From land to deep sea: A continuum of cumulative human impacts on marine habitats in Atlantic Canada

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(9)

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Abstract Effective management and mitigation of multiple human impacts on marine ecosystems require accurate knowledge the spatial patterns activities their overlap with vulnerable habitats. Cumulative impact (CI) mapping combines information intensity extent habitats vulnerabilities to those stressors into an intuitive relative CI score that can inform planning processes ecosystem‐based management. Here, we mapped potential CIs 45 from five sectors (climate change, land‐based, marine‐based, coastal, commercial fishing) 21 in Atlantic Canada's Scotian Shelf bioregion. We applied uncertainty sensitivity analysis assess robustness results identify hot cold spots CIs. Nearly entire bioregion experiences activities, high were frequently associated stressors. varied widely across habitats: scores >30 m deep dominated by climate change fishing, while nearshore influenced a much wider range all sectors. When standardized area, coastal had among highest scores, highlighting these despite relatively small emphasizing importance multisector approach when managing ecosystems. Robust (i.e., areas insensitive alternative modeling assumptions simulated data quality issues) occurred mostly where high‐intensity overlapped highly biogenic In contrast, robust offshore. Overall, our emphasize need consider protection demonstrates that, many areas, targeting only one activity will be insufficient reduce overall impact. The map useful highlight impacts, provide for ecological indicator development, establish baseline current state use

Language: Английский

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Sediment Properties and Seagrass Density Influence the Morphological Plasticity of Seagrass Zostera muelleri More Than Elevated Temperatures

Estuaries and Coasts, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 48(2)

Published: Jan. 22, 2025

Abstract Understanding the long-term effects of elevated temperatures on foundational species like seagrasses is critical for predicting and managing impacts warming coastal ecosystems worldwide. Seagrasses exhibit plasticity in response to a range environmental stressors, so climate change are likely be context dependent. This study investigated differences growth morphology Zostera muelleri inside versus outside warm water plume generated by power station operating ~ 26 years Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. The other factors, including sediment organic matter, season seagrass density were also examined ascertain their importance relative temperatures. Despite thermal being equivalent conditions predicted 2090 under future scenarios (1.5–2.7 °C above ambient), there no consistent these Z. morphology. Instead, at all sites (ambient water) was greater 40.3% spring 74.3% summer when compared winter. Increasing matter content sediments associated with 69.8% rise below-ground biomass subsequent 73.8% reduction ratio above- biomass. There evidence effects, denser meadows having shorter leaves reduced rates, due self-shading. Overall, findings demonstrate that centre its distribution eastern Australia can tolerate moderate temperature increases over decadal scales.

Language: Английский

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Anthropogenic impacts on seagrass habitat connectivity: a model to explore potential links between human activity and marine invertebrate metapopulation persistence

FACETS, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 10, P. 1 - 15

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Coastal ecosystems face numerous stressors from anthropogenic activities. Furthermore, local that directly impact ecological processes in one location can scale up to have indirect regional consequences. In the case of dispersing marine invertebrates, human activity may dispersal and survival rates, which then alter connectivity patterns metapopulation dynamics across seascape. Here, we developed a framework model persistence seagrass-associated invertebrates Salish Sea, focusing primarily on British Columbia, Canada. We combined biophysical with metrics habitat naturalness how activities potentially persistence. found reduce population region, although effect varied based location, dynamics, severity impacts modeled. The majority populations, however, remained persistent, suggesting there are robust redundant pathways maintain disturbances. This study highlights importance understanding together context could implications for future spatial planning effective management biodiversity.

Language: Английский

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Monitoring Estuarine Habitats and Threats at a Regional Scale Using Aerial Photography, Object-Based Image Analysis and Deep Learning

Wetlands, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 45(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Incorporating ecosystem component interactions and indirect effects in cumulative impact assessment models

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 381, P. 125268 - 125268

Published: April 14, 2025

The cumulative impact of anthropogenic pressures on coastal seas is important to consider for a strategic and sustainable management marine ecosystems. We aim demonstrate how, what extent, incorporating interactions among ecosystem components (species habitats) indirect effects through other can develop existing assessment (CIA) models. A Swedish case study area was selected test simplified version the extended regional Symphony CIA model. Five pollution- climate-driven acting three trophically connected components, i.e. cod, herring plankton species/organism groups, were used. In addition, we conducted systematic review scientific literature determine weight scores an advancement method. results from development models clearly indicate importance introducing component into total increased by 117 % in area, but even more importantly, model resulted spatially detailed outcome with greater spatial variability magnitude impact. New areas highlighted that are under pressure compared original Thus, captures impacts would otherwise be overlooked if ignored. These types changes required increase predictive power ecological relevance accommodate solid holistic ecosystem-based management.

Language: Английский

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Bioaccumulation and Trophic Transfer of Heavy Metals in Marine Fish: Ecological and Ecosystem-Level Impacts

Journal of Xenobiotics, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(2), P. 59 - 59

Published: April 18, 2025

Heavy metal contamination in marine ecosystems poses a critical environmental challenge, with significant implications for biodiversity, trophic dynamics, and human health. Marine fish are key bioindicators of heavy pollution because their role food webs capacity bioaccumulation transfer. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the pathways mechanisms accumulation fish, focusing factors that influence uptake, retention, tissue distribution. We explore processes governing transfer biomagnification, highlighting species-specific patterns risks posed to apex predators, including humans. Additionally, we assess ecological consequences at population, community, ecosystem levels, emphasizing its effects reproduction, community structure, interactions. By integrating recent findings, this highlights gaps suggests future research directions improve monitoring risk assessment. Given persistence bioavailability metals environments, effective control strategies sustainable fisheries management imperative mitigate long-term public health risks.

Language: Английский

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Consequences of Juvenile Fish Movement and Seascape Connectivity: Does the Concept of Nursery Habitat Need a Rethink?

Estuaries and Coasts, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 47(3), P. 607 - 621

Published: Jan. 20, 2024

Language: Английский

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Nitrogen fixation of different seasons and parts of seagrass Enhalus acoroides in Xincun Bay, northern South China Sea

Regional Studies in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 76, P. 103599 - 103599

Published: June 4, 2024

Language: Английский

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Predicting the cumulative effects of multiple stressors on shellfish ecosystem service potential

Ocean & Coastal Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 259, P. 107486 - 107486

Published: Nov. 17, 2024

Language: Английский

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