practices. It underscores the significance of project objectives, budget, and available data and offers decision-making frameworks, such as decision trees, to aid in matching modelling methods with specific project outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice J Twomey
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Karinna Nunez
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USA
| | - Joel A Carr
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, USA
| | - Steve Crooks
- Silvestrum Climate Associates, LLC, Sausalito, CA 94165, USA
| | - Daniel A Friess
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - William Glamore
- Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michelle Orr
- Silvestrum Climate Associates, LLC, Sausalito, CA 94165, USA; Environmental Science Associates, 575 Market Street, Suite 3700, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
| | - Ruth Reef
- School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Kerrylee Rogers
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Nathan J Waltham
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Catherine E Lovelock
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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16
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Graham OJ, Adamczyk EM, Schenk S, Dawkins P, Burke S, Chei E, Cisz K, Dayal S, Elstner J, Hausner ALP, Hughes T, Manglani O, McDonald M, Mikles C, Poslednik A, Vinton A, Wegener Parfrey L, Harvell CD. Manipulation of the seagrass-associated microbiome reduces disease severity. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16582. [PMID: 38195072 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16582] [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: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Host-associated microbes influence host health and function and can be a first line of defence against infections. While research increasingly shows that terrestrial plant microbiomes contribute to bacterial, fungal, and oomycete disease resistance, no comparable experimental work has investigated marine plant microbiomes or more diverse disease agents. We test the hypothesis that the eelgrass (Zostera marina) leaf microbiome increases resistance to seagrass wasting disease. From field eelgrass with paired diseased and asymptomatic tissue, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed that bacterial composition and richness varied markedly between diseased and asymptomatic tissue in one of the two years. This suggests that the influence of disease on eelgrass microbial communities may vary with environmental conditions. We next experimentally reduced the eelgrass microbiome with antibiotics and bleach, then inoculated plants with Labyrinthula zosterae, the causative agent of wasting disease. We detected significantly higher disease severity in eelgrass with a native microbiome than an experimentally reduced microbiome. Our results over multiple experiments do not support a protective role of the eelgrass microbiome against L. zosterae. Further studies of these marine host-microbe-pathogen relationships may continue to show new relationships between plant microbiomes and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia J Graham
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Emily M Adamczyk
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, Unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Territory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Siobhan Schenk
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Phoebe Dawkins
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Samantha Burke
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Emily Chei
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Cisz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Sukanya Dayal
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Jack Elstner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | | | - Taylor Hughes
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Omisha Manglani
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Miles McDonald
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Chloe Mikles
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Anna Poslednik
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Audrey Vinton
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Laura Wegener Parfrey
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, Unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Territory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - C Drew Harvell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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17
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Wernberg T, Thomsen MS, Baum JK, Bishop MJ, Bruno JF, Coleman MA, Filbee-Dexter K, Gagnon K, He Q, Murdiyarso D, Rogers K, Silliman BR, Smale DA, Starko S, Vanderklift MA. Impacts of Climate Change on Marine Foundation Species. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2024; 16:247-282. [PMID: 37683273 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-042023-093037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Marine foundation species are the biotic basis for many of the world's coastal ecosystems, providing structural habitat, food, and protection for myriad plants and animals as well as many ecosystem services. However, climate change poses a significant threat to foundation species and the ecosystems they support. We review the impacts of climate change on common marine foundation species, including corals, kelps, seagrasses, salt marsh plants, mangroves, and bivalves. It is evident that marine foundation species have already been severely impacted by several climate change drivers, often through interactive effects with other human stressors, such as pollution, overfishing, and coastal development. Despite considerable variation in geographical, environmental, and ecological contexts, direct and indirect effects of gradual warming and subsequent heatwaves have emerged as the most pervasive drivers of observed impact and potent threat across all marine foundation species, but effects from sea level rise, ocean acidification, and increased storminess are expected to increase. Documented impacts include changes in the genetic structures, physiology, abundance, and distribution of the foundation species themselves and changes to their interactions with other species, with flow-on effects to associated communities, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning. We discuss strategies to support marine foundation species into the Anthropocene, in order to increase their resilience and ensure the persistence of the ecosystem services they provide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Wernberg
- Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia;
- Flødevigen Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | - Mads S Thomsen
- Marine Ecology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Julia K Baum
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Melanie J Bishop
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John F Bruno
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Melinda A Coleman
- National Marine Science Centre, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Karen Filbee-Dexter
- Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia;
- Flødevigen Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | - Karine Gagnon
- Flødevigen Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | - Qiang He
- Coastal Ecology Lab, MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Daniel Murdiyarso
- Center for International Forestry Research-World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), Bogor, Indonesia
- Department of Geophysics and Meteorology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Kerrylee Rogers
- School of Earth, Atmospheric, and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Starko
- Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia;
| | - Mathew A Vanderklift
- Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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18
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Comte A, Barreyre J, Monnier B, de Rafael R, Boudouresque CF, Pergent G, Ruitton S. Operationalizing blue carbon principles in France: Methodological developments for Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows and institutionalization. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 198:115822. [PMID: 38016206 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115822] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Conservation of ecosystems is an important tool for climate change mitigation. Seagrasses, mangroves, saltmarshes and other marine ecosystems have particularly high capacities to sequester and store organic carbon (blue carbon), and are being impacted by human activities. Calls have been made to mainstream blue carbon into policies, including carbon markets. Building on the scientific literature and the French voluntary carbon standard, the 'Label Bas-Carbone', we develop the first method for the conservation of Posidonia oceanica seagrasses using carbon finance. This methodology assesses the emission reduction potential of projects that reduce physical impacts from boating and anchoring. We show how this methodology was institutionalized thanks to a tiered approach on key parameters including carbon stocks, degradation rates, and decomposition rates. We discuss future needs regarding (i) how to strengthen the robustness of the method, and (ii) the expansion of the method to restoration of seagrasses and to other blue carbon ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Comte
- IRD, Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, LEMAR, 29280 Plouzané, France.
| | | | - Briac Monnier
- Université de Corse, UMR CNRS SPE 6134, Campus Grimaldi BP 52, Corte, France
| | | | - Charles-François Boudouresque
- Aix Marseille Université - Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), UM 110, Marseille, France
| | - Gérard Pergent
- Université de Corse, UMR CNRS SPE 6134, Campus Grimaldi BP 52, Corte, France
| | - Sandrine Ruitton
- Aix Marseille Université - Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), UM 110, Marseille, France
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19
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Casal-Porras I, Yamuza-Magdaleno A, Jiménez-Ramos R, Egea LG, Pérez-Lloréns JL, Brun FG. Effects of a chronic impact on Cymodocea nodosa community carbon metabolism and dissolved organic carbon fluxes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167740. [PMID: 37827313 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167740] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Seagrass communities have been degraded worldwide experiencing elevated shoot density reduction by anthropogenic chronic pressures. This study aims to assess how a chronic (i.e., low intensity but long-lasting) impact that promotes reduced shoot density in a temperate seagrass population may affect community components and functioning. To this end, shoot density was reduced (0, 40, and 75 %) for three months in contrasting seasons (winter and summer), and assessed its effects on biotic components (i.e., seagrasses, macroalgae, macrofauna, and microphytobenthos), as well as on community carbon metabolism, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fluxes and sediment organic matter (OM) content. Lower shoot densities enhanced the presence of macroalgae and microphytobenthos in the community, while macrofauna remained unchanged. Net community production was significantly reduced with the simulated reduction in shoot density in both seasons (up to 10-fold lower), which shifted the community in winter from being largely autotrophic (CO2 sink) to heterotrophic (CO2 source). This was due to the expected reduction in gross primary production, but also to the unexpected increase in community respiration (up to 2.2-fold higher). Since OM in the sediment was reduced in the simulated shoot density reduction treatments, the increase in sediment bacterial activity may help explain the increase in community respiration. DOC fluxes were also greatly reduced in both seasons (up to 5.5-fold lower), which coupled with the reduced net community production and loss of OM in the sediment may have a continued silent effect on blue carbon capture and storage capacity in this chronically stressed community. This study therefore highlights the importance of chronic impacts that promote the degradation of seagrass communities that may reduce their ability to provide highly valuable ecological services, including the ability to cope with the effects of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Casal-Porras
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional/Global del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
| | - Alba Yamuza-Magdaleno
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional/Global del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Rocío Jiménez-Ramos
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional/Global del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Luis G Egea
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional/Global del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - J Lucas Pérez-Lloréns
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional/Global del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Fernando G Brun
