One hundred priority questions for advancing seagrass conservation in Europe

Plants People Planet, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 6(3), P. 587 - 603

Published: Feb. 8, 2024

Societal Impact Statement Seagrass ecosystems are of fundamental importance to our planet and wellbeing. Seagrasses marine flowering plants, which engineer that provide a multitude ecosystem services, for example, blue foods carbon sequestration. have largely been degraded across much their global range. There is now increasing interest in the conservation restoration these systems, particularly context climate emergency biodiversity crisis. The collation 100 questions from experts Europe could, if answered, improve ability conserve restore systems by facilitating shift success such work. Summary meadows numerous services including biodiversity, coastal protection, In Europe, seagrasses can be found shallow sheltered waters along coastlines, estuaries & lagoons, around islands, but distribution has declined. Factors as poor water quality, modification, mechanical damage, overfishing, land‐sea interactions, change disease reduced coverage Europe’s necessitating recovery. Research, monitoring efforts on seagrass mostly uncoordinated biased towards certain species regions, resulting inadequate delivery critical information management. Here, we aim identify priority questions, addressed would strongly advance monitoring, research Europe. Using Delphi method, researchers, practitioners, policymakers with experience diverse expertise participated process involved formulation voting an online workshop final list questions. covers areas nine themes: Biodiversity Ecology; Ecosystem services; Blue carbon; Fishery support; Drivers, Threats, Resilience Response; Monitoring Assessment; Conservation Restoration; Governance, Policy Management; Communication. Answering will fill current knowledge gaps place European onto positive trajectory

Language: Английский

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Perspective: sustainability challenges, opportunities and solutions for long-term ecosystem observations

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 378(1881)

Published: May 29, 2023

As interest in natural capital grows and society increasingly recognizes the value of biodiversity, we must discuss how ecosystem observations to detect changes biodiversity can be sustained through collaboration across regions sectors. However, there are many barriers establishing sustaining large-scale, fine-resolution observations. First, comprehensive monitoring data on both possible anthropogenic factors lacking. Second, some situ cannot systematically established maintained locations. Third, equitable solutions sectors countries needed build a global network. Here, by examining individual cases emerging frameworks, mainly from (but not limited to) Japan, illustrate ecological science relies long-term neglecting basic our home planet further reduces chances overcoming environmental crisis. We also techniques opportunities, such as DNA citizen well using existing forgotten sites monitoring, that help overcome difficulties at large scale with fine resolution. Overall, this paper presents call action for joint factors, systematic establishment maintenance observations, network, beyond cultures, languages, economic status. hope proposed framework examples Japan serve starting point discussions collaborations among stakeholders multiple society. It is time take next step detecting socio-ecological systems, if observation made more feasible, they will play an even important role ensuring sustainability future generations. This article part theme issue 'Detecting attributing causes change: needs, gaps solutions'.

Language: Английский

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A Pleistocene legacy structures variation in modern seagrass ecosystems

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 119(32)

Published: Aug. 1, 2022

Distribution of Earth’s biomes is structured by the match between climate and plant traits, which in turn shape associated communities ecosystem processes services. However, that climate–trait can be disrupted historical events, with lasting impacts. As environment changes faster than at any time human history, critical questions are whether how organismal traits ecosystems adjust to altered conditions. We quantified relative importance current environmental forcing versus evolutionary history shaping growth form (stature biomass) community eelgrass ( Zostera marina ), a widespread foundation marine along Northern Hemisphere coastlines, experienced major shifts distribution genetic composition during Pleistocene. found stature biomass retain legacy Pleistocene colonization Atlantic from ancestral Pacific range more recent within-basin bottlenecks differentiation. This influences algae invertebrates fuel coastal food webs, effects comparable or stronger forcing. Such lags phenotypic acclimatization may constrain adjustments rapid anthropogenic change, thus altering predictions about future functioning ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Ocean current patterns drive the worldwide colonization of eelgrass (Zostera marina)

Nature Plants, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9(8), P. 1207 - 1220

