1
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Caldwell IR, McClanahan TR, Oddenyo RM, Graham NAJ, Beger M, Vigliola L, Sandin SA, Friedlander AM, Randriamanantsoa B, Wantiez L, Green AL, Humphries AT, Hardt MJ, Caselle JE, Feary DA, Karkarey R, Jadot C, Hoey AS, Eurich JG, Wilson SK, Crane N, Tupper M, Ferse SCA, Maire E, Mouillot D, Cinner JE. Protection efforts have resulted in ~10% of existing fish biomass on coral reefs. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2308605121. [PMID: 39374392 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308605121] [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: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 10/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The amount of ocean protected from fishing and other human impacts has often been used as a metric of conservation progress. However, protection efforts have highly variable outcomes that depend on local conditions, which makes it difficult to quantify what coral reef protection efforts to date have actually achieved at a global scale. Here, we develop a predictive model of how local conditions influence conservation outcomes on ~2,600 coral reef sites across 44 ecoregions, which we used to quantify how much more fish biomass there is on coral reefs compared to a modeled scenario with no protection. Under the assumptions of our model, our study reveals that without existing protection efforts there would be ~10% less fish biomass on coral reefs. Thus, we estimate that coral reef protection efforts have led to approximately 1 in every 10 kg of existing fish biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain R Caldwell
- Thriving Oceans Research Hub, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- College of Arts, Society and Education, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Tim R McClanahan
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Marine Program, Bronx, NY 10460
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Kenya Marine Program, Mombasa 80107, Kenya
| | - Remy M Oddenyo
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Kenya Marine Program, Mombasa 80107, Kenya
| | - Nicholas A J Graham
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Beger
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Laurent Vigliola
- Écologie Marine Tropicale des Océans Pacifique et Indien research unit, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Université de la Réunion, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer, CNRS, Nouméa, New Caledonia 98800, France
| | - Stuart A Sandin
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Alan M Friedlander
- Pristine Seas, National Geographic Society, Washington, DC 20036
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Kāne'ohe, HI 96744
| | | | - Laurent Wantiez
- Département des Sciences et Techniques, University of New Caledonia, Nouméa 98851, New Caledonia
| | | | - Austin T Humphries
- Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
| | | | - Jennifer E Caselle
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106
| | - David A Feary
- General Organization for Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in the Red Sea, Jeddah 21431, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rucha Karkarey
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
- Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore 570017, India
| | | | - Andrew S Hoey
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Jacob G Eurich
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106
- Environmental Defense Fund, Santa Barbara, CA 93106
| | - Shaun K Wilson
- University of Western Australia, Oceans Institute, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Marine Science Program, Science and Conservation Division, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Western Australia 6151, Australia
| | - Nicole Crane
- Society For Conservation Biology, Smith Fellows Program, Washington, DC 20005
- One People One Reef, Santa Cruz, CA 95076
| | - Mark Tupper
- Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas, Institute of Science and the Environment, University of Cumbria, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 9BB, United Kingdom
- Terra Nexus, Business Center 1, Meydan Hotel, Nad al Sheba, Dubai 34252, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sebastian C A Ferse
- Department of Ecology, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen 28359, Germany
- Department of Marine Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany
- Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
| | - Eva Maire
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
- Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation, & Conservation (MARBEC), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier 34090, Cedex5, France
| | - David Mouillot
- Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation, & Conservation (MARBEC), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier 34090, Cedex5, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris 75480, France
| | - Joshua E Cinner
- Thriving Oceans Research Hub, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- College of Arts, Society and Education, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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2
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Downs CA, Doust SN, Haghshenas SA, Woodley CM, Shirzad B, McDonald EM, Nazarpour A, Farhangmehr A, Zhao H, Bishop EE, Risk MJ. Potential impact of the 2023 Lahaina wildfire on the marine environment: Modeling the transport of ash-laden benzo[a]pyrene and pentachlorophenol. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 954:176346. [PMID: 39332737 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 08/25/2024] [Accepted: 09/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024]
Abstract
The Lahaina urban/wildland fire event is considered the deadliest wildfire in the past century of U.S. history. This fire resulted in over 2200 building structures destroyed or damaged, approximately 4000 automobiles were incinerated and between 450 and 878 ha of grassland burned in areas adjoining the town of Lahaina, Maui County, State of Hawaii, U.S.A. One of the most abundant contaminants of both wildland and urban fires is the incomplete combustion product, benzo[a]pyrene. Pentachlorophenol from burned and unburned utility poles/residential burn sites enter into navigable waters, thus posing a serious risk to the water quality of coastal waters. The Risk Quotient Plumes for benzo[a]pyrene and pentachlorophenol, mobilized from Lahaina into coastal waters were calculated based on a hydrodynamic analysis and an integrated ecological risk assessment. This plume was simulated using rainfall events in November 2022 as a proxy for the first major rainfall event expected in Lahaina in 2024. The models indicated that the estimated levels of benzo[a]pyrene and pentachlorophenol posed a risk to near shore habitants within 2 km of Lahaina. The levels of pentachlorophenol were more widespread than benzo[a]pyrene and were predicted to pose a hazard to marine life as far away as Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District and 'Āhihi-Kīna'u Natural Area Reserve. Fisheries species captured near these areas should be tested for consumption safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Downs
- Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, P.O. Box 92, Clifford, VA 24533, United States of America.