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional/Global del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
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20
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Losciale R, Day JC, Rasheed MA, Heron SF. The vulnerability of World Heritage seagrass habitats to climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17113. [PMID: 38273578 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17113] [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: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Seagrass is an important natural attribute of 28 World Heritage (WH) properties. These WH seagrass habitats provide a wide range of services to adjacent ecosystems and human communities, and are one of the largest natural carbon sinks on the planet. Climate change is considered the greatest and fastest-growing threat to natural WH properties and evidence of climate-related impacts on seagrass habitats has been growing. The main objective of this study was to assess the vulnerability of WH seagrass habitats to location-specific key climate stressors. Quantitative surveys of seagrass experts and site managers were used to assess exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity of WH seagrass habitats to climate stressors, following the Climate Vulnerability Index approach. Over half of WH seagrass habitats have high vulnerability to climate change, mainly from the long-term increase in sea-surface temperature and short-term marine heatwaves. Potential impacts from climate change and certainty scores associated with them were higher than reported by a similar survey-based study from 10 years prior, indicating a shift in stakeholder perspectives during the past decade. Additionally, seagrass experts' opinions on the cumulative impacts of climate and direct-anthropogenic stressors revealed that high temperature in combination with high suspended sediments, eutrophication and hypoxia is likely to provoke a synergistic cumulative (negative) impact (p < .05). A key component contributing to the high vulnerability assessments was the low adaptive capacity; however, discrepancies between adaptive capacity scores and qualitative responses suggest that managers of WH seagrass habitats might not be adequately equipped to respond to climate change impacts. This thematic assessment provides valuable information to help prioritize conservation actions, monitoring activities and research in WH seagrass habitats. It also demonstrates the utility of a systematic framework to evaluate the vulnerability of thematic groups of protected areas that share a specific attribute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Losciale
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jon C Day
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael A Rasheed
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Scott F Heron
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Physics and Marine Geophysical Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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21
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Rees MJ, Knott NA, Astles KL, Swadling DS, West GJ, Ferguson AM, Delamont J, Gibson PT, Neilson J, Birch GF, Glasby TM. Cumulative effects of multiple stressors impact an endangered seagrass population and fish communities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166706. [PMID: 37659560 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166706] [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: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Coastal ecosystems are becoming increasingly threatened by human activities and there is growing appreciation that management must consider the impacts of multiple stressors. Cumulative effects assessments (CEAs) have become a popular tool for identifying the distribution and intensity of multiple human stressors in coastal ecosystems. Few studies, however, have demonstrated strong correlations between CEAs and change in ecosystem condition, questioning its management use. Here, we apply a CEA to the endangered seagrass Posidonia australis in Pittwater, NSW, Australia, using spatial data on known stressors to seagrass related to foreshore development, water quality, vessel traffic and fishing. We tested how well cumulative effects scores explained changes in P. australis extent measured between 2005 and 2019 using high-resolution aerial imagery. A negative correlation between P. australis and estimated cumulative effects scores was observed (R2 = 22 %), and we identified a threshold of cumulative effects above which losses of P. australis became more likely. Using baited remote underwater video, we surveyed fishes over P. australis and non-vegetated sediments to infer and quantify how impacts of cumulative effects to P. australis extent would flow on to fish assemblages. P. australis contained a distinct assemblage of fish, and on non-vegetated sediments the abundance of sparids, which are of importance to fisheries, increased with closer proximity to P. australis. Our results demonstrate the negative impact of multiple stressors on P. australis and the consequences for fish biodiversity and fisheries production across much of the estuary. Management actions aimed at reducing or limiting cumulative effects to low and moderate levels will help conserve P. australis and its associated fish biodiversity and productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Rees
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Marine Ecosystems, Fisheries Research, 4 Woollamia Road, Huskisson, NSW, 2540, Australia.
| | - Nathan A Knott
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Marine Ecosystems, Fisheries Research, 4 Woollamia Road, Huskisson, NSW, 2540, Australia
| | - Karen L Astles
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries Research, P.O. Box 5106, Wollongong 2520, Australia
| | - Daniel S Swadling
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Locked Bag 1, New South Wales, 2315 Nelson Bay, Australia
| | - Greg J West
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Locked Bag 1, New South Wales, 2315 Nelson Bay, Australia
| | - Adrian M Ferguson
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Marine Ecosystems, Fisheries Research, 4 Woollamia Road, Huskisson, NSW, 2540, Australia
| | - Jason Delamont
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Marine Ecosystems, Fisheries Research, 4 Woollamia Road, Huskisson, NSW, 2540, Australia
| | - Peter T Gibson
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Locked Bag 1, New South Wales, 2315 Nelson Bay, Australia
| | - Joseph Neilson
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Locked Bag 1, New South Wales, 2315 Nelson Bay, Australia
| | - Gavin F Birch
- Geocoastal Research Group, School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Tim M Glasby
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Locked Bag 1, New South Wales, 2315 Nelson Bay, Australia
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22
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Stankovic M, Mishra AK, Rahayu YP, Lefcheck J, Murdiyarso D, Friess DA, Corkalo M, Vukovic T, Vanderklift MA, Farooq SH, Gaitan-Espitia JD, Prathep A. Blue carbon assessments of seagrass and mangrove ecosystems in South and Southeast Asia: Current progress and knowledge gaps. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166618. [PMID: 37643707 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166618] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Coastal blue carbon ecosystems can be an important nature-based solution for mitigating climate change, when emphasis is given to their protection, management, and restoration. Globally, there has been a rapid increase in blue carbon research in the last few decades, with substantial investments on national scales by the European Union, the USA, Australia, Seychelles, and Belize. Blue carbon ecosystems in South and Southeast Asia are globally diverse, highly productive and could represent a global hotspot for carbon sequestration and storage. To guide future efforts, we conducted a systematic review of the available literature on two primary blue carbon ecosystems-seagrasses and mangroves-across 13 countries in South and Southeast Asia to assess existing national inventories, review current research trends and methodologies, and identify existing knowledge gaps. Information related to various aspects of seagrass and mangrove ecosystems was extracted from 432 research articles from 1967 to 2022. We find that: (1) blue carbon estimates in several countries have limited data, especially for seagrass meadows compared to mangrove ecosystems, although the highest reported carbon stocks were in Indonesia and the Philippines with 4,515 and 707 Tg within mangrove forest and 60.9 and 63.3 Tg within seagrass meadows, respectively; (2) there is a high difference in the quantity and quality of data between mangrove and seagrass ecosystems, and the methodologies used for blue carbon estimates are highly variable across countries; and (3) most studies on blue carbon stocks are spatially biased towards more familiar study areas of individual countries, than several lesser-known suspected blue carbon hotspots. In sum, our review demonstrates the paucity and variability in current research in the region, and highlights research frontiers that should be addressed by future research before the robust implementation of these ecosystems into national climate strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milica Stankovic
- Excellence Center for Biodiversity of Peninsular Thailand, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand; Field Marine Station, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand.
| | - Amrit Kumar Mishra
- The SWIRE Institute of Marine Sciences and the School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, S.A.R., China; School of Earth, Ocean and Climate Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Argul, Khurda, Odisha, India.
| | - Yusmiana P Rahayu
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; Research Center for Conservation of Marine and Inland Water Resources, National Research and Innovation Agency, the Republic of Indonesia, Soekarno Science and Technology Area, Jl. Raya Bogor Km 46, Cibinong, Bogor 16911, Indonesia.
| | - Jonathan Lefcheck
- University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD 21613, USA.
| | - Daniel Murdiyarso
- Center for International Forestry Research - World Agroforestry Centre, Jl. CIFOR, Situ Gede, Sindang Barang, Bogor 16115, Indonesia; Department of Geophysics and Meteorology, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia.
| | - Daniel A Friess
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA.
| | - Marko Corkalo
- Department of Biology, Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Teodora Vukovic
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 3, 2100 Novi Sad, Serbia.
| | - Mathew A Vanderklift
- CSIRO Environment, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Syed Hilal Farooq
- School of Earth, Ocean and Climate Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Argul, Khurda, Odisha, India.
| | - Juan Diego Gaitan-Espitia
- The SWIRE Institute of Marine Sciences and the School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, S.A.R., China; Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Anchana Prathep
- Excellence Center for Biodiversity of Peninsular Thailand, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand; Divison of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand.
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23
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Stankovic M, Panyawai J, Khanthasimachalerm N, Prathep A. National assessment and variability of blue carbon in seagrass ecosystems in Thailand. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 197:115708. [PMID: 37951123 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115708] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Seagrass ecosystems are important organic carbon (Corg) sinks with great potential to contribute to climate change mitigation strategies. However, the high spatial and temporal variability is a barrier to the accurate assessment of national Corg stocks. This study provides a national assessment of Corg within seagrass meadows, including spatial and temporal variations. The highest Corg stocks were within mangrove-associated (44.3 ± 8.27 Mg ha-1), while near-surface sediments were highest in reef-associated meadows (10.20 ± 3.69 Mg ha-1). Regionally, the highest stocks were in the Upper Andaman coast in monospecific meadows (51.7 ± 7.14 Mg ha-1). Corg stocks in near-surface sediments were significantly different across historical trends (p < 0.001), with the highest stocks in stable meadows (9.28 ± 3.39 Mg ha-1). The national Corg stock within seagrass meadows sediment was 40.45 ± 11.59 Mg C ha-1. The results of this study highlighted the complexity of blue carbon in seagrass meadows and the associated impacts on national Corg assessments, carbon accounting, and conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milica Stankovic
- Excellence Center for Biodiversity of Peninsular Thailand, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand; Field Marine Station, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand.
