Restoration of seagrass habitat leads to rapid recovery of coastal ecosystem services

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 6(41)

Published: Oct. 7, 2020

A total of 3612 ha seagrass habitat was restored to the Virginia coast along with services like blue carbon and fisheries.

Language: Английский

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Responses of Coastal Ecosystems to Climate Change: Insights from Long-Term Ecological Research

BioScience, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 72(9), P. 871 - 888

Published: Feb. 5, 2022

abstract Coastal ecosystems play a disproportionately large role in society, and climate change is altering their ecological structure function, as well highly valued goods services. In the present article, we review results from decade-scale research on coastal shaped by foundation species (e.g., coral reefs, kelp forests, marshes, seagrass meadows, mangrove barrier islands) to show how attributes We demonstrate value of site-based, long-term studies for quantifying resilience systems forcing, identifying thresholds that cause shifts state, investigating capacity adapt biological mechanisms underlie it. draw extensively conducted at studied US Long Term Ecological Research Network, where long-term, spatially extensive observational data are coupled with shorter-term mechanistic understand consequences change.

Language: Английский

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Decline of seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) production over two decades in the face of warming of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 239(6), P. 2126 - 2137

Published: June 27, 2023

Summary The response of Posidonia oceanica meadows to global warming the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, where increase in sea surface temperature (SST) is particularly severe, poorly investigated. Here, we reconstructed long‐term P. production 60 along Greek Seas over two decades (1997–2018), using lepidochronology. We determined effect on by reconstructing annual and maximum (i.e. August) SST, considering role other drivers related water quality Chl a , suspended particulate matter, Secchi depth). Grand mean (±SE) across all sites study period was 48 ± 1.1 mg DW per shoot yr −1 . Production last followed trajectory decrease, which concurrent SST aug Annual > 20°C 26.5°C decline (GAMM, P < 0.05), while rest tested factors did not help explain pattern. Our results indicate persistent increasing threat for meadows, drawing attention management authorities, highlighting necessity reducing local impacts enhance resilience seagrass change threats.

Language: Английский

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The use of radar and optical satellite imagery combined with advanced machine learning and metaheuristic optimization techniques to detect and quantify above ground biomass of intertidal seagrass in a New Zealand estuary

International Journal of Remote Sensing, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 42(12), P. 4712 - 4738

Published: March 23, 2021

Seagrass provides numerous valuable ecosystem services across a wide range of climatic regions. However, in terms area and habitat, this resource is decline globally there an urgent need for accurate mapping extant meadows biomass to support sustainable seagrass blue carbon conservation management. This study develops novel method binary distribution estimating above-ground (AGB) by applying suite advanced machine learning (ML) algorithms combined with without metaheuristic optimization approach (particle swarm – PSO) various combinations multispectral (Sentinel-2) synthetic aperture radar (Sentinel-1) remote sensing data. Our results reveal that the Sentinel-1 data has potential using extreme gradient boosting (XGB) model (scores precision (P) = 0.82, recall (R) 0.90, F1 0.86) but less effective at AGB. The optimal estimation AGB used both Sentinel-2 imagery, XGB model, PSO (coefficient determination (R2) 0.75, root mean squared error (RMSE) 0.35, Akaike information criteria (AIC) 24.80, Bayesian (BIC) 44.70). findings contribute methods detection improvement estimation, which are fast reliable, use open-source software should be easily applicable intertidal zones many regions world.

Language: Английский

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Defining the Zostera marina (Eelgrass) Niche from Long-Term Success of Restored and Naturally Colonized Meadows: Implications for Seagrass Restoration

Estuaries and Coasts, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 44(2), P. 396 - 411

Published: Jan. 15, 2021

Language: Английский

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Warming sea surface temperatures fuel summer epidemics of eelgrass wasting disease

Marine Ecology Progress Series, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 679, P. 47 - 58

Published: Sept. 15, 2021

Seawater temperatures are increasing, with many unquantified impacts on marine diseases. While prolonged temperature stress can accelerate host-pathogen interactions, the outcomes in nature poorly quantified. We monitored eelgrass wasting disease (EWD) from 2013-2017 and correlated mid-summer prevalence of EWD remotely sensed seawater metrics before, during, after 2015-2016 heatwave northeast Pacific, longest recent history. Eelgrass shoot density declined by 60% between 2013 2015 did not recover. ranged 5-70% increased to 60-90% 2017. severity approximately doubled each year was positively warmer for month prior sampling while negatively warming sampling. This complex result may be mediated leaf growth; bigger leaves more likely diseased, but also grow faster than lesions, resulting lower severity. Regional stressors leading population declines or early have exacerbated effects susceptibility reduced resilience this critical species.