| | - Shadan Nasseri Doust
- Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran, North Kargar Ave., Tehran P.C. 1439951113, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - S Abbas Haghshenas
- Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran, North Kargar Ave., Tehran P.C. 1439951113, Islamic Republic of Iran; Climatheca, www.climatheca.com, Priceville, Ontario N0C 1K0, Canada
| | - Cheryl M Woodley
- U.S. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, United States of America
| | - Behzad Shirzad
- Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran, North Kargar Ave., Tehran P.C. 1439951113, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - E Murphy McDonald
- Consolidated Safety Services, Inc. contractor to U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, United States of America
| | - Ahad Nazarpour
- Department of Geology, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Aref Farhangmehr
- Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran, North Kargar Ave., Tehran P.C. 1439951113, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Hongwei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.; Center for Eco-Environment Restoration of Hainan Province, School of Ecology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Elizabeth E Bishop
- Friends of Hanauma Bay, P.O. Box 25761, Honolulu, HI 96825-07610, United States of America
| | - Michael J Risk
- School of Geography and Geology, McMaster University, N0G 1R0, Canada; Climatheca, www.climatheca.com, Priceville, Ontario N0C 1K0, Canada
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3
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Wilson SK, Depczynski M, Fulton CJ, Holmes TH, Goetze JS, Birt MJ, Radford B, Tinkler P, Evans RD, Moustaka M, Faubel C, Noble M. Can juvenile supply predict future abundance of large-bodied reef fishes? MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 199:106607. [PMID: 38879902 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106607] [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: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
The extent to which juvenile abundance can predict future populations of lethrinids at Ningaloo Reef was assessed using size frequency data collected over 13 consecutive years. Annual abundance of juvenile lethrinids (<5 cm TL) was highest in northern Ningaloo during La Niña years, when seawater is warmer and oceanic currents stronger. Juvenile lethrinid abundance explained 35% of the variance in 1-2 year-old Lethrinus nebulosus abundance the following year, a steeper relationship in the north suggesting greater survival of juveniles. Juvenile lethrinid abundance was also positively correlated to abundance of 1-2 year-old L. atkinsoni in the southern region of Ningaloo. Abundance of juvenile lethrinids were however poor predictors of L. nebulosus and L. atkinsoni older than 2 years of age. Post settlement processes likely weaken the link between juvenile supply and abundance of lethrinids >2 years old making it difficult to accurately quantify the overall size of future lethrinid populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaun K Wilson
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia; Oceans Institute, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia; Marine Science Program, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia.