| | - Janmanee Panyawai
- Division of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand
| | - Nattacha Khanthasimachalerm
- Division of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand
| | - Anchana Prathep
- Excellence Center for Biodiversity of Peninsular Thailand, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand; Division of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand
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24
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Hardison SB, McGlathery KJ, Castorani MCN. Effects of seagrass restoration on coastal fish abundance and diversity. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14147. [PMID: 37424354 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Restoration is accelerating to reverse global declines of key habitats and recover lost ecosystem functions, particularly in coastal ecosystems. However, there is high uncertainty about the long-term capacity of restored ecosystems to provide habitat and increase biodiversity and the degree to which these ecosystem services are mediated by spatial and temporal environmental variability. We addressed these gaps by sampling fishes biannually for 5-7 years (2012-2018) at 16 sites inside and outside a rapidly expanding restored seagrass meadow in coastal Virginia (USA). Despite substantial among-year variation in abundance and species composition, seine catches in restored seagrass beds were consistently larger (6.4 times more fish, p < 0.001) and more speciose (2.6 times greater species richness, p < 0.001; 3.1 times greater Hill-Shannon diversity, p = 0.03) than seine catches in adjacent unvegetated areas. Catches were particularly larger during summer than autumn (p < 0.01). Structural equation modeling revealed that depth and water residence time interacted to control seagrass presence, leading to higher fish abundance and richness in shallow, well-flushed areas that supported seagrass. Together, our results indicate that seagrass restoration yields large and consistent benefits for many coastal fishes, but that restoration and its benefits are sensitive to the dynamic seascapes in which restoration is conducted. Consideration of how seascape-scale environmental variability affects the success of habitat restoration and subsequent ecosystem function will improve restoration outcomes and the provisioning of ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean B Hardison
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Karen J McGlathery
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Max C N Castorani
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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25
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Watson KM, Pillay D, von der Heyden S. Using transplantation to restore seagrass meadows in a protected South African lagoon. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16500. [PMID: 38047028 PMCID: PMC10693235 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Seagrass meadows provide valuable ecosystem services but are threatened by global change pressures, and there is growing concern that the functions seagrasses perform within an ecosystem will be reduced or lost without intervention. Restoration has become an integral part of coastal management in response to major seagrass declines, but is often context dependent, requiring an assessment of methods to maximise restoration success. Here we investigate the use of different restoration strategies for the endangered Zostera capensis in South Africa. Methods We assessed restoration feasibility by establishing seagrass transplant plots based on different transplant source materials (diameter (ø) 10 cm cores and anchored individual shoots), planting patterns (line, dense, bullseye) and planting site (upper, upper-mid and mid-intertidal zones). Monitoring of area cover, shoot length, and macrofaunal diversity was conducted over 18 months. Results Mixed model analysis showed distinct effects of transplant material used, planting pattern and site on transplant survival and area cover. Significant declines in seagrass cover across all treatments was recorded post-transplantation (2 months), followed by a period of recovery. Of the transplants that persisted after 18 months of monitoring (~58% plots survived across all treatments), seagrass area cover increased (~112%) and in some cases expanded by over >400% cover, depending on type of transplant material, planting arrangement and site. Higher bioturbator pressure from sandprawns (Kraussillichirus kraussi) significantly reduced transplant survival and area cover. Transplant plots were colonised by invertebrates, including seagrass specialists, such as South Africa's most endangered marine invertebrate, the false-eelgrass limpet (Siphonaria compressa). For future seagrass restoration projects, transplanting cores was deemed the best method, showing higher long-term persistence and cover, however this approach is also resource intensive with potentially negative impacts on donor meadows at larger scales. There is a clear need for further research to address Z. capensis restoration scalability and improve long-term transplant persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie M. Watson
- Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Deena Pillay
- Marine and Antarctic Centre for Innovation and Sustainability, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sophie von der Heyden
- Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- School of Climate Studies, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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26
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Egea LG, Infantes E, Jiménez-Ramos R. Loss of POC and DOC on seagrass sediments by hydrodynamics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:165976. [PMID: 37536591 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Coastal development and climate change are sparking growing concern about the vulnerability of the organic carbon (OC) stocks in marine sediments to remineralization, especially in high threaten coastal ecosystems like seagrass meadows. Uncertainties still exist regarding the role played by hydrodynamics, seagrass canopies and sediment properties in OC resuspension and remineralization. A set of laboratory experiments were conducted to assess, for the first time, the mechanisms by which the particulate and dissolved organic carbon (POC and DOC) may be released and remineralized under hydrodynamic conditions (i.e., unidirectional and oscillatory flows) in two eelgrass densities and sediments properties (i.e., grain size and OC content). After a gradually increase in hydrodynamic forces, our results demonstrated that the presence of eelgrass reduced sediment erosion and OC loss in high-density canopies, while low-density canopies promote OC resuspension (on average, 1.8-fold higher than high-density canopies). We also demonstrated that unidirectional and oscillatory flows released similar DOC from surface sediments (on average, 15.5 ± 1.4 and 18.4 ± 1.8 g m-2, respectively), whereas oscillatory flow released significantly more POC than unidirectional flows (from 10.8 ± 1.1 to 32.1 ± 5.6 g m-2 for unidirectional and oscillatory flows, respectively). POC and DOC released was strongly influenced by both seagrass meadow structure (i.e., lower eelgrass density and shoot area) and sediment properties (i.e., lower mud and higher sediment water content). We found that, although >74 % of OC in upper sediments was remineralized within 30 days, a relatively high amount of OC in high-density canopies is recalcitrant, highlighting its potential for the formation of blue carbon deposits. This study highlights the vulnerability of OC deposits in seagrass sediments to resuspension if the meadow is degraded and/or the climate change yield stronger storms, which could potentially weaken the seagrass meadows' service as blue carbon ecosystem in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- L G Egea
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea (CEI·MAR), 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - E Infantes
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences - Kristineberg, University of Gothenburg, Fiskebäckskil 45178, Sweden
| | - R Jiménez-Ramos
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea (CEI·MAR), 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
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Martin BC, Giraldo-Ospina A, Bell S, Cambridge M, Fraser MW, Gibbons B, Harvey ES, Kendrick GA, Langlois T, Spencer C, Hovey RK. Deep meadows: Deep-water seagrass habitats revealed. Ecology 2023; 104:e4150. [PMID: 37523230 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Belinda C Martin
- The UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
- Ooid Scientific, North Lake, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Ana Giraldo-Ospina
- The UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
- Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Sahira Bell
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, WA Government, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Marion Cambridge
- The UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Matthew W Fraser
- The UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
- Flourishing Oceans, Minderoo Foundation, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Brooke Gibbons
- The UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Euan S Harvey
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Gary A Kendrick
- The UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Tim Langlois
- The UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Claude Spencer
- The UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Renae K Hovey
- The UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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Tol SJ, Carter AB, York PH, Jarvis JC, Grech A, Congdon BC, Coles RG. Vegetative fragment production as a means of propagule dispersal for tropical seagrass meadows. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 191:106160. [PMID: 37678099 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106160] [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: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Long distance dispersal (LDD) contributes to the replenishment and recovery of tropical seagrass habitats exposed to disturbance, such as cyclones and infrastructure development. However, our current knowledge regarding the physical attributes of seagrass fragments that influence LDD predominantly stems from temperate species and regions. The goal of this paper is to measure seagrass fragment density and viability in two tropical species, assessing various factors influencing their distribution. METHODS We measured the density and viability of floating seagrass fragments for two tropical seagrass species (Zostera muelleri and Halodule uninervis) in two coastal seagrass meadows in the central Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, Australia. We assessed the effect of wind speed, wind direction, seagrass growing/senescent season, seagrass meadow density, meadow location and dugong foraging intensity on fragment density. We also measured seagrass fragment structure and fragment viability; i.e., potential to establish into a new plant. KEY RESULTS We found that seagrass meadow density, season, wind direction and wind speed influenced total fragment density, while season and wind speed influenced the density of viable fragments. Dugong foraging intensity did not influence fragment density. Our results indicate that wave action from winds combined with high seagrass meadow density increases seagrass fragment creation, and that more fragments are produced during the growing than the senescent season. Seagrass fragments classified as viable for Z. muelleri and H. uninervis had significantly more shoots and leaves than non-viable fragments. We collected 0.63 (±0.08 SE) floating viable fragments 100 m-2 in the growing season, and 0.13 (±0.03 SE) viable fragments 100 m-2 in the senescent season. Over a third (38%) of all fragments collected were viable. CONCLUSION There is likely to be a large number of viable seagrass fragments available for long distance dispersal. This study's outputs can inform dispersal and connectivity models that are used to direct seagrass ecosystem management and conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Tol
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, Cairns, Australia; College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia.
| | - A B Carter
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
| | - P H York
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
| | - J C Jarvis
- University of North Carolina Wilmington, USA
| | - A Grech
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - B C Congdon
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
| | - R G Coles
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
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29
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Acharyya T, Raulo S, Singh S, Sudatta BP, Srichandan S, Baliarsingh SK, Samal RN, Sahoo CK. Status and conservation challenges of the second-largest seagrass bed in India: Chilika lagoon. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:100265-100281. [PMID: 37624499 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29369-w] [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: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Studies related to seagrass ecology, conservation, and management are sparse and highly biased in India. Even though the geographical distribution of seagrass is diverse in India, about 74% of the scientific publications have been made from Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar from Tamilnadu. Chilika, the largest lagoon in Asia, harbors the second largest seagrass meadow in India 22% of the total. The lagoon acts as a potential blue carbon stock and helps in thriving a rich floral and faunal biodiversity. However, the critical role of seagrass in this unique lagoon ecosystem is still poorly understood. This review is aimed at synthesizing the published literature about seagrass in Chilika. We believe this information would encourage more in-depth and diverse seagrass studies in the region and identify future priority areas for research. A total of seven species have been recorded from 169.2 sq. km of seagrass patch in Chilika. For the last two decades, no significant signs of decline in seagrass beds from this lagoon have been reported. Still, various natural and anthropogenic stressors could put this unique ecosystem under severe stress. Moreover, lax enforcement of existing legislation and a general lack of knowledge among the stakeholders about their ecosystem services can be significant impediments to their conservation. More targeted research on Chilika seagrass in changing climate regimes and their sustainable intensification is the need of the hour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamoghna Acharyya
- Department of Marine Sciences, Berhampur University, Bhanjabihar, 760007, India.