Published: July 20, 2023

Currents are unique drivers of oceanic phylogeography and thus determine the distribution marine coastal species, along with past glaciations sea-level changes. Here we reconstruct worldwide colonization history eelgrass (Zostera marina L.), most widely distributed flowering plant or seagrass from its origin in Northwest Pacific, based on nuclear chloroplast genomes. We identified two divergent Pacific clades evidence for admixture East coast. Two west-to-east (trans-Pacific) events support key role North Current. Time-calibrated phylogenies yielded concordant estimates arrival Z. Atlantic through Canadian Arctic, suggesting that eelgrass-based ecosystems, hotspots biodiversity carbon sequestration, have only been present there ~243 ky (thousand years). Mediterranean populations were founded ~44 kya, while extant distributions western eastern shores at end Last Glacial Maximum (~19 kya), least one major refuge being Carolina region. The recent five- to sevenfold lower genomic diversity compared raises concern opportunity about how might respond rapidly warming oceans.

Language: Английский

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Variation in genomic vulnerability to climate change across temperate populations of eelgrass (Zostera marina)

Evolutionary Applications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(4)

Published: April 1, 2024

Abstract A global decline in seagrass populations has led to renewed calls for their conservation as important providers of biogenic and foraging habitat, shoreline stabilization carbon storage. Eelgrass ( Zostera marina ) occupies the largest geographic range among species spanning a commensurately broad spectrum environmental conditions. In Canada, eelgrass is managed single phylogroup despite occurring across three oceans ocean temperatures salinity gradients. Previous research focused on applying relatively few markers reveal population structure eelgrass, whereas whole‐genome approach warranted investigate cryptic inhabiting different basins localized We used pooled re‐sequencing characterize structure, gene flow associations 23 ranging from Northeast United States Atlantic, subarctic Pacific Canada. identified over 500,000 SNPs, which when mapped chromosome‐level genome assembly revealed six clades study area, with pairwise F ST 0 neighbouring 0.54 between Atlantic coasts. Genetic diversity was highest lowest subarctic, consistent colonization Arctic less than 300 kya. Using redundancy analyses two climate change projection scenarios, we found that are predicted be potentially more vulnerable through genomic offset predictions. Conservation planning Canada should thus ensure representative each clade included within national network so latent genetic protected, maintained. Northern populations, particular, may require additional mitigation measures given potential susceptibility rapidly changing climate.

Language: Английский

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Mapping and assessing seagrass meadows changes and blue carbon under past, current, and future scenarios

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 872, P. 162244 - 162244

Published: Feb. 14, 2023

Seagrasses store large amounts of blue carbon and mitigate climate change, but they have suffered strong regressions worldwide in recent decades. Blue assessments may support their conservation. However, existing maps are still scarce focused on certain seagrass species, such as the iconic genus Posidonia, intertidal very shallow seagrasses (<10 m depth), while deep-water opportunistic remained understudied. This study filled this gap by mapping assessing storage sequestration Cymodocea nodosa Canarian archipelago using local capacity high spatial resolution (20 m/pixel) distribution for years 2000 2018. Particularly, we mapped assessed past, current future C. to carbon, according four plausible scenarios, valued economic implications these scenarios. Our results showed that has ca. 50 % area loss last two decades, and, if degradation rate continues, our estimations demonstrate it could completely disappear 2036 ("Collapse scenario"). The impact losses 2050 would reach 1.43 MT CO2 equivalent emitted with a cost 126.3 million € (0.32 Canary GDP). If, however, is slow down, between 0.11 0.57 be until ("Intermediate" "Business-as-usual" respectively), which corresponds social 3.63 44.81 €, respectively. If extension maintained ("No Net Loss"), 0.75 sequestered from now 2050, saving 73.59 €. reproducibility methodology across coastal ecosystems underpinned marine vegetation provides key tool decision-making conservation habitats.