| | - Martial Depczynski
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia; Oceans Institute, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Christopher J Fulton
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia; Oceans Institute, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Thomas H Holmes
- Oceans Institute, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia; Marine Science Program, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jordan S Goetze
- Marine Science Program, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia; School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Matthew J Birt
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Ben Radford
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia; Oceans Institute, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Paul Tinkler
- Deakin Marine, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Warrnambool Campus, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
| | - Richard D Evans
- Oceans Institute, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia; Marine Science Program, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Molly Moustaka
- Oceans Institute, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia; Marine Science Program, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Cal Faubel
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Mae Noble
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, Australian Government, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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4
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Watson GJ, Kohler S, Collins JJ, Richir J, Arduini D, Calabrese C, Schaefer M. Can the global marine aquarium trade (MAT) be a model for sustainable coral reef fisheries? SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh4942. [PMID: 38055813 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh4942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Globally, 6 million coral reef fishers provide ~25% of emergent countries' catch, but species have low value. The marine aquarium trade (MAT) targets high-value biodiversity, but missing data amplify draconian governance and demand for international prohibition. To stimulate sustainability and reef conservation investment, we generate a fiscal baseline using the first global analysis of numbers, diversity, and biomass of MAT-traded organisms. Each year, ~55 million organisms worth US$2.15 billion at retail are traded comparable with major fisheries, e.g., tuna. A sustainable MAT also requires overexploitation assessments. We identify 25 species/genera with "Extremely High" risk ratios and place the Indonesian and Sulu-Celebes Seas in the highest exploitation category. Despite predicted hobbyist number increases, unabated reef degradation and low governance will transform the MAT into an aquaculture-dominated industry decoupled from communities (i.e., culture located in importing countries). A "MAT-positive" future requires evidence-based management/governance, consumer education, and sustainable practice incentivization but can address the biodiversity and social and economic inequality crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon J Watson
- Institute of Marine Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Shanelle Kohler
- Institute of Marine Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Jacob-Joe Collins
- Institute of Marine Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | | | - Daniele Arduini
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Claudio Calabrese
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Martin Schaefer
- School of the Environment, Geography and Geosciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
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5
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Díaz-López AM, Hernández-Arana HA, Vega-Zepeda A, Ruiz-Zárate MÁ, Victoria-Salazar I. Changes in the community structure of stony corals in the southern Mexican Caribbean. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 191:106154. [PMID: 37678100 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106154] [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: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
The Mexican Caribbean coral reef ecosystem has endured the effects of global and regional stressors and, recently, the massive arrivals of the free-living, floating brown algae Sargassum spp. This study aimed to evaluate spatiotemporal changes in the stony coral community structure in the southern Mexican Caribbean by a temporal comparison of live coral cover and colony density using a data set collected in 2008-2009 and a recent survey in 2021 within a Protected Natural Area. A multivariate analysis approach was used to reveal spatiotemporal changes in coral cover and colony densities. Coral cover ranged from 6.9 to 8.9% in 2008-2009 to 6.5% in 2021, the lowest values recorded for the area. Coral colony density ranged from 0.68 to 0.78 colonies m-1 in 2008-2009 to 0.68 colonies m-1 in 2021. The present results appear to represent subtle changes during the last decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Mauri Díaz-López
- El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal. Departamento de Sistemática y Ecología Acuática. Av. Centenario km 5.5, CP. 77014. Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Héctor Abuid Hernández-Arana
- El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal. Departamento de Sistemática y Ecología Acuática. Av. Centenario km 5.5, CP. 77014. Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
| | - Alejandro Vega-Zepeda
- El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal. Departamento de Sistemática y Ecología Acuática. Av. Centenario km 5.5, CP. 77014. Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Miguel Ángel Ruiz-Zárate
- El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal. Departamento de Sistemática y Ecología Acuática. Av. Centenario km 5.5, CP. 77014. Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Isael Victoria-Salazar
- El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal. Departamento de Sistemática y Ecología Acuática. Av. Centenario km 5.5, CP. 77014. Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
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6
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Shakya AW, Allgeier JE. Water column contributions to coral reef productivity: overcoming challenges of context dependence. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1812-1828. [PMID: 37315947 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs are declining at an unprecedented rate. Effective management and conservation initiatives necessitate improved understanding of the drivers of production because the high rates found in these ecosystems are the foundation of the many services they provide. The water column is the nexus of coral reef ecosystem dynamics, and functions as the interface through which essentially all energy and nutrients are transferred to fuel both new and recycled production. Substantial research has described many aspects of water column dynamics, often focusing on specific components because water column dynamics are highly spatially and temporally context dependent. Although necessary, a cost of this approach is that these dynamics are often not well linked to the broader ecosystem or across systems. To help overcome the challenge of context dependence, we provide a comprehensive review of this literature, and synthesise it through the perspective of ecosystem ecology. Specifically, we provide a framework to organise the drivers of temporal and spatial variation in production dynamics, structured around five primary state factors. These state factors are used to deconstruct the environmental contexts in which three water column sub-food webs mediate 'new' and 'recycled' production. We then highlight critical pathways by which global change drivers are altering coral reefs via the water column. We end by discussing four key knowledge gaps hindering understanding of the role of the water column for mediating coral reef production, and how overcoming these could improve conservation and management strategies. Throughout, we identify areas of extensive research and those where studies remain lacking and provide a database of 84 published studies. Improved integration of water column dynamics into models of coral reef ecosystem function is imperative to achieve the understanding of ecosystem production necessary to develop effective conservation and management strategies needed to stem global coral loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali W Shakya