| | - Susmita Raulo
- Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Hyderabad, 500090, India
| | - Sambit Singh
- Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Kochi, 682508, India
| | | | | | - Sanjiba Kumar Baliarsingh
- Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Hyderabad, 500090, India
| | - Rabindro Nath Samal
- Wetland Research and Training Centre, Chilika Development Authority, Balugaon, Odisha, India
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30
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Carroll EW, Freestone AL. Habitat isolation interacts with top-down and bottom-up processes in a seagrass ecosystem. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289174. [PMID: 37494351 PMCID: PMC10370773 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Habitat loss is accelerating at unprecedented rates, leading to the emergence of smaller, more isolated habitat remnants. Habitat isolation adversely affects many ecological processes independently, but little is known about how habitat isolation may interact with ecosystem processes such as top-down (consumer-driven) and bottom-up (resource-driven) effects. To investigate the interactive influence of habitat isolation, resource availability and consumer distribution and impact on community structure, we tested two hypotheses using invertebrate and algal epibionts on temperate seagrasses, an ecosystem of ecological and conservation importance. First, we hypothesized that habitat isolation will change the structure of the seagrass epibiont community, and isolated patches of seagrass will have lower epibiont biomass and different epibiont community composition than contiguous meadows. Second, we hypothesized that habitat isolation would mediate top-down (i.e., herbivory) and bottom-up (i.e., nutrient enrichment) control for algal epibionts. We used observational studies in natural seagrass patches and experimental artificial seagrass to examine three levels of habitat isolation. We further manipulated top-down and bottom-up processes in artificial seagrass through consumer reductions and nutrient additions, respectively. We indeed found that habitat isolation of seagrass patches decreased epibiont biomass and modified epibiont community composition. This pattern was largely due to dispersal limitation of invertebrate epibionts that resulted in a decline in their abundance and richness in isolated patches. Further, habitat isolation reduced consumer abundances, weakening top-down control of algal epibionts in isolated seagrass patches. Nutrient additions, however, reversed this pattern, and allowed a top-down effect on algal richness to emerge in isolated habitats, demonstrating a complex interaction between patch isolation and top-down and bottom-up processes. Habitat isolation may therefore shape the relative importance of central processes in ecosystems, leading to changes in community composition and food web structure in marine habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth W Carroll
- Department of Biology, Holy Family University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Amy L Freestone
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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31
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Dornelas M, Chase JM, Gotelli NJ, Magurran AE, McGill BJ, Antão LH, Blowes SA, Daskalova GN, Leung B, Martins IS, Moyes F, Myers-Smith IH, Thomas CD, Vellend M. Looking back on biodiversity change: lessons for the road ahead. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220199. [PMID: 37246380 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Estimating biodiversity change across the planet in the context of widespread human modification is a critical challenge. Here, we review how biodiversity has changed in recent decades across scales and taxonomic groups, focusing on four diversity metrics: species richness, temporal turnover, spatial beta-diversity and abundance. At local scales, change across all metrics includes many examples of both increases and declines and tends to be centred around zero, but with higher prevalence of declining trends in beta-diversity (increasing similarity in composition across space or biotic homogenization) and abundance. The exception to this pattern is temporal turnover, with changes in species composition through time observed in most local assemblages. Less is known about change at regional scales, although several studies suggest that increases in richness are more prevalent than declines. Change at the global scale is the hardest to estimate accurately, but most studies suggest extinction rates are probably outpacing speciation rates, although both are elevated. Recognizing this variability is essential to accurately portray how biodiversity change is unfolding, and highlights how much remains unknown about the magnitude and direction of multiple biodiversity metrics at different scales. Reducing these blind spots is essential to allow appropriate management actions to be deployed. This article is part of the theme issue 'Detecting and attributing the causes of biodiversity change: needs, gaps and solutions'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Dornelas
- Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
- Guia Marine Laboratory, MARE, Faculdade de Ciencias da Universidade de Lisboa, Cascais 2750-374, Portugal
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Jonathan M Chase
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig 04103, Germany
- Department of Computer Sciences, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg 06099, Germany
| | | | - Anne E Magurran
- Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
| | - Brian J McGill
- School of Biology and Ecology and Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Laura H Antão
- Research Centre for Ecological Change, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Shane A Blowes
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig 04103, Germany
- Department of Computer Sciences, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg 06099, Germany
| | - Gergana N Daskalova
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg 2361, Austria
| | - Brian Leung
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada H3A 1B1
| | - Inês S Martins
- Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Faye Moyes
- Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
| | | | - Chris D Thomas
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Mark Vellend
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1K 2R1
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Duarte de Paula Costa M, Adame MF, Bryant CV, Hill J, Kelleway JJ, Lovelock CE, Ola A, Rasheed MA, Salinas C, Serrano O, Waltham N, York PH, Young M, Macreadie P. Quantifying blue carbon stocks and the role of protected areas to conserve coastal wetlands. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 874:162518. [PMID: 36870497 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Vegetated coastal ecosystems, in particular mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses are highly efficient at sequestering and storing carbon, making them valuable assets for climate change mitigation and adaptation. The state of Queensland, in northeastern Australia, contains almost half of the total area of these blue carbon ecosystems in the country, yet there are few detailed regional or state-wide assessments of their total sedimentary organic carbon (SOC) stocks. We compiled existing SOC data and used boosted regression tree models to evaluate the influence of environmental variables in explaining the variability in SOC stocks, and to produce spatially explicit blue carbon estimates. The final models explained 75 % (for mangroves and tidal marshes) and 65 % (for seagrasses) of the variability in SOC stocks. Total SOC stocks in the state of Queensland were estimated at 569 ± 98 Tg C (173 ± 32 Tg C, 232 ± 50 Tg C, and 164 ± 16 Tg C from mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses, respectively). Regional predictions for each of Queensland's eleven Natural Resource Management regions revealed that 60 % of the state's SOC stocks occurred within three regions (Cape York, Torres Strait and Southern Gulf Natural Resource Management regions) due to a combination of high values of SOC stocks and large areas of coastal wetlands. Protected areas in Queensland play an important role in conserving SOC assets in Queensland's coastal wetlands. For example, ~19 Tg C within terrestrial protected areas, ~27 Tg C within marine protected areas and ~ 40 Tg C within areas of matters of State Environmental Significance. Using multi-decadal (1987-2020) mapped distributions of mangroves in Queensland; we found that mangrove area increased by approximately 30,000 ha from 1987 to 2020, which led to temporal fluctuations in mangrove plant and SOC stocks. We estimated that plant stocks decreased from ~45 Tg C in 1987 to ~34.2 Tg C in 2020, while SOC stocks remained relatively constant from ~107.9 Tg C in 1987 to 108.0 Tg C in 2020. Considering the level of current protection, emissions from mangrove deforestation are potentially very low; therefore, representing minor opportunities for mangrove blue carbon projects in the region. Our study provides much needed information on current trends in carbon stocks and their conservation in Queensland's coastal wetlands, while also contributing to guide future management actions, including blue carbon restoration projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micheli Duarte de Paula Costa
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood Campus, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia.
