Seagrass ecosystem services – What's next?

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 134, P. 145 - 151

Published: Sept. 20, 2017

Seagrasses, marine flowering plants, provide a wide range of ecosystem services, defined here as natural processes and components that directly or indirectly benefit human needs. Recent research has shown there are still many gaps in our comprehension seagrass service provision. Furthermore, seems to be little public knowledge seagrasses general the benefits they provide. This begs questions: how do we move forward with information have? What other need what actions take order improve situation appreciation for seagrass? Based on outcomes from an international expert eliciting workshop, three key areas advance were identified: 1) Variability services within meadows among different meadows; 2) Seagrass relation to, their connection with, coastal habitats; 3) Improvement communication public. Here present ways raise profile globally, means establish more effective conservation restoration these important habitats around world.

Language: Английский

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Seagrass beds acting as a trap of microplastics - Emerging hotspot in the coastal region?

Environmental Pollution, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 257, P. 113450 - 113450

Published: Oct. 24, 2019

Language: Английский

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Blue Carbon Storage Capacity of Temperate Eelgrass (Zostera marina) Meadows

Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 32(10), P. 1457 - 1475

Published: Sept. 19, 2018

Abstract Despite the importance of coastal ecosystems for global carbon budgets, knowledge their storage capacity and factors driving variability in is still limited. Here we provide an estimate on magnitude stocks within a widely distributed marine foundation species throughout its distribution area temperate Northern Hemisphere. We sampled 54 eelgrass ( Zostera marina ) meadows, spread across eight ocean margins 36° latitude, to determine abiotic biotic influencing organic (C org sediments. The C (integrated over 25‐cm depth) showed large ranged from 318 26,523 g C/m 2 with average 2,721 . projected obtained by extrapolating top 1 m sediment between 23.1 351.7 Mg C/ha, which line estimates other seagrasses blue ecosystems. Most variation was explained five environmental variables (sediment mud content, dry density degree sorting, salinity water depth), while plant attributes such as biomass shoot were less important stocks. Carbon isotopic signatures indicated that at most sites <50% derived seagrass, lower than reported previously seagrass meadows. high spatial urges caution geographical areas well species.

Language: Английский

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High variability of Blue Carbon storage in seagrass meadows at the estuary scale

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: April 3, 2020

Seagrass meadows are considered important natural carbon sinks due to their capacity store organic (Corg) in sediments. However, the spatial heterogeneity of storage seagrass sediments needs be better understood improve accuracy Blue Carbon assessments, particularly when strong gradients present. We performed an intensive coring study within a sub-tropical estuary assess variability sedimentary Corg associated with seagrasses, and identify key factors promoting this variability. found pattern estuary, from 52.16 mg cm-3 upper parts, declining 1.06 at mouth, despite general gradient increasing cover habitat extent opposite direction. The underneath came principally allochthonous (non-seagrass) sources (~70-90 %), while contribution seagrasses was low (~10-30 %) throughout entire estuary. Our results showed that stored can highly variable attributed largely accumulation fine inputs sources. Local features existence must estimates coastal ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Sediment Properties as Important Predictors of Carbon Storage in Zostera marina Meadows: A Comparison of Four European Areas

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 11(12), P. e0167493 - e0167493

Published: Dec. 9, 2016

Seagrass ecosystems are important natural carbon sinks but their efficiency varies greatly depending on species composition and environmental conditions. What causes this variation is not fully known could have implications for management protection of the seagrass habitat to continue act as a sink. Here, we assessed sedimentary organic in Zostera marina meadows (and adjacent unvegetated sediment) four distinct areas Europe (Gullmar Fjord Swedish Skagerrak coast, Askö Baltic Sea, Sozopol Black Sea Ria Formosa southern Portugal) down ~35 cm depth. We also tested how Z. relates different sediment characteristics, range seagrass-associated variables water The storage varied among areas, with an average content ranging from 2.79 ± 0.50% Gullmar 0.17 0.02% area Sozopol. found that high proportion fine grain size, porosity low density strongly related sediment. suggest properties should be included factor when evaluating priority generated sinks.

Language: Английский

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A Comparative Assessment of Ensemble-Based Machine Learning and Maximum Likelihood Methods for Mapping Seagrass Using Sentinel-2 Imagery in Tauranga Harbor, New Zealand

Remote Sensing, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 12(3), P. 355 - 355

Published: Jan. 21, 2020

Seagrass has been acknowledged as a productive blue carbon ecosystem that is in significant decline across much of the world. A first step toward conservation mapping and monitoring extant seagrass meadows. Several methods are currently use, but resource from satellite images using machine learning not widely applied, despite its successful use various comparable applications. This research aimed to develop novel approach for state-of-the-art with data Sentinel–2 imagery. We used Tauranga Harbor, New Zealand validation site which extensive ground truth available compare ensemble involving random forests (RF), rotation (RoF), canonical correlation (CCF) more traditional maximum likelihood classifier (MLC) technique. Using group metrics including F1, precision, recall, accuracy, McNemar test, our results indicated techniques outperformed MLC RoF best performer (F1 scores ranging 0.75–0.91 sparse dense meadows, respectively). Our study comparison ensemble-based we aware, promises be an effective enhance accuracy monitoring.