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 1105 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Jacob E Allgeier
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 1105 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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7
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Gove JM, Williams GJ, Lecky J, Brown E, Conklin E, Counsell C, Davis G, Donovan MK, Falinski K, Kramer L, Kozar K, Li N, Maynard JA, McCutcheon A, McKenna SA, Neilson BJ, Safaie A, Teague C, Whittier R, Asner GP. Coral reefs benefit from reduced land-sea impacts under ocean warming. Nature 2023; 621:536-542. [PMID: 37558870 PMCID: PMC10511326 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06394-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Coral reef ecosystems are being fundamentally restructured by local human impacts and climate-driven marine heatwaves that trigger mass coral bleaching and mortality1. Reducing local impacts can increase reef resistance to and recovery from bleaching2. However, resource managers lack clear advice on targeted actions that best support coral reefs under climate change3 and sector-based governance means most land- and sea-based management efforts remain siloed4. Here we combine surveys of reef change with a unique 20-year time series of land-sea human impacts that encompassed an unprecedented marine heatwave in Hawai'i. Reefs with increased herbivorous fish populations and reduced land-based impacts, such as wastewater pollution and urban runoff, had positive coral cover trajectories predisturbance. These reefs also experienced a modest reduction in coral mortality following severe heat stress compared to reefs with reduced fish populations and enhanced land-based impacts. Scenario modelling indicated that simultaneously reducing land-sea human impacts results in a three- to sixfold greater probability of a reef having high reef-builder cover four years postdisturbance than if either occurred in isolation. International efforts to protect 30% of Earth's land and ocean ecosystems by 2030 are underway5. Our results reveal that integrated land-sea management could help achieve coastal ocean conservation goals and provide coral reefs with the best opportunity to persist in our changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamison M Gove
- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Honolulu, HI, USA.
| | - Gareth J Williams
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, UK.
| | - Joey Lecky
- Pacific Islands Regional Office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Eric Brown
- National Park of American Samoa, Pago Pago, American Samoa, USA
| | | | - Chelsie Counsell
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Gerald Davis
- Pacific Islands Regional Office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Mary K Donovan
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Hilo, HI, USA
- School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | | | | | - Kelly Kozar
- National Park Service, Pacific Island Network Inventory and Monitoring, Hawai'i National Park, HI, USA
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Ocean and Resources Engineering, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | | | - Amanda McCutcheon
- National Park Service, Pacific Island Network Inventory and Monitoring, Hawai'i National Park, HI, USA
| | - Sheila A McKenna
- National Park Service, Pacific Island Network Inventory and Monitoring, Hawai'i National Park, HI, USA
| | | | - Aryan Safaie
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | | | | | - Gregory P Asner
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Hilo, HI, USA
- School of Ocean Futures, Arizona State University, Hilo, HI, USA
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8
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Evans JS, Paul VJ, Ushijima B, Pitts KA, Kellogg CA. Investigating microbial size classes associated with the transmission of stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD). PeerJ 2023; 11:e15836. [PMID: 37637172 PMCID: PMC10460154 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15836] [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: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Effective treatment and prevention of any disease necessitates knowledge of the causative agent, yet the causative agents of most coral diseases remain unknown, in part due to the difficulty of distinguishing the pathogenic microbe(s) among the complex microbial backdrop of coral hosts. Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is a particularly destructive disease of unknown etiology, capable of transmitting through the water column and killing entire colonies within a matter of weeks. Here we used a previously described method to (i) isolate diseased and apparently healthy coral colonies within individual mesocosms containing filtered seawater with low microbial background levels; (ii) incubate for several days to enrich the water with coral-shed microbes; (iii) use tangential-flow filtration to concentrate the microbial community in the mesocosm water; and then (iv) filter the resulting concentrate through a sequential series of different pore-sized filters. To investigate the size class of microorganism(s) associated with SCTLD transmission, we used 0.8 µm pore size filters to capture microeukaryotes and expelled zooxanthellae, 0.22 µm pore size filters to capture bacteria and large viruses, and 0.025 µm pore size filters to capture smaller viruses. In an attempt to further refine which size fraction(s) contained the transmissible element of SCTLD, we then applied these filters to healthy "receiver" coral fragments and monitored them for the onset of SCTLD signs over three separate experimental runs. However, several factors outside of our control confounded the transmission results, rendering them inconclusive. As the bulk of prior studies of SCTLD in coral tissues have primarily investigated the associated bacterial community, we chose to characterize the prokaryotic community associated with all mesocosm 0.22 µm pore size filters using Illumina sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. We identified overlaps with prior SCTLD studies, including the presence of numerous previously identified SCTLD bioindicators within our mesocosms. The identification in our mesocosms of specific bacterial amplicon sequence variants that also appear across prior studies spanning different collection years, geographic regions, source material, and coral species, suggests that bacteria may play some role in the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- James S. Evans
- St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America
| | - Valerie J. Paul
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Ft. Pierce, Florida, United States of America
| | - Blake Ushijima