| | - Maria Fernanda Adame
- Australian Rivers Institute, Coastal & Marine Research Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Catherine V Bryant
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia
| | - Jack Hill
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jeffrey J Kelleway
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences and GeoQuEST Research Centre, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Catherine E Lovelock
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Anne Ola
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Michael A Rasheed
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia
| | - Cristian Salinas
- School of Science & Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia
| | - Oscar Serrano
- School of Science & Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia; Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Blanes, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Blanes, Spain
| | - Nathan Waltham
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Paul H York
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia
| | - Mary Young
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Warrnambool Campus, Geelong, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - Peter Macreadie
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood Campus, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
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33
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Botrel M, Maranger R. Global historical trends and drivers of submerged aquatic vegetation quantities in lakes. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:2493-2509. [PMID: 36786043 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in lake littoral zones is an inland water wetland type that provides numerous essential ecosystem services, such as supplying food and habitat for fauna, regulating nutrient fluxes, stabilizing sediments, and maintaining a clear water state. However, little is known on how inland SAV quantities are changing globally in response to human activities, where loss threatens the provisioning of these ecosystem services. In this study, we generate a comprehensive global synthesis of trends in SAV quantities using time series (>10 years) in lakes and identify their main drivers. We compiled trends across methods and metrics, integrating both observational and paleolimnological approaches as well as diverse measures of SAV quantities, including areal extent, density, or abundance classes. The compilation revealed that knowledge on SAV is mostly derived from temperate regions, with major gaps in tropical, boreal, and mountainous lake-rich regions. Similar to other wetland types, we found that 41% of SAV times series are largely decreasing mostly due to land use change and resulting eutrophication. SAV is, however, increasing in 28% of cases, primarily since the 1980s. We show that trends and drivers of SAV quantities vary regionally, with increases in Europe explained mainly by management, decreases in Asia due to eutrophication and land use change, and variable trends in North America consistent with invasive species arrival. By providing a quantitative portrait of trends in SAV quantities worldwide, we identify knowledge gaps and future SAV research priorities. By considering the drivers of different trends, we also offer insight to future lake management related to climate, positive restoration actions, and change in community structure on SAV quantities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Botrel
- Département de sciences biologiques, Complexe des sciences, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie (GRIL), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Roxane Maranger
- Département de sciences biologiques, Complexe des sciences, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie (GRIL), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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34
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Morrissette HK, Baez SK, Beers L, Bood N, Martinez ND, Novelo K, Andrews G, Balan L, Beers CS, Betancourt SA, Blanco R, Bowden E, Burns-Perez V, Carcamo M, Chevez L, Crooks S, Feller IC, Galvez G, Garbutt K, Gongora R, Grijalva E, Lefcheck J, Mahung A, Mattis C, McKoy T, McLaughlin D, Meza J, Pott E, Ramirez G, Ramnarace V, Rash A, Rosado S, Santos H, Santoya L, Sosa W, Ugarte G, Viamil J, Young A, Young J, Canty SWJ. Belize Blue Carbon: Establishing a national carbon stock estimate for mangrove ecosystems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 870:161829. [PMID: 36731558 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mangrove ecosystems are among the most economically and ecologically valuable marine environments in the world. Mangroves are effective at long-term carbon storage within their sediments and are estimated to hold 12 billion metric tons of carbon worldwide. These ecosystems are therefore vitally important for carbon sequestration and, by extension, climate change mitigation. As part of the Paris Agreement, participating countries agree to provide plans to reduce their carbon emissions, or nationally determined contributions (NDCs). However, despite mangroves being recognized as important nature-based solutions, many countries still lack national data on carbon stocks and must use global or regional averages, which may not be sufficiently accurate. Here, we present the national carbon stock estimate of mangrove ecosystems for the NDC of Belize, acquired through a collaborative approach involving government agencies and NGOs. We conducted a comprehensive sampling of mangroves across the country, including a range of mangrove ecotypes. The mean total ecosystem carbon stock (TECS) for the nation was 444.1 ± 21.0 Mg C ha-1, with 74.4 ± 6.2 Mg C ha-1 in biomass stocks, and 369.7 ± 17.7 Mg C ha-1 in sediment stocks. Combining these data with a recent mapping effort, we provide the first national comprehensive mangrove carbon stock estimate of 25.7 Tg C. The national mean from this study varies from previous global analyses, which can under- or overestimate TECS by as much as 0.6 Tg C and 16.5 Tg C, respectively, depending on the study. These data supported the NDC update of Belize, and can be used to inform the country's mangrove protection and restoration commitments. The collaborative approach of this work should serve as a blueprint for other countries seeking to conserve natural blue carbon sinks as a strategy to achieve their climate targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah K Morrissette
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD 21037, USA; Smithsonian Marine Station, 701 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34949, USA; Working Land and Seascapes, 1000 Jefferson Drive SW, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA.
| | - Stacy K Baez
- The Pew Charitable Trusts, 901 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA.
| | - Lisa Beers
- Silvestrum Climate Associates LLC, 1 Lower Crescent Ave, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA.
| | - Nadia Bood
- World Wildlife Fund Mesoamerica (Belize Field Office), 1154 Sunrise Avenue, Belize City, Belize.
| | - Ninon D Martinez
- University of Belize Environmental Research Institute, Price Centre Road, Belmopan, Belize.
| | - Kevin Novelo
- University of Belize Environmental Research Institute, Price Centre Road, Belmopan, Belize.
| | - Gilbert Andrews
- Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City, Belize
| | - Luis Balan
- Belize Forest Department, Forest Drive, Belmopan, Belize.
| | - C Scott Beers
- Silvestrum Climate Associates LLC, 1 Lower Crescent Ave, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA
| | | | - Reynel Blanco
- Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development, 329 Lagunita Street, Sarteneja Village, Corozal District, Belize.
| | - Eeryn Bowden
- Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, 1 Mile San Antonio Rd., Hopeville, Belize.
| | | | | | - Luis Chevez
- World Wildlife Fund Mesoamerica (Belize Field Office), 1154 Sunrise Avenue, Belize City, Belize.
| | - Stephen Crooks
- Silvestrum Climate Associates LLC, 1 Lower Crescent Ave, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA.
| | - Ilka C Feller
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD 21037, USA.
| | - Galento Galvez
- University of Belize Environmental Research Institute, Price Centre Road, Belmopan, Belize.
| | - Kent Garbutt
- Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City, Belize
| | - Ronny Gongora
- University of Belize Environmental Research Institute, Price Centre Road, Belmopan, Belize.
| | | | - Jonathan Lefcheck
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD 21037, USA.
| | - Alwyn Mahung
- University of Belize Environmental Research Institute, Price Centre Road, Belmopan, Belize.
| | - Colin Mattis
- National Climate Change Office, 7552 Hummingbird Highway, Belmopan, Belize.
| | - Tre McKoy
- Belize Forest Department, Forest Drive, Belmopan, Belize.
| | - Daniel McLaughlin
- University of Belize Environmental Research Institute, Price Centre Road, Belmopan, Belize.
| | - Johan Meza
- Corozal Sustainable Future Initiative, Chunox Sarteneja Road, Corozal, Belize
| | - Edwardo Pott
- Belize Forest Department, Forest Drive, Belmopan, Belize.
| | - Genevieve Ramirez
- Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, 1 Mile San Antonio Rd., Hopeville, Belize.
| | - Vivian Ramnarace
- Belize Fisheries Department, Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City, Belize
| | - Anthony Rash
- Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, 1 Mile San Antonio Rd., Hopeville, Belize.
| | - Samir Rosado
- Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City, Belize
| | - Honorio Santos
- Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development, 329 Lagunita Street, Sarteneja Village, Corozal District, Belize
| | - Leomir Santoya
- Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development, 329 Lagunita Street, Sarteneja Village, Corozal District, Belize
| | - Wilson Sosa
- Corozal Sustainable Future Initiative, Chunox Sarteneja Road, Corozal, Belize.
| | - Gabriela Ugarte
- University of Belize Environmental Research Institute, Price Centre Road, Belmopan, Belize.
| | - Jose Viamil
- Corozal Sustainable Future Initiative, Chunox Sarteneja Road, Corozal, Belize.
| | - Arlene Young
- Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City, Belize
| | - Jayron Young
- Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association, 62 Bella Vista, Belize City, Belize
| | - Steven W J Canty
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD 21037, USA; Smithsonian Marine Station, 701 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34949, USA; Working Land and Seascapes, 1000 Jefferson Drive SW, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA.
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Navarro-Mayoral S, Tuya F, Prado P, Marco-Méndez C, Fernandez-Gonzalez V, Fernández-Torquemada Y, Espino F, Antonio de la Ossa J, Vilella DM, Machado M, Martínez-Crego B. Drivers of variation in seagrass-associated amphipods across biogeographical areas. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 186:105918. [PMID: 36791539 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.105918] [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: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Amphipods are one of the dominant epifaunal groups in seagrass meadows. However, our understanding of the biogeographical patterns in the distribution of these small crustaceans is limited. In this study, we investigated such patterns and the potential drivers in twelve Cymodocea nodosa meadows within four distinctive biogeographical areas across 2000 Km and 13° of latitude in two ocean basins (Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean). We found that species abundances in the assemblage of seagrass-associated amphipods differed among areas following a pattern largely explained by seagrass leaf area and epiphyte biomass, while the variation pattern in species presence/absence was determined by seagrass density and epiphyte biomass. Seagrass leaf area was also the most important determinant of greater amphipod total density and species richness, while amphipod density also increased with algal cover. Overall, our results evidenced that biogeographical patterns of variation in amphipod assemblages are mainly influenced by components of the habitat structure, which covary with environmental conditions, finding that structurally more complex meadows harboring higher abundance and richness of amphipods associated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Navarro-Mayoral
- Grupo en Biodiversidad y Conservación, IU-Ecoaqua, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain.