Language: Английский

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Empowering Regional Conservation: Genetic Diversity Assessments as a Tool for Eelgrass Management

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 12, 2025

To halt the loss of biodiversity, collaboration among scientists, managers and decision-makers is vital. Although biodiversity a global problem, management actions influencing diversity are often on local to regional scale. Our study an example conservation genomic assessment developed in between scientists managers. We used 2bRAD sequencing assess 18 eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows northwestern Sweden, area that has experienced large losses since 1980s. Genetic was comparable other assessed Atlantic, but order magnitude lower than Pacific. All one meadow showed high rates sexual reproduction. Almost all were divergent grouped into five genetic clusters. Four clusters correspond geographic regions can be define units. Meadows areas with decline 1980s 2020s more inbred increase eelgrass. Overall, our results indicate striving protect number within each cluster important for maintaining connectivity Sweden likely beneficial wider ecosystem. estimate current indicators essential variables discuss their challenges marine facultative clonal species. showcase how regional-scale assessments serve as foundation protection restoration priority

Language: Английский

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Host traits and temperature predict biogeographical variation in seagrass disease prevalence

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 292(2040)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Diseases are ubiquitous in natural systems, with broad effects across populations, communities and ecosystems. However, the drivers of many diseases remain poorly understood, particularly marine environments, inhibiting effective conservation management measures. We examined biogeographical patterns infection foundational seagrass Zostera marina by parasitic protist Labyrinthula zosterae , causative agent wasting disease, >20° latitude two ocean basins. then identified characterized relationships among disease prevalence a suite host traits environmental variables. Host characteristics transmission dynamics explained most variance our survey, yet particular underlying these varied between oceans, size nitrogen content important Pacific density Atlantic. Temperature was also key predictor prevalence, Ocean. The strength shape some predictors differed large-scale survey versus previous experimental site-specific work. These results show that both environment influence host–parasite interactions, such scale up predictably, whereas others appear to depend on regional or local context.

Language: Английский

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A Latitudinal Cline in the Taxonomic Structure of Eelgrass Epifaunal Communities is Associated With Plant Genetic Diversity

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 30, 2024

ABSTRACT Aim Biogenic structural complexity increases mobile animal richness and abundance at local, regional global scales, yet taxa vary in their response to complexity. When these also functionally, habitat structures favouring certain may have consequences for ecosystem function. We characterised patterns of epifaunal invertebrates eelgrass ( Zostera marina ) beds that varied genetic composition. Location North America, Europe Asia. Time Period 2014. Major Taxa Studied Peracarid crustaceans gastropod molluscs. Methods sampled invertebrate communities 49 across 37° latitude two ocean basins concurrently with measurements diversity, other abiotic biotic environmental variables. examined how species richness, community composition predictors using a random forest approach. functional trait along structure. Results Total decreased latitude, but this was accompanied by taxonomic shift dominance from peracarid gastropods, which exhibited different sets traits. Greater diversity strongly correlated both peracarids, less so gastropods. Main Conclusions Our results add growing body literature suggests variation plant traits influences associated faunal assemblages via Because peracarids gastropods distinct traits, our suggest tentative indirect link between broad‐scale

Language: Английский

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Genomic responses to parallel temperature gradients in the eelgrass Zostera marina in adjacent bays

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 32(11), P. 2835 - 2849

Published: Feb. 23, 2023

Abstract The extent of parallel genomic responses to similar selective pressures depends on a complex array environmental, demographic, and evolutionary forces. Laboratory experiments with replicated yield mixed outcomes under controlled conditions our understanding parallelism in the wild is limited few well‐established systems. Here, we examine signals selection eelgrass Zostera marina across temperature gradients adjacent embayments. Although find many regions within each bay there very little overlap at SNP level, despite most polymorphisms being shared bays. We do gene potentially suggesting multiple mutational pathways same phenotype. Using polygenic models that some sets candidate SNPs are able predict both bays, small but shifts allele frequencies may be missed by independent genome scans. Together, these results highlight continuous rather than binary nature evolution traits complexity predictability.

Language: Английский

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