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Ft. Pierce, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Biology & Marine Biology, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Kelly A. Pitts
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Ft. Pierce, Florida, United States of America
| | - Christina A. Kellogg
- St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America
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9
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Grabowski T, Benedum ME, Curley A, Dill-De Sa C, Shuey M. Pandemic-driven changes in the nearshore non-commercial fishery in Hawai’i: catch photos posted to social media capture changes in fisher behavior. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14994. [PMID: 37009159 PMCID: PMC10064990 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14994] [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: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Using social media, we collect evidence for how nearshore fisheries are impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic in Hawai’i. We later confirm our social media findings and obtain a more complete understanding of the changes in nearshore non-commercial fisheries in Hawai’i through a more conventional approach—speaking directly with fishers. Resource users posted photographs to social media nearly three times as often during the pandemic with nearly double the number of fishes pictured per post. Individuals who fished for subsistence were more likely to increase the amount of time spent fishing and relied more on their catch for food security. Furthermore, individuals fishing exclusively for subsistence were more likely to fish for different species during the pandemic than individuals fishing recreationally. Traditional data collection methods are resource-intensive and this study shows that during times of rapid changes, be it ecological or societal, social media can more quickly identify how near shore marine resource use adapts. As climate change threatens additional economic and societal disturbances, it will be necessary for resource managers to collect reliable data efficiently to better target monitoring and management efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Grabowski
- U.S. Geological Survey, Hawai’i Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, Hawai’i, United States
| | - Michelle E. Benedum
- Political Science, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States
| | - Andrew Curley
- Anthropology Department, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, Hawai’i, United States
| | - Cole Dill-De Sa
- Earth Systems Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
| | - Michelle Shuey
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, Hawai’i, United States
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10
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Asner GP, Vaughn NR, Martin RE, Foo SA, Heckler J, Neilson BJ, Gove JM. Mapped coral mortality and refugia in an archipelago-scale marine heat wave. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2123331119. [PMID: 35500122 PMCID: PMC9171643 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2123331119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Corals are a major habitat-building life-form on tropical reefs that support a quarter of all species in the ocean and provide ecosystem services to millions of people. Marine heat waves continue to threaten and shape reef ecosystems by killing individual coral colonies and reducing their diversity. However, marine heat waves are spatially and temporally heterogeneous, and so too are the environmental and biological factors mediating coral resilience during and following thermal events. This combination results in highly variable outcomes at both the coral bleaching and mortality stages of every event. This, in turn, impedes the assessment of changing reef-scale patterns of thermal tolerance or places of resistance known as reef refugia. We developed a large-scale, high-resolution coral mortality monitoring capability based on airborne imaging spectroscopy and applied it to a major marine heat wave in the Hawaiian Islands. While water depth and thermal stress strongly mediated coral mortality, relative coral loss was also inversely correlated with preheat-wave coral cover, suggesting the existence of coral refugia. Subsequent mapping analyses indicated that potential reef refugia underwent up to 40% lower coral mortality compared with neighboring reefs, despite similar thermal stress. A combination of human and environmental factors, particularly coastal development and sedimentation levels, differentiated resilient reefs from other more vulnerable reefs. Our findings highlight the role that coral mortality mapping, rather than bleaching monitoring, can play for targeted conservation that protects more surviving corals in our changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory P. Asner
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Hilo, HI 96720
| | - Nicholas R. Vaughn
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Hilo, HI 96720
| | - Roberta E. Martin
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Hilo, HI 96720
| | - Shawna A. Foo
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Hilo, HI 96720
| | - Joseph Heckler
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Hilo, HI 96720
| | - Brian J. Neilson
- Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, Honolulu, HI 96813
| | - Jamison M. Gove
- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Honolulu, HI 96818
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11
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Pacey KI, Caballes CF, Pratchett MS. Size-weight relationships for estimating harvestable biomass of Acropora corals on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 177:105633. [PMID: 35472572 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Although hard corals (order Scleractinia) are listed in Appendix II of the Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), there is significant ongoing wild harvest and international trade, mostly for the aquarium industry. Acropora corals account for the majority of aquarium corals harvested and traded, but are also extremely vulnerable to fisheries-independent threats, especially climate-induced coral bleaching. Reconciling effects of coral harvesting is complicated as harvest limits are based on weight, while there is limited data on standing biomass of Acropora from different reef environments. Here, a management-friendly methodology that allows for quantification of Acropora spp. biomass is described and demonstrated, thus providing means for the development and implementation of a rigorous sustainable harvest strategy. We establish size-weight relationships for four growth forms of Acropora spp. harvested from Australia's Great Barrier Reef, to facilitate estimates of harvestable biomass and better understand the ecological context of current weight-based harvest levels and limits. Using these relationships, and field-based sampling at 12 sites across seven distinct reefs, the estimated biomass of Acropora spp. ranges from 0.12 kg ⋅ m-2 to 4.7 kg ⋅ m-2. These estimates necessitate further consideration of catch composition and the specific abundance of individual species that are heavily harvested, and how impacts of current harvest practices interact with species-specific vulnerability to climate change and other escalating human pressures contributing to the degradation of coral reef ecosystems. This study is a crucial first step towards quantifying the ecological impacts of the fishery to develop management strategies that are underpinned by research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai I Pacey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia.