| | - Fernando Tuya
- Grupo en Biodiversidad y Conservación, IU-Ecoaqua, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Patricia Prado
- IRTA-Institute of Research and Technology in Food and Agriculture, Ctra. Poble Nou Km 5.5, 43540, Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Spain
| | - Candela Marco-Méndez
- Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB, CSIC), Carrer Accés Cala Sant Francesc, 14, 17300, Blanes, Girona, Spain
| | - Victoria Fernandez-Gonzalez
- Department of Marine Science and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, Alicante, Spain
| | - Yolanda Fernández-Torquemada
- Department of Marine Science and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, Alicante, Spain
| | - Fernando Espino
- Grupo en Biodiversidad y Conservación, IU-Ecoaqua, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Jose Antonio de la Ossa
- Department of Marine Science and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, Alicante, Spain
| | - David Mateu Vilella
- IRTA-Institute of Research and Technology in Food and Agriculture, Ctra. Poble Nou Km 5.5, 43540, Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Spain
| | - Margarida Machado
- Centre of Marine Sciences of University of Algarve (CCMAR-UAlg), Campus de Gambelas, Ed. 7, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Begoña Martínez-Crego
- Centre of Marine Sciences of University of Algarve (CCMAR-UAlg), Campus de Gambelas, Ed. 7, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
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Graham OJ, Stephens T, Rappazzo B, Klohmann C, Dayal S, Adamczyk EM, Olson A, Hessing-Lewis M, Eisenlord M, Yang B, Burge C, Gomes CP, Harvell D. Deeper habitats and cooler temperatures moderate a climate-driven seagrass disease. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220016. [PMID: 36744566 PMCID: PMC9900705 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Eelgrass creates critical coastal habitats worldwide and fulfills essential ecosystem functions as a foundation seagrass. Climate warming and disease threaten eelgrass, causing mass mortalities and cascading ecological impacts. Subtidal meadows are deeper than intertidal and may also provide refuge from the temperature-sensitive seagrass wasting disease. From cross-boundary surveys of 5761 eelgrass leaves from Alaska to Washington and assisted with a machine-language algorithm, we measured outbreak conditions. Across summers 2017 and 2018, disease prevalence was 16% lower for subtidal than intertidal leaves; in both tidal zones, disease risk was lower for plants in cooler conditions. Even in subtidal meadows, which are more environmentally stable and sheltered from temperature and other stressors common for intertidal eelgrass, we observed high disease levels, with half of the sites exceeding 50% prevalence. Models predicted reduced disease prevalence and severity under cooler conditions, confirming a strong interaction between disease and temperature. At both tidal zones, prevalence was lower in more dense eelgrass meadows, suggesting disease is suppressed in healthy, higher density meadows. These results underscore the value of subtidal eelgrass and meadows in cooler locations as refugia, indicate that cooling can suppress disease, and have implications for eelgrass conservation and management under future climate change scenarios. This article is part of the theme issue 'Infectious disease ecology and evolution in a changing world'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia J. Graham
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-0001, USA
| | | | - Brendan Rappazzo
- Department of Computer Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Corinne Klohmann
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-0001, USA
| | - Sukanya Dayal
- Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA,Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina, Wilmington, NC 28403-5915, USA
| | - Emily M. Adamczyk
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Unceded xməθkəy̓əm (Musqueam) Territory, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Angeleen Olson
- Hakai Institute, Calvert Island, P.O. Box 25039, Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada V9W 0B7
| | - Margot Hessing-Lewis
- Hakai Institute, Calvert Island, P.O. Box 25039, Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada V9W 0B7
| | - Morgan Eisenlord
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-0001, USA
| | - Bo Yang
- Department of Urban and Regional Planning, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA 95112, USA
| | - Colleen Burge
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Carla P. Gomes
- Department of Computer Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Drew Harvell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-0001, USA
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Moreira-Saporiti A, Teichberg M, Garnier E, Cornelissen JHC, Alcoverro T, Björk M, Boström C, Dattolo E, Eklöf JS, Hasler-Sheetal H, Marbà N, Marín-Guirao L, Meysick L, Olivé I, Reusch TBH, Ruocco M, Silva J, Sousa AI, Procaccini G, Santos R. A trait-based framework for seagrass ecology: Trends and prospects. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1088643. [PMID: 37021321 PMCID: PMC10067889 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1088643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
In the last three decades, quantitative approaches that rely on organism traits instead of taxonomy have advanced different fields of ecological research through establishing the mechanistic links between environmental drivers, functional traits, and ecosystem functions. A research subfield where trait-based approaches have been frequently used but poorly synthesized is the ecology of seagrasses; marine angiosperms that colonized the ocean 100M YA and today make up productive yet threatened coastal ecosystems globally. Here, we compiled a comprehensive trait-based response-effect framework (TBF) which builds on previous concepts and ideas, including the use of traits for the study of community assembly processes, from dispersal and response to abiotic and biotic factors, to ecosystem function and service provision. We then apply this framework to the global seagrass literature, using a systematic review to identify the strengths, gaps, and opportunities of the field. Seagrass trait research has mostly focused on the effect of environmental drivers on traits, i.e., "environmental filtering" (72%), whereas links between traits and functions are less common (26.9%). Despite the richness of trait-based data available, concepts related to TBFs are rare in the seagrass literature (15% of studies), including the relative importance of neutral and niche assembly processes, or the influence of trait dominance or complementarity in ecosystem function provision. These knowledge gaps indicate ample potential for further research, highlighting the need to understand the links between the unique traits of seagrasses and the ecosystem services they provide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Moreira-Saporiti
- Faculty for Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Algae and Seagrass Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
| | - Mirta Teichberg
- Algae and Seagrass Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
| | - Eric Garnier
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Mats Björk
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Emanuela Dattolo
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Johan S. Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Nuria Marbà
- Global Change Research Group, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB), Esporles Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Lázaro Marín-Guirao
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
- Oceanographic Center of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), Murcia, Spain
| | - Lukas Meysick
- Åbo Akademi University, Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo, Finland
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB) at the University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Irene Olivé
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Thorsten B. H. Reusch
- Marine Evolutionary Ecology, Division of Marine Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Miriam Ruocco
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - João Silva
- Centro de Ciências do Mar, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
| | - Ana I. Sousa
- CESAM – Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Gabriele Procaccini
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Rui Santos
- Centro de Ciências do Mar, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
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Fraser MW, Martin BC, Wong HL, Burns BP, Kendrick GA. Sulfide intrusion in a habitat forming seagrass can be predicted from relative abundance of sulfur cycling genes in sediments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 864:161144. [PMID: 36584949 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161144] [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: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Sulfide intrusion from sediments is an increasingly recognized contributor to seagrass declines globally, yet the relationship between sediment microorganisms and sulfide intrusion has received little attention. Here, we use metagenomic sequencing and stable isotope (34S) analysis to examine this relationship in Cockburn Sound, Australia, a seagrass-dominated embayment with a gradient of sulfide stress and seagrass declines. There was a significant positive relationship between sulfide intrusion into seagrasses and sulfate reduction genes in sediment microbial communities, which was greatest at sites with long term seagrass declines. This is the first demonstration of a significant link between sulfur cycling genes present in seagrass sediments and sulfide intrusion in a habitat-forming seagrass that is experiencing long-term shoot density decline. Given that microorganisms respond rapidly to environmental change, the quantitative links established in this study can be used as a potential management tool to enable the prediction of sulfide stress on large habitat forming seagrasses; a global issue expected to worsen with climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W Fraser
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Belinda C Martin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; Ooid Scientific, White Gum Valley, WA 6162, Australia
| | - Hon Lun Wong
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia; Department of Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Brendan P Burns
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia; Australian Centre for Astrobiology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Gary A Kendrick
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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Habitat Provision and Erosion Are Influenced by Seagrass Meadow Complexity: A Seascape Perspective. DIVERSITY 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/d15020125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Habitat complexity plays a critical role in shaping biotic assemblages and ecosystem processes. While the impacts of large differences in habitat complexity are often well understood, we know less about how subtle differences in structure affect key ecosystem functions or properties such as biodiversity and biomass. The late-successional seagrass Posidonia australis creates vital habitat for diverse fauna in temperate Australia. Long-term human impacts have led to the decline of P. australis in some estuaries of eastern Australia, where it is now classified as an endangered ecological community. We examined the influence of P. australis structural complexity at small (seagrass density) and large (meadow fragmentation) spatial scales on fish and epifauna communities, predation and sediment erosion. Fine-scale spatially balanced sampling was evenly distributed across a suite of environmental covariates within six estuaries in eastern Australia using the Generalised Random Tessellation Structures approach. We found reduced erosion in areas with higher P. australis density, greater abundance of fish in more fragmented areas and higher fish richness in vegetated areas further from patch edges. The abundance of epifauna and fish, and fish species richness were higher in areas with lower seagrass density (seagrass density did not correlate with distance to patch edge). These findings can inform seagrass restoration efforts by identifying meadow characteristics that influence ecological functions and processes.