Language: Английский

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Differential Responses of Eelgrass and Macroalgae in Pacific Northwest Estuaries Following an Unprecedented NE Pacific Ocean Marine Heatwave

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: April 1, 2022

The 2013-2016 northeast Pacific Ocean marine heatwave (MHW) had myriad impacts on communities, but little is known about how this event affected coastal estuaries. We examined the extent to which elevated temperatures associated with offshore MHW were observed in four estuaries (Willapa Bay, Washington and Netarts Yaquina Coos Oregon) responses of macrophytes at dominated sites within these Records eelgrass ( Zostera marina ), ulvoid macroalgae Ulva Enteromorpha spp.), environmental characteristics, including water temperature, analyzed over three periods: before (2006-2010), during (2015-2016), after (2017-2019) MHW. During MHW, all experienced “estuarine heatwaves” (anomalous warm events) monitoring stations there was an decline biomass. In northern bays) where are normally higher shallower, aboveground biomass declined did not recover for least years southern (Yaquina bays), colder deeper, a neutral, or temporarily positive, change Our analysis supports hypothesis that upwelling intensity estuarine depth determined severity sites, deeper south may serve as refuges macroalgae. suggest estuary-specific predictable given drivers macrophyte abundance baseline ocean temperature can be used anticipate MHWs future.

Language: Английский

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Deeper habitats and cooler temperatures moderate a climate-driven seagrass disease

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 378(1873)

Published: Feb. 6, 2023

Eelgrass creates critical coastal habitats worldwide and fulfills essential ecosystem functions as a foundation seagrass. Climate warming disease threaten eelgrass, causing mass mortalities cascading ecological impacts. Subtidal meadows are deeper than intertidal may also provide refuge from the temperature-sensitive seagrass wasting disease. From cross-boundary surveys of 5761 eelgrass leaves Alaska to Washington assisted with machine-language algorithm, we measured outbreak conditions. Across summers 2017 2018, prevalence was 16% lower for subtidal leaves; in both tidal zones, risk plants cooler Even meadows, which more environmentally stable sheltered temperature other stressors common observed high levels, half sites exceeding 50% prevalence. Models predicted reduced severity under conditions, confirming strong interaction between temperature. At dense suggesting is suppressed healthy, higher density meadows. These results underscore value locations refugia, indicate that cooling can suppress disease, have implications conservation management future climate change scenarios. This article part theme issue ‘Infectious ecology evolution changing world’.

Language: Английский

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A 2,000‐Year Record of Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) Colonization Shows Substantial Gains in Blue Carbon Storage and Nutrient Retention

Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 38(3)

Published: March 1, 2024

Abstract Assessing historical environmental conditions linked to habitat colonization is important for understanding long‐term resilience and improving conservation restoration efforts. Such information lacking the seagrass Zostera marina , an foundation species across cold‐temperate coastal areas of Northern Hemisphere. Here, we reconstructed during last 14,000 years from sediment cores in two eelgrass ( Z. ) meadows along Swedish west coast, with main aims identify time frame describe subsequent biogeochemical changes following establishment. Based on vegetation proxies (lipid biomarkers), occurred about 2,000 ago after geomorphological that resulted a shallow, sheltered environment favoring growth. Seagrass establishment led up 20‐ 24‐fold increases sedimentary carbon nitrogen accumulation rates, respectively. This demonstrates capacity seagrasses as efficient ecosystem engineers their role global change mitigation adaptation through CO 2 removal, nutrient retention. By combining regional climate projections landscape models, assessed potential effects growth, productivity distribution until 2100. These predictions showed are mostly at risk increased sedimentation hydrodynamic changes, while impact sea level rise alone might be less importance studied area. study showcases positive feedback between conditions, which holds promise successful efforts aimed supporting adaptation, provision several other crucial services.

Language: Английский

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Biotic habitats as refugia under ocean acidification

Conservation Physiology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2021

Abstract Habitat-forming organisms have an important role in ameliorating stressful conditions and may be of particular relevance under a changing climate. Increasing CO2 emissions are driving range environmental changes, one the key concerns is rapid acceleration ocean acidification associated reduction pH. Such changes seawater chemistry anticipated to direct negative effects on calcifying organisms, which could, turn, ecological, economic human health impacts. However, these do not exist isolation, but rather part complex ecosystems. Here, we use qualitative narrative synthesis framework explore (i) how habitat-forming can act restrict stress, both now future; (ii) ways their capacity so modified by local context; (iii) potential buffer future change through physiological processes this influenced management adopted. Specifically, highlight examples that consider ability macroalgae seagrasses alter water carbonate chemistry, influence resident current conditions, while also recognizing other habitats such as adjacent mangroves saltmarshes. Importantly, note outcome interactions between functional groups will context dependent, abiotic biotic characteristics. This dependence provides managers with opportunities create enhance likelihood successful amelioration. Where individuals populations managed effectively, habitat formers could provide refugia for ecological importance acidifying ocean.

Language: Английский

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