| | - Ciemon F Caballes
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Morgan S Pratchett
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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12
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Spatial Solutions and Their Impacts When Reshuffling Coastal Management Priorities in Small Islands with Limited Diversification Opportunities. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14073871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
In small islands, the potential for new coastal activities and management options are often spatially limited. To reduce dependence on external factors and increase the resilience of populations to global changes and fluctuations in international markets, a recommended pathway is to diversify activities. We used a systematic prioritization tool with single and multiobjective zoning to explore the feasibility of scenarios at various levels of spatial diversification in the Gambier lagoon (French Polynesia), where black pearl culture is economically and spatially dominant. Local managers are committed to economic, livelihood, and environmental sustainability and agree that prioritizing both artisanal fisheries, which provide local food security, and ecosystem conservation should also be considered. Diversification options included the optimized reallocation of farming concessions and the identification of different types of conservation areas while taking into account traditional management areas. The scenarios were set to minimize surface areas and loss of access to existing fishing grounds. The solutions were compared between the scenarios with different cost metrics, allowing further discussions with stakeholders and managers. The Gambier case study shows that exploring diversification options in small islands using systematic prioritization tools can provide local managers with tailor-made plans adapted to island development questions.
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13
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Milne R, Bauch CT, Anand M. Local Overfishing Patterns Have Regional Effects on Health of Coral, and Economic Transitions Can Promote Its Recovery. Bull Math Biol 2022; 84:46. [PMID: 35182222 DOI: 10.1007/s11538-022-01000-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Overfishing has the potential to severely disrupt coral reef ecosystems worldwide, while harvesting at more sustainable levels instead can boost fish yield without damaging reefs. The dispersal abilities of reef species mean that coral reefs form highly connected environments, and the viability of reef fish populations depends on spatially explicit processes such as the spillover effect and unauthorized harvesting inside marine protected areas. However, much of the literature on coral conservation and management has only examined overfishing on a local scale, without considering how different spatial patterns of fishing levels can affect reef health both locally and regionally. Here, we simulate a coupled human-environment model to determine how coral and herbivorous reef fish respond to overfishing across multiple spatial scales. We find that coral and reef fish react in opposite ways to habitat fragmentation driven by overfishing, and that a potential spillover effect from marine protected areas into overfished patches helps coral populations far less than it does reef fish. We also show that ongoing economic transitions from fishing to tourism have the potential to revive fish and coral populations over a relatively short timescale, and that large-scale reef recovery is possible even if these transitions only occur locally. Our results show the importance of considering spatial dynamics in marine conservation efforts and demonstrate the ability of economic factors to cause regime shifts in human-environment systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell Milne
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada. .,School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
| | - Chris T Bauch
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.,School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Madhur Anand
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.,School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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14
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Kittinger JN, Bernard M, Finkbeiner E, Murphy E, Obregon P, Klinger DH, Schoon ML, Dooley KJ, Gerber LR. Applying a jurisdictional approach to support sustainable seafood. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- John N. Kittinger
- Conservation International Center for Oceans Honolulu Hawaii USA
- Global Futures Laboratory & School of Sustainability Arizona State University Tempe Arizona USA
- Conservation International Betty and Gordon Moore Center for Science Arlington Virginia USA
| | - Miranda Bernard
- School of Life Sciences, Life Sciences Center Arizona State University Tempe Arizona USA
| | - Elena Finkbeiner
- Conservation International Center for Oceans Honolulu Hawaii USA
| | - Erin Murphy
- School of Life Sciences, Life Sciences Center Arizona State University Tempe Arizona USA
| | - Pablo Obregon
- Conservation International Center for Oceans Honolulu Hawaii USA
| | - Dane H. Klinger
- Conservation International Center for Oceans Honolulu Hawaii USA
- Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health Harvard University Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Michael L. Schoon
- Global Futures Laboratory & School of Sustainability Arizona State University Tempe Arizona USA
- School of Sustainability Arizona State University Tempe Arizona USA
| | - Kevin J. Dooley
- The Sustainability Consortium Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University Scottsdale Arizona USA
| | - Leah R. Gerber
- School of Life Sciences, Life Sciences Center Arizona State University Tempe Arizona USA
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15
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Conceptualising value chain research to integrate multiple food system elements. GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2021.100500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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16