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40
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Lee KM, Ballard MS, McNeese AR, Wilson PS, Venegas GR, Zeh MC, Rahman AF. Inter-seasonal comparison of acoustic propagation in a Thalassia testudinum seagrass meadow in a shallow sub-tropical lagoon. JASA EXPRESS LETTERS 2023; 3:010801. [PMID: 36725540 DOI: 10.1121/10.0016752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic propagation measurements were collected in a seagrass meadow in a shallow lagoon for periods of over 65 h in winter and 93 h in summer. A bottom-deployed sound source transmitted chirps (0.1-100 kHz) every 10 min that were received on a four-receiver horizontal hydrophone array. Oceanographic probes measured various environmental parameters. Daytime broadband acoustic attenuation was 2.4 dB greater in summer than winter, and the median received acoustic energy levels were 8.4 dB lower in summer compared to winter. These differences were attributed in part to seasonal changes in photosynthesis bubble production and above-ground seagrass biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Lee
- Applied Research Laboratories, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78713, USA
| | - Megan S Ballard
- Applied Research Laboratories, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78713, USA
| | - Andrew R McNeese
- Applied Research Laboratories, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78713, USA
| | - Preston S Wilson
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Gabriel R Venegas
- Applied Research Laboratories, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78713, USA
| | - Mathew C Zeh
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Abdullah F Rahman
- School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas 78520, , , , , , ,
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Cumming GS, Adamska M, Barnes ML, Barnett J, Bellwood DR, Cinner JE, Cohen PJ, Donelson JM, Fabricius K, Grafton RQ, Grech A, Gurney GG, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Hoey AS, Hoogenboom MO, Lau J, Lovelock CE, Lowe R, Miller DJ, Morrison TH, Mumby PJ, Nakata M, Pandolfi JM, Peterson GD, Pratchett MS, Ravasi T, Riginos C, Rummer JL, Schaffelke B, Wernberg T, Wilson SK. Research priorities for the sustainability of coral-rich western Pacific seascapes. REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE 2023; 23:66. [PMID: 37125023 PMCID: PMC10119535 DOI: 10.1007/s10113-023-02051-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Nearly a billion people depend on tropical seascapes. The need to ensure sustainable use of these vital areas is recognised, as one of 17 policy commitments made by world leaders, in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 ('Life below Water') of the United Nations. SDG 14 seeks to secure marine sustainability by 2030. In a time of increasing social-ecological unpredictability and risk, scientists and policymakers working towards SDG 14 in the Asia-Pacific region need to know: (1) How are seascapes changing? (2) What can global society do about these changes? and (3) How can science and society together achieve sustainable seascape futures? Through a horizon scan, we identified nine emerging research priorities that clarify potential research contributions to marine sustainability in locations with high coral reef abundance. They include research on seascape geological and biological evolution and adaptation; elucidating drivers and mechanisms of change; understanding how seascape functions and services are produced, and how people depend on them; costs, benefits, and trade-offs to people in changing seascapes; improving seascape technologies and practices; learning to govern and manage seascapes for all; sustainable use, justice, and human well-being; bridging communities and epistemologies for innovative, equitable, and scale-crossing solutions; and informing resilient seascape futures through modelling and synthesis. Researchers can contribute to the sustainability of tropical seascapes by co-developing transdisciplinary understandings of people and ecosystems, emphasising the importance of equity and justice, and improving knowledge of key cross-scale and cross-level processes, feedbacks, and thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme S. Cumming
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Maja Adamska
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Michele L. Barnes
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Jon Barnett
- School of Geography, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David R. Bellwood
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Joshua E. Cinner
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | | | - Jennifer M. Donelson
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | | | - R. Quentin Grafton
- Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alana Grech
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Georgina G. Gurney
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Andrew S. Hoey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Mia O. Hoogenboom
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Jacqueline Lau
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
- WorldFish, Penang, Malaysia
| | | | - Ryan Lowe
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - David J. Miller
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
- College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811 Australia
| | - Tiffany H. Morrison
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Peter J. Mumby
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Martin Nakata
- Indigenous Education and Research Centre, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811 Australia
| | - John M. Pandolfi
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Garry D. Peterson
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Morgan S. Pratchett
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Timothy Ravasi
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
- Marine Climate Change Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-Son, Okinawa Japan
| | - Cynthia Riginos
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jodie L. Rummer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | | | - Thomas Wernberg
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, Floedevigen Research Station, Nis, Norway
| | - Shaun K. Wilson
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Western Australia Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Perth, Australia
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Leblanc ML, O'Connor MI, Kuzyk ZZA, Noisette F, Davis KE, Rabbitskin E, Sam LL, Neumeier U, Costanzo R, Ehn JK, Babb D, Idrobo CJ, Gilbert JP, Leblon B, Humphries MM. Limited recovery following a massive seagrass decline in subarctic eastern Canada. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:432-450. [PMID: 36270797 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Over the last few decades, there has been an increasing recognition for seagrasses' contribution to the functioning of nearshore ecosystems and climate change mitigation. Nevertheless, seagrass ecosystems have been deteriorating globally at an accelerating rate during recent decades. In 2017, research into the condition of eelgrass (Zostera marina) along the eastern coast of James Bay, Canada, was initiated in response to reports of eelgrass decline by the Cree First Nations of Eeyou Istchee. As part of this research, we compiled and analyzed two decades of eelgrass cover data and three decades of eelgrass monitoring data (biomass and density) to detect changes and assess possible environmental drivers. We detected a major decline in eelgrass condition between 1995 and 1999, which encompassed the entire east coast of James Bay. Surveys conducted in 2019 and 2020 indicated limited changes post-decline, for example, low eelgrass cover (<25%), low aboveground biomass, smaller shoots than before 1995, and marginally low densities persisted at most sites. Overall, the synthesized datasets show a 40% loss of eelgrass meadows with >50% cover in eastern James Bay since 1995, representing the largest scale eelgrass decline documented in eastern Canada since the massive die-off event that occurred in the 1930s along the North Atlantic coast. Using biomass data collected since 1982, but geographically limited to the sector of the coast near the regulated La Grande River, generalized additive modeling revealed eelgrass meadows are affected by local sea surface temperature, early ice breakup, and higher summer freshwater discharge. Our results caution against assuming subarctic seagrass ecosystems have avoided recent global declines or will benefit from ongoing climate warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie-Louise Leblanc
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mary I O'Connor
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Zou Zou A Kuzyk
- Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Fanny Noisette
- Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Québec, Canada
| | - Kaleigh E Davis
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | | | - Urs Neumeier
- Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Québec, Canada
| | - Rémi Costanzo
- Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Québec, Canada
| | - Jens K Ehn
- Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - David Babb
- Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - C Julián Idrobo
- Aurora College, Thebacha Campus, Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada
| | | | - Brigitte Leblon
- Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Murray M Humphries
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Christianen MJA, Smulders FOH, Vonk JA, Becking LE, Bouma TJ, Engel SM, James RK, Nava MI, de Smit JC, van der Zee JP, Palsbøll PJ, Bakker ES. Seagrass ecosystem multifunctionality under the rise of a flagship marine megaherbivore. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:215-230. [PMID: 36330798 PMCID: PMC10099877 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Large grazers (megaherbivores) have a profound impact on ecosystem functioning. However, how ecosystem multifunctionality is affected by changes in megaherbivore populations remains poorly understood. Understanding the total impact on ecosystem multifunctionality requires an integrative ecosystem approach, which is especially challenging to obtain in marine systems. We assessed the effects of experimentally simulated grazing intensity scenarios on ecosystem functions and multifunctionality in a tropical Caribbean seagrass ecosystem. As a model, we selected a key marine megaherbivore, the green turtle, whose ecological role is rapidly unfolding in numerous foraging areas where populations are recovering through conservation after centuries of decline, with an increase in recorded overgrazing episodes. To quantify the effects, we employed a novel integrated index of seagrass ecosystem multifunctionality based upon multiple, well-recognized measures of seagrass ecosystem functions that reflect ecosystem services. Experiments revealed that intermediate turtle grazing resulted in the highest rates of nutrient cycling and carbon storage, while sediment stabilization, decomposition rates, epifauna richness, and fish biomass are highest in the absence of turtle grazing. In contrast, intense grazing resulted in disproportionally large effects on ecosystem functions and a collapse of multifunctionality. These results imply that (i) the return of a megaherbivore can exert strong effects on coastal ecosystem functions and multifunctionality, (ii) conservation efforts that are skewed toward megaherbivores, but ignore their key drivers like predators or habitat, will likely result in overgrazing-induced loss of multifunctionality, and (iii) the multifunctionality index shows great potential as a quantitative tool to assess ecosystem performance. Considerable and rapid alterations in megaherbivore abundance (both through extinction and conservation) cause an imbalance in ecosystem functioning and substantially alter or even compromise ecosystem services that help to negate global change effects. An integrative ecosystem approach in environmental management is urgently required to protect and enhance ecosystem multifunctionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolijn J. A. Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management GroupWageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
- Marine Evolution and Conservation GroupGroningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Fee O. H. Smulders
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management GroupWageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Jan Arie Vonk
- Department of Freshwater and Marine EcologyInstitute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Leontine E. Becking
- Aquaculture and Fisheries groupWageningen University & Research CentreWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Tjeerd J. Bouma
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ)YersekeThe Netherlands
- Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of GeosciencesUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Sabine M. Engel
- STINAPA, Bonaire National Parks FoundationBonaireCaribbean Netherlands
| | - Rebecca K. James
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ)YersekeThe Netherlands
- Biogeochemistry and Modeling of the Earth System GroupUniversité libre de BruxellesBruxellesBelgium
| | - Mabel I. Nava
- Sea Turtle Conservation BonaireBonaireCaribbean Netherlands
| | - Jaco C. de Smit
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ)YersekeThe Netherlands
- Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of GeosciencesUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Jurjan P. van der Zee
- Marine Evolution and Conservation GroupGroningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Per J. Palsbøll
- Marine Evolution and Conservation GroupGroningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- Center for Coastal StudiesProvincetownMassachusettsUSA
| | - Elisabeth S. Bakker
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW)WageningenThe Netherlands
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
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Seagrasses of West Africa: New Discoveries, Distribution Limits and Prospects for Management. DIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/d15010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The onset of a major seagrass initiative in West Africa enabled important seagrass discoveries in several countries, in one of the least documented seagrass regions in the world. Four seagrass species occur in western Africa, Cymodocea nodosa, Halodule wrightii, Ruppia maritima and Zostera noltei. An area of about 62,108 ha of seagrasses was documented in the studied region comprising seven countries: Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Cabo Verde. Extensive meadows of Zostera noltei were recorded for the first time at Saloum Delta, Senegal, which represents the new southernmost distribution limit of this species. This paper also describes the seagrass morphology for some study areas and explores the main stressors to seagrasses as well as conservation initiatives to protect these newly documented meadows in West Africa. The produced information and maps serve as a starting point for researchers and managers to monitor temporal and spatial changes in the meadows’ extent, health and condition as an efficient management tool.