Language: Английский

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Carbon in the Coastal Seascape: How Interactions Between Mangrove Forests, Seagrass Meadows and Tidal Marshes Influence Carbon Storage

Current Forestry Reports, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 4(2), P. 101 - 110

Published: April 27, 2018

We use the 'seascape' concept to explore how interactions between mangrove forests, tidal marshes and seagrass influence storage of carbon in these ecosystems. Mangrove with other two 'blue carbon' habitats, are exceptionally powerful sinks. Maintaining enhancing sinks is an emerging priority climate change mitigation. However, managing any one ecosystem on its own risks ignoring important contextual drivers from place seascape. consider coastal habitats directly or indirectly affect amounts they can store. The export seagrasses may occur over hundreds thousands kilometres, much further than reported for mangroves marshes. Seagrasses buffer wave impacts, assisting forest regeneration. Trophic cascades supported by contiguous blue habitat limit excessive herbivory bioturbation them but evidence limited. Direct transfers common likely enhance total storage, our understanding their contribution stocks at seascape level elementary. There indirect enhancement close association mostly through creation maintenance propitious conditions another. Protection waves protection excess nutrients sediment marsh key mechanisms. little theory suggesting negative effects

Language: Английский

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The greenhouse gas offset potential from seagrass restoration

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: April 30, 2020

Abstract Awarding CO 2 offset credits may incentivize seagrass restoration projects and help reverse greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from global loss. However, no study has quantified net GHG removal the atmosphere a project, which would require coupled C org stock flux enhancement measurements, or determined whether creditable benefit can finance restoration. We measured all of necessary accounting parameters in 7-km Zostera marina (eelgrass) meadow Virginia, U.S.A., part largest, most cost-effective to date, provide first test-of-concept. Restoring removed 9,600 tCO over 15 years but also enhanced both CH 4 N O production, releasing 950 e. Despite tripling 0.06 g m −2 yr −1 increasing 8-fold 0.8 , now offsets 0.42 e ha is roughly equivalent sequestration rate for inventory lower than rates temperate tropical forests. The financial this highly successful $87 K at $10 MtCO defrays ~10% cost. Managers should consider co-benefits, additional incentives

Language: Английский

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Seascape ecology: identifying research priorities for an emerging ocean sustainability science

Marine Ecology Progress Series, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 663, P. 1 - 29

Published: March 2, 2021

Seascape ecology, the marine-centric counterpart to landscape is rapidly emerging as an interdisciplinary and spatially explicit ecological science with relevance marine management, biodiversity conservation, restoration. While important progress in this field has been made past decade, there no coherent prioritisation of key research questions help set future agenda for seascape ecology. We used a 2-stage modified Delphi method solicit applied from academic experts ecology then asked respondents identify priority across 9 interrelated themes using 2 rounds selection. also invited senior management/conservation practitioners prioritise same questions. Analyses highlighted congruence discrepancies perceived priorities research. Themes related both concepts management practice, those identified include change, connectivity, spatial temporal scale, ecosystem-based technologies metrics. Highest-priority (upper tercile) received 50% agreement between respondent groups, lowest (lower 58% agreement. Across all 3 tiers, 36 55 were within ±10% band present most determined by proportion votes received. For each theme, we provide synthesis challenges potential role These serve roadmap advancing during, beyond, UN Decade Ocean Science Sustainable Development (2021-2030).

Language: Английский

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Factors Determining Seagrass Blue Carbon Across Bioregions and Geomorphologies

Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 35(6)

Published: May 21, 2021

Abstract Seagrass meadows rank among the most significant organic carbon (C org ) sinks on earth. We examined variability in seagrass soil C stocks and composition across Australia identified main drivers of variability, applying a spatially hierarchical approach that incorporates bioregions geomorphic settings. Top 30 cm were similar settings (min‐max: 20–26 Mg ha −1 ), but formed by large species (i.e., Amphibolis spp. Posidonia spp.) showed higher (24–29 than those smaller (e.g., Halodule, Halophila, Ruppia, Zostera, Cymodocea, Syringodium ; 12–21 ). In temperate coastal dominated species, mainly derived from (72 ± 2%), while allochthonous small tropical estuarine (64 5%). meadows, enhanced low hydrodynamic exposure associated with high mud contents. contributions , to moderate solar radiation, human pressure. energy, rainfall, radiation. These results showcase bioregion setting are not necessarily good predictors site‐specific estimates based local environmental factors needed for Blue Carbon projects greenhouse gases accounting purposes.

Language: Английский

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