Nature-based and bioinspired solutions for coastal protection: an overview among key ecosystems and a promising pathway for new functional and sustainable designs

ICES Journal of Marine Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 80(5), P. 1218 - 1239

Published: May 25, 2023

Abstract Coastal erosion is occurring at a faster rate than in the past. The adverse impacts are not negligible environmental, economic, and socio-cultural levels. Hence, coastal protection currently seen as an emerging need to counteract their many negative effects on worldwide ecosystems. In this regard, natural systems organisms represent complex system of solutions that can efficiently create and/or inspire development natural, sustainable, cutting-edge barriers. ecosystems, such coral reefs, oyster mangroves, saltmarshes, seagrasses, polychaete act barrier for destructive waves wind forces. Moreover, living have evolved unique strategies withstand environmental hydrodynamic loadings. This review intends provide overview regarding related nature-based bioinspired specific field protection, describing state art, methods, processes, tools, well delineating promising pathway new functional sustainable designs.

Language: Английский

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It's time to broaden what we consider a ‘blue carbon ecosystem’

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(5)

Published: May 1, 2024

Abstract Photoautotrophic marine ecosystems can lock up organic carbon in their biomass and the associated sediments they trap over millennia are thus regarded as blue ecosystems. Because of ability to for millennia, is receiving much attention within United Nations' 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development a nature‐based solution (NBS) climate change, but classically still focuses on seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, tidal marshes. However, other coastal could also be important storage, remain largely neglected both cycling budgets NBS strategic planning. Using meta‐analysis 253 research publications, we identify ecosystems—including mud flats, fjords, coralline algal (rhodolith) beds, some components or coral reef systems—with strong capacity act sinks certain situations. Features that promote burial these ‘non‐classical’ included: (1) balancing release by calcification via uptake at individual ecosystem levels; (2) high rates allochthonous supply because particle trapping capacity; (3) preservation low remineralization rates; (4) location depositional environments. Some features context‐dependent, meaning were locations, not others. Therefore, provide universal framework evaluate likelihood given behave sink context. Overall, this paper seeks encourage consideration non‐classical strategies, allowing more complete accounting.

Language: Английский

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Sources and discharge of nitrogen pollution from agriculture and wastewater in the Mesoamerican Reef region

Ocean & Coastal Management, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 227, P. 106269 - 106269

Published: July 18, 2022

Land-based nitrogen pollution is a major threat to coastal ecosystems, especially in tropical regions home high biodiversity habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass beds. The sustained addition of excess nutrients (in the form nitrates) these which are adapted oligotrophic environments, disrupts ecosystem function ability provide services that support livelihoods benefit human well-being. Nitrogen (N) primarily originates from agricultural crop production, livestock waste, sewage, well excretion seabird feral ungulates for some small atolls cayes. Determining most effective mitigation strategies reduce N given location begins with identifying quantifying input source. Here we model four sources – wastewater generated permanent residents seasonal populations at regional scale, measuring inputs impacts 430 watersheds drain into Mesoamerican Reef region. We find leaching fertilizer production runoff associated contribute majority (92%), while contributions residential tourism were lower (8%). A north-south divide was observed, south, Guatemala Honduras, highest levels pollution. top 20 polluting contributed nearly 90% percent all analyzed MAR, (11) located southern part MAR. two on their own, Rio Ulua, Motagua, Guatemala, approximately 50% total However, more exposed plumes originating smaller, watersheds. Our approach provides map region highlighting hotspots managers target mitigation, main sectors industries engage when designing solutions.

Language: Английский

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Heterotrophy in marine animal forests in an era of climate change

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 99(3), P. 965 - 978

Published: Jan. 29, 2024

Marine animal forests (MAFs) are benthic ecosystems characterised by biogenic three-dimensional structures formed suspension feeders such as corals, gorgonians, sponges and bivalves. They comprise highly diversified communities among the most productive in world's oceans. However, MAFs decline due to global local stressors that threaten survival growth of their foundational species associated biodiversity. Innovative scalable interventions needed address degradation increase resilience under change. Surprisingly, few studies have considered trophic interactions heterotrophic feeding MAF an integral component conservation. Yet, important for nutrient cycling, energy flow within food web, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, stability. This comprehensive review describes at all levels ecological organisation tropical, temperate, cold-water MAFs. It examines strengths weaknesses available tools estimating capacities then discusses threats climate change poses processes. Finally, it presents strategies improving heterotrophy, which can help maintain health

Language: Английский

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Rapid Site Selection to Prioritize Coastal Seascapes for Nature-Based Solutions With Multiple Benefits