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Ostrowski A, Connolly RM, Brown CJ, Sievers M. Fluctuating fortunes: Stressor synchronicity and fluctuating intensity influence biological impacts. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:2611-2623. [PMID: 36217804 PMCID: PMC9828260 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystems remain under enormous pressure from multiple anthropogenic stressors. Manipulative experiments evaluating stressor interactions and impacts mostly apply stressors under static conditions without considering how variable stressor intensity (i.e. fluctuations) and synchronicity (i.e. timing of fluctuations) affect biological responses. We ask how variable stressor intensity and synchronicity, and interaction type, can influence how multiple stressors affect seagrass. At the highest intensities, fluctuating stressors applied asynchronously reduced seagrass biomass 36% more than for static stressors, yet no such difference occurred for photosynthetic capacity. Testing three separate hypotheses to predict underlying drivers of differences in biological responses highlighted alternative modes of action dependent on how stressors fluctuated over time. Given that environmental conditions are constantly changing, assessing static stressors may lead to inaccurate predictions of cumulative effects. Translating multiple stressor experiments to the real world, therefore, requires considering variability in stressor intensity and the synchronicity of fluctuations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andria Ostrowski
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and ScienceGriffith UniversityGold CoastQueenslandAustralia
| | - Rod M. Connolly
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and ScienceGriffith UniversityGold CoastQueenslandAustralia
| | - Christopher J. Brown
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and ScienceGriffith UniversityGold CoastQueenslandAustralia
| | - Michael Sievers
- Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and ScienceGriffith UniversityGold CoastQueenslandAustralia
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Losciale R, Day J, Heron S. Conservation status, research, and knowledge of seagrass habitats in World Heritage properties. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jon Day
- James Cook University Douglas Queensland Australia
| | - Scott Heron
- James Cook University Douglas Queensland Australia
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47
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Casal-Porras I, de Los Santos CB, Martins M, Santos R, Pérez-Lloréns JL, Brun FG. Sedimentary organic carbon and nitrogen stocks of intertidal seagrass meadows in a dynamic and impacted wetland: Effects of coastal infrastructure constructions and meadow establishment time. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 322:115841. [PMID: 36049302 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115841] [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: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Seagrass meadows, through their large capacity to sequester and store organic carbon in their sediments, contribute to mitigate climatic change. However, these ecosystems have experienced large losses and degradation worldwide due to anthropogenic and natural impacts and they are among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. When a meadow is impacted, the vegetation is partial- or completely lost, and the sediment is exposed to the atmosphere or water column, resulting in the erosion and remineralisation of the carbon stored. This paper addresses the effects of the construction of coastal infrastructures on sediment properties, organic carbon, and total nitrogen stocks of intertidal seagrass meadows, as well as the size of such stocks in relation to meadow establishing time (recently and old established meadows). Three intertidal seagrass meadows impacted by coastal constructions (with 0% seagrass cover at present) and three adjacent non-impacted old-established meadows (with 100% seagrass cover at present) were studied along with an area of bare sediment and two recent-established seagrass meadows. We observed that the non-impacted areas presented 3-fold higher percentage of mud and 1.5 times higher sedimentary organic carbon stock than impacted areas. Although the impacted area was relatively small (0.05-0.07 ha), coastal infrastructures caused a significant reduction of the sedimentary carbon stock, between 1.1 and 2.2 Mg OC, and a total loss of the carbon sequestration capacity of the impacted meadow. We also found that the organic carbon stock and total nitrogen stock of the recent-established meadow were 30% lower than those of the old-established ones, indicating that OC and TN accumulation within the meadows is a continuous process, which has important consequences for conservation and restoration actions. These results contribute to understanding the spatial variability of blue carbon and nitrogen stocks in coastal systems highly impacted by urban development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Casal-Porras
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
| | | | - Márcio Martins
- Centre of Marine Sciences of Algarve (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Rui Santos
- Centre of Marine Sciences of Algarve (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - J Lucas Pérez-Lloréns
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Fernando G Brun
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
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Sievers M, Brown CJ, Buelow CA, Hale R, Ostrowski A, Saunders MI, Silliman BR, Swearer SE, Turschwell MP, Valdez SR, Connolly RM. Greater Consideration of Animals Will Enhance Coastal Restoration Outcomes. Bioscience 2022; 72:1088-1098. [PMID: 36325106 PMCID: PMC9618274 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biac088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
As efforts to restore coastal habitats accelerate, it is critical that investments are targeted to most effectively mitigate and reverse habitat loss and its impacts on biodiversity. One likely but largely overlooked impediment to effective restoration of habitat-forming organisms is failing to explicitly consider non-habitat-forming animals in restoration planning, implementation, and monitoring. These animals can greatly enhance or degrade ecosystem function, persistence, and resilience. Bivalves, for instance, can reduce sulfide stress in seagrass habitats and increase drought tolerance of saltmarsh vegetation, whereas megaherbivores can detrimentally overgraze seagrass or improve seagrass seed germination, depending on the context. Therefore, understanding when, why, and how to directly manipulate or support animals can enhance coastal restoration outcomes. In support of this expanded restoration approach, we provide a conceptual framework, incorporating lessons from structured decision-making, and describe potential actions that could lead to better restoration outcomes using case studies to illustrate practical approaches.
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Gulick AG, Johnson RA, Palma LA, Kusel AM, Pollock CG, Hillis‐Starr Z, Bolten AB, Bjorndal KA. An underwater Serengeti: Seagrass‐mediated effects on intake and cultivation grazing behavior of a marine megaherbivore. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra G. Gulick
- Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Biology University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Robert A. Johnson
- Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Biology University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Laura A. Palma
- Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Biology University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Ashley M. Kusel
- Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Biology University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Clayton G. Pollock
- Division of Resource Management and Research, Buck Island Reef National Monument National Park Service Christiansted St. Croix US Virgin Islands
| | - Zandy Hillis‐Starr
- Division of Resource Management and Research, Buck Island Reef National Monument National Park Service Christiansted St. Croix US Virgin Islands
| | - Alan B. Bolten
- Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Biology University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Karen A. Bjorndal
- Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Biology University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
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50
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Gallagher AJ, Brownscombe JW, Alsudairy NA, Casagrande AB, Fu C, Harding L, Harris SD, Hammerschlag N, Howe W, Huertas AD, Kattan S, Kough AS, Musgrove A, Payne NL, Phillips A, Shea BD, Shipley ON, Sumaila UR, Hossain MS, Duarte CM. Tiger sharks support the characterization of the world's largest seagrass ecosystem. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6328. [PMID: 36319621 PMCID: PMC9626626 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33926-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Seagrass conservation is critical for mitigating climate change due to the large stocks of carbon they sequester in the seafloor. However, effective conservation and its potential to provide nature-based solutions to climate change is hindered by major uncertainties regarding seagrass extent and distribution. Here, we describe the characterization of the world's largest seagrass ecosystem, located in The Bahamas. We integrate existing spatial estimates with an updated empirical remote sensing product and perform extensive ground-truthing of seafloor with 2,542 diver surveys across remote sensing tiles. We also leverage seafloor assessments and movement data obtained from instrument-equipped tiger sharks, which have strong fidelity to seagrass ecosystems, to augment and further validate predictions. We report a consensus area of at least 66,000 km2 and up to 92,000 km2 of seagrass habitat across The Bahamas Banks. Sediment core analysis of stored organic carbon further confirmed the global relevance of the blue carbon stock in this ecosystem. Data from tiger sharks proved important in supporting mapping and ground-truthing remote sensing estimates. This work provides evidence of major knowledge gaps in the ocean ecosystem, the benefits in partnering with marine animals to address these gaps, and underscores support for rapid protection of oceanic carbon sinks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacob W. Brownscombe
- grid.34428.390000 0004 1936 893XDepartment of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Nourah A. Alsudairy
- grid.45672.320000 0001 1926 5090Red Sea Research Center and Computational Biosciences Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Chuancheng Fu
- grid.45672.320000 0001 1926 5090Red Sea Research Center and Computational Biosciences Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lucy Harding
- grid.8217.c0000 0004 1936 9705Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | | | - Neil Hammerschlag
- grid.26790.3a0000 0004 1936 8606Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149 USA
| | - Wells Howe
- Beneath The Waves, PO Box 126, Herndon, VA USA
| | | | - Sami Kattan
- Beneath The Waves, PO Box 126, Herndon, VA USA
| | - Andrew S. Kough
- grid.448406.a0000 0000 9957 9219Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research, John G. Shedd Aquarium, 1200S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL USA
| | | | - Nicholas L. Payne
- grid.8217.c0000 0004 1936 9705Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | | | | | | | - U. Rashid Sumaila
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Fisheries Economics Research Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - Mohammad S. Hossain
- grid.412255.50000 0000 9284 9319Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu Malaysia
| | - Carlos M. Duarte
- grid.45672.320000 0001 1926 5090Red Sea Research Center and Computational Biosciences Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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