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Foo SA, Walsh WJ, Lecky J, Marcoux S, Asner GP. Impacts of pollution, fishing pressure, and reef rugosity on resource fish biomass in West Hawaii. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e2213. [PMID: 32750738 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Human activities and land-use drivers combine in complex ways to affect coral reef health and, in turn, the diversity and abundance of reef fauna. Here we examine the impacts of different marine protected area (MPA) types, and various human and habitat drivers, on resource fish functional groups (i.e., total fish, herbivore, grazer, scraper, and browser biomass) along the 180 km west coast of Hawaii Island. Across survey years from 2008 to 2018, we observed an overall decrease in total fish biomass of 45%, with similar decreases in biomass seen across most fish functional groups. MPAs that prohibited a combination of lay nets, aquarium collection, and spear fishing were most effective in maintaining and/or increasing fish biomass across all functional groups. We also found that pollution, fishing, and habitat drivers all contributed to changes in total fish biomass, where the most negative impact was nitrogen input from land-based sewage disposal. Fish biomass relationships with our study drivers depended on fish functional grouping. For surgeonfish (grazers), changes in biomass linked most strongly to changes in reef rugosity. For parrotfish (scrapers), biomass was better explained by changes in commercial catch where current commercial fishing levels are negatively affecting scraper populations. Our observations suggest that regional management of multiple factors, including habitat, pollution, and fisheries, will benefit resource fish biomass off Hawaii Island.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawna A Foo
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287, USA
| | - William J Walsh
- Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources, 74-380B Kealakehe Parkway, Kailua Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
| | - Joey Lecky
- Lynker Technologies LLC, Marine, Ocean, and Coastal Science and Information Group, 202 Church Street, SE/Suite 536, Leesburg, Virginia, 20175, USA
| | - Stacia Marcoux
- Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources, 75-308B Kealakehe Parkway, Kailua Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
| | - Gregory P Asner
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287, USA
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17
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Foo SA, Asner GP. Impacts of remotely sensed environmental drivers on coral outplant survival. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shawna A. Foo
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona 85287 U.S.A
| | - Gregory P. Asner
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona 85287 U.S.A
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18
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Blue Economy: Community Case Studies Addressing the Poverty–Environment Nexus in Ocean and Coastal Management. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12114654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to examine how local practices of blue economy succeed in addressing the poverty–environment nexus in coastal communities. While many disciplines touch upon the concept of blue economy, little literature exists on how a sustainable blue economy approach can help bridge poverty–environment challenges, particularly at the community level. To illustrate this, we present three case studies of blue economy practices initiated and implemented by coastal communities in China, Samoa, and Vietnam. The outcomes from each case study are examined based on both their environmental and socio-economic impact. Lessons learned include the significant role of science and technology in innovating solutions, the crucial impact of community leaders in encouraging and amplifying both local needs and solutions, continuous advocacy, fulfilling the very important need for communities to witness tangible benefits of project implementation, and last but not least the availability of resources and know-how resulting from multi-stakeholder partnerships including local governing councils, NGOs, and community members. Local communities have an unrecognized potential for adaptation and innovation and that more proactive public policies are required to achieve environmental and poverty reduction objectives simultaneously.
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19
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Toward Sustainability of South African Small-Scale Fisheries Leveraging ICT Transformation Pathways. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12020743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Though Internet and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been employed in small-scale fisheries (SSFs) globally, they are seldom systematically explored for the ways in which they facilitate equality, democracy and sustainability. Our study explored how ICTs in South African small-scale fisheries are leveraged towards value chain upgrading, collective action and institutional sustainability—key issues that influence small-scale fishery contributions to marine resource sustainability. We held a participatory workshop as part of ongoing research in the town of Lambert’s Bay, South Africa, in collaboration with small-scale fishers and the Abalobi ICT project. We mapped fisher value chain challenges and explored the role of ICT-driven transformation pathways, adopting Wright’s ‘Real Utopian’ framework as the lens through which to explore equality, democracy and institutional sustainability. We found Abalobi’s ICT platform had the potential to facilitate deeper meanings of democracy that incorporate socio-economic reform, collective action and institutional sustainability in South Africa’s small-scale fisheries. Where fishers are not engaged beyond passive generators of data, this had the potential to undermine the goals of increasing power parity between small-scale fisheries and other stakeholders.