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

Published: April 29, 2022

Coastal seascapes are productive and diverse land-sea systems that provide many valuable benefits yet increasingly threatened by human activity. Scaling up of nature-based solutions (NbS) to effectively protect, sustainably manage, restore coastal is urgently required for mitigation climate change biodiversity loss while also providing socio-economic benefits. Evidence-based site selection an important first step improve the outcomes avoid negative impacts when prioritizing NbS investments at national level. We developed a spatially explicit, integrative culturally relevant ecosystem-based process identify portfolio consideration in United Arab Emirates (UAE). The primary goal was rank planning units based on potential action, positive impact people. multi-criteria site-selection framework provided rapid, transparent, repeatable scalable tool. highest weightings were assigned blue carbon storage value, conservation features, local stakeholder preferred areas. Spatial proxies people represented population density accessibility seascapes, relative tourism recreation potential, importance fish habitat fishing grounds food security. Participatory mapping knowledge review existing data ensured both qualitative quantitative criteria reliable, up-to-date locally relevant. Two distinct clusters high suitability identified Abu Dhabi region four along north-western coast UAE. Most sites located outside marine protected Alternative spatial scenarios without bias underscored through participatory highlighted additional priority future scaling-up NbS. A corridor medium across offers designing well-connected accelerate boost synergistic increase resilience. provides rapid tool integrates global open access range scales with great transferability other regions worldwide.

Language: Английский

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Integrating SAR, Optical, and Machine Learning for Enhanced Coastal Mangrove Monitoring in Guyana

Remote Sensing, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(3), P. 542 - 542

Published: Jan. 31, 2024

Mangrove forests are a biodiverse ecosystem known for wide variety of crucial ecological services, including carbon sequestration, coastal erosion control, and prevention saltwater intrusion. Given the importance mangrove forests, comprehensive up-to-date extent mapping at broad geographic scales is needed to define forest changes, assess their implications, support restoration activities decision making. The main objective this study evaluate classifications derived from combination Landsat-8 OLI, Sentinel-2, Sentinel-1 observations using random (RF) machine learning (ML) algorithm identify best approach monitoring Guyana’s on an annual basis. Algorithm accuracy was tested high-resolution planet imagery in Collect Earth Online. Results varied widely across different combinations input data (overall accuracy, 88–95%; producer’s mangroves, 50–87%; user’s 13–69%). combined optical–radar classification demonstrated performance with overall 95%. Area estimates ranged 908.4 3645.0 hectares. A ground-based validation exercise confirmed several large, previously undocumented areas loss. results establish that fusion combining optical radar performs marginally better than optical-only approaches classification. This ML approach, which leverages free open cloud-based analytics platform, can be applied other Guyana. also operational managed by National Agricultural Research Extension Institute (NAREI).

Language: Английский

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Dye tracing and concentration mapping in coastal waters using unmanned aerial vehicles

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Jan. 21, 2022

Abstract Coastal water flows facilitate important nutrient exchanges between mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs. However, due to the complex nature of tidal interactions, their spatiotemporal development can be difficult trace via traditional field instrumentations. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) serve as ideal platforms from which capture such dynamic responses. Here, we provide a UAV-based approach for tracing coastal using object-based detection dye plume extent coupled with regression mapping concentration. From hovering UAV images nine subsequent flight surveys covering duration an ebbing tide in Red Sea, our results show that mapped low omission commission errors when assessed against manual delineations. Our also demonstrated interaction term two UAV-derived indices may employed accurately map concentration (coefficient determination = 0.96, root mean square error 7.78 ppb), providing insights into vertical horizontal transportation dilution materials column. We showcase capabilities high-frequency data demonstrate how field-based measurements integrated future studies flow dynamics.

Language: Английский

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Seagrass ecosystem adjacent to mangroves store higher amount of organic carbon of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andaman Sea

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 193, P. 115135 - 115135

Published: June 18, 2023

Language: Английский

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Re-connecting ecosystems: Integrating coral reefs into monitoring of island restoration

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 170, P. 113042 - 113042

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Natural Flood Risk Management in Tropical Southeast Asia: Prospects in the Biodiverse Archipelagic Nation of the Philippines

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Natural flood management (NFM) has gained prominence as a risk approach in temperate settings but lacks extensive applied examples and evidence tropical settings, despite significant ecosystem degradation high exposure. Tropical river catchments often experience highly variable hydrographs (i.e., prone to flash floods) intense rainfall from monsoon typhoon‐dominated weather systems that can cause landslides sediment‐transporting flows. These conditions provide backdrop the prospects for NFM Southeast Asia, of which Philippines is representative. Catchments country are typically small thus associated with short hydrological response times. They also characterized by diversity types, rates lateral mobility, downstream urbanization, complex land use mosaics at coast. Consideration conceptual framework may enable conversations about adapting existing approaches. To explore these alternatives, we conceptualize opportunities typical catchment divide into four nested, connected parts: managing headwaters sponges; conserving restoring floodplain width; blue‐green infrastructure urban areas; maintaining creating space water fluvial‐coastal settings. There potential countries such adopt strategies have shown promise regions select Asian countries, where emerging supports their effectiveness. Monitoring interventions remains crucial gather supporting broader application nature‐based solutions mitigation biodiversity loss Asia.

Language: Английский

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