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20
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Woodhead AJ, Hicks CC, Norström AV, Williams GJ, Graham NAJ. Coral reef ecosystem services in the Anthropocene. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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21
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McCoy KS, Williams ID, Friedlander AM, Ma H, Teneva L, Kittinger JN. Estimating nearshore coral reef-associated fisheries production from the main Hawaiian Islands. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195840. [PMID: 29659616 PMCID: PMC5901996 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, information on nearshore reef-associated fisheries is frequently disparate or incomplete, creating a challenge for effective management. This study utilized an existing non-commercial fishery dataset from Hawaiʻi, covering the period 2004–13, to estimate a variety of fundamental fishery parameters, including participation, effort, gear use, and catch per unit effort. We then used those data to reconstruct total catches per island. Non-commercial fisheries in this case comprise recreational, subsistence, and cultural harvest, which may be exchanged, but are not sold. By combining those data with reported commercial catch data, we estimated annual catch of nearshore reef-associated fisheries in the main Hawaiian Islands over the study period to be 1,167,758 ± 43,059 kg year-1 (mean ± standard error). Average annual commercial reef fish catch over the same time period—184,911 kg year-1—was 16% of the total catch, but that proportion varied greatly among islands, ranging from 23% on Oʻahu to 5% on Molokaʻi. These results emphasize the importance of reef fishing in Hawaiʻi for reasons beyond commerce, such as food security and cultural practice, and highlight the large differences in fishing practices across the Hawaiian Islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaylyn S. McCoy
- Joint Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, United States of America
- Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, United States of America
- Ecosystem Sciences Division, Coral Reef Ecosystem Program, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Ivor D. Williams
- Ecosystem Sciences Division, Coral Reef Ecosystem Program, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, United States of America
| | - Alan M. Friedlander
- Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, United States of America
- Pristine Seas, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Hongguang Ma
- Fisheries Research and Monitoring Division, Insular Fisheries Monitoring Program, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, United States of America
| | - Lida Teneva
- Conservation International, Center for Oceans, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, United States of America
| | - John N. Kittinger
- Conservation International, Center for Oceans, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, United States of America
- Arizona State University, Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, Life Sciences Center, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Conservation International, Betty and Gordon Moore Center for Science, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America
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22
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Martins APB, Feitosa LM, Lessa RP, Almeida ZS, Heupel M, Silva WM, Tchaicka L, Nunes JLS. Analysis of the supply chain and conservation status of sharks (Elasmobranchii: Superorder Selachimorpha) based on fisher knowledge. PLoS One 2018. [PMID: 29534100 PMCID: PMC5849302 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing fishing effort has caused declines in shark populations worldwide. Understanding biological and ecological characteristics of sharks is essential to effectively implement management measures, but to fully understand drivers of fishing pressure social factors must be considered through multidisciplinary and integrated approaches. The present study aimed to use fisher and trader knowledge to describe the shark catch and product supply chain in Northeastern Brazil, and evaluate perceptions regarding the regional conservation status of shark species. Non-systematic observations and structured individual interviews were conducted with experienced fishers and traders. The demand and economic value of shark fins has reportedly decreased over the last 10 years while the shark meat trade has increased slightly, including a small increase in the average price per kilogram of meat. Several threatened shark species were reportedly often captured off shore and traded at local markets. This reported and observed harvest breaches current Brazilian environmental laws. Fishing communities are aware of population declines of several shark species, but rarely take action to avoid capture of sharks. The continuing capture of sharks is mainly due to a lack of knowledge of environmental laws, lack of enforcement by responsible authorities, and difficulties encountered by fishers in finding alternative income streams. National and regional conservation measures are immediately required to reduce overfishing on shark populations in Northeastern Brazil. Social and economic improvements for poor fishing communities must also be implemented to achieve sustainable fisheries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Barbosa Martins
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture & College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld, Australia
- CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasilia–DF, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Leonardo Manir Feitosa
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco—Av. Professor Moraes Rego, Cidade Universitária. Recife–PE, Brazil
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco–Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos. Recife–PE, Brazil
| | - Rosangela Paula Lessa
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco–Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos. Recife–PE, Brazil
| | - Zafira Silva Almeida
- Universidade Estadual do Maranhão–Cidade Universitária Paulo VI, s/n, Tirirical. São Luís–MA, Brazil
| | - Michelle Heupel
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture & College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - Wagner Macedo Silva
- Universidade Estadual do Maranhão–Cidade Universitária Paulo VI, s/n, Tirirical. São Luís–MA, Brazil
| | - Ligia Tchaicka
- Universidade Estadual do Maranhão–Cidade Universitária Paulo VI, s/n, Tirirical. São Luís–MA, Brazil
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