Satellite imagery reveals widespread coconut plantations on Pacific atolls DOI Creative Commons
M. Burnett,

R. French,

Breonna Jones

et al.

Environmental Research Letters, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(12), P. 124095 - 124095

Published: Dec. 1, 2024

Abstract Efforts to mitigate tropical deforestation overlook coconut palm ( Cocos nucifera L.) plantations on atolls—low island ecosystems that represent the most common landforms in Pacific basin. Coconut palms have a deep history and were planted extensively over last two centuries meet surging demand for oil exports. But despite wide interest global footprint of crops, distribution atolls has remained unknown. We applied supervised machine learning classifier satellite imagery produce 2 m resolution vegetation maps 235 266 atolls. Despite abandonment many recent decades, we find surpass native broadleaf trees terms canopy area: presently covers 58.3% mapped atolls’ total forested area 24.1% their land area. 51.2% these canopies occur monocultures indicative plantation agriculture drastic ecological changes. Even among with climates equally suitable palms, coverage is 32.1 percentage points greater those historically exported products, demonstrating significant persistent effects forest compositions Pacific. are dominant large, wet islands, reflecting high rates water use thus potential deplete critical groundwater resources. The spread also came at expense wildlife habitat, nutrient cycling, soil formation. severe environmental impacts urge ecosystem management region uniquely exposed climate change.

Language: Английский

Migrating baleen whales transport high-latitude nutrients to tropical and subtropical ecosystems DOI Creative Commons
Joe Roman, Andrew J. Abraham, Jérémy J. Kiszka

et al.

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: March 10, 2025

Baleen whales migrate from productive high-latitude feeding grounds to usually oligotrophic tropical and subtropical reproductive winter grounds, translocating limiting nutrients across ecosystem boundaries in their bodies. Here, we estimate the latitudinal movement of through carcasses, placentas, urea for four species baleen that exhibit clear annual migration, relying on spatial data publicly available databases, present past populations, measurements protein catabolism other sources nitrogen marine mammals. Migrating gray, humpback, North Atlantic southern right convey an estimated 3784 tons N yr−1 46,512 biomass a flux also known as "great whale conveyor belt"; these numbers might have been three times higher before commercial whaling. We discuss how recovery help restore nutrient by global oceans increase resilience adaptative capacity recipient ecosystems. high latitude This study estimates placentas migrations.

Language: Английский

Citations

3
A survey on underwater coral image segmentation based on deep learning DOI Creative Commons
Ming Li, Hanqi Zhang,

Armin Gruen

et al.

Geo-spatial Information Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 25

Published: May 1, 2024

Image-based coral reef survey technologies have revolutionized the monitoring of reefs by offering a cost-effective and noninvasive method for collecting data across large spatial scales extended periods. Among these technologies, underwater videography has emerged as well-established reliable tool remote sensing in research. Automatic segmentation images represents forward-looking fundamental research area sensing. It aims to address major challenge that limits traditional situ research: difficulty automatically generating accurate reproducible high-resolution maps underlying ecosystems. Understanding recent achievements their relevance ecology needs is crucial future planning. This paper presents literature review on image segmentation, focusing deep learning implementation pipeline. Furthermore, we introduce new densely annotated dataset specifically designed semantic images. We systematically evaluate State-of-the-Art (SOTA) methodologies novel techniques not previously applied using proposed dataset. then discuss feasibility this context. Our goal spark innovative ideas directions provide readers with an accessible overview some most significant advancements field over past decade. By accomplishing objectives, hope advance support development effective conservation strategies

Language: Английский

Citations

5
Island restoration to rebuild seabird populations and amplify coral reef functioning DOI Creative Commons
Ruth E. Dunn, Cassandra E. Benkwitt, Olivier Maury

et al.

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: June 18, 2024

Abstract Mobile organisms like seabirds can provide important nutrient flows between ecosystems, but this connectivity has been interrupted by the degradation of island ecosystems. Island restoration (via invasive species eradications and native vegetation) reestablish seabird populations their transfers foraging areas, breeding colonies, adjacent nearshore habitats. Its diverse benefits are making increasingly common scalable to larger islands whole archipelagos. We identified factors that influence abundances throughout Chagos Archipelago in Indian Ocean conducted predictive modeling estimate archipelago could support under predator eradication vegetation scenarios. explored whether prey base exists restored across archipelago, calculated nitrogen might produce via guano, modeled cascading conservation gains provide. Restoration was predicted increase pairs over 280,000, be ample revived populations. Restored fluxes were result increases coral growth rates, reef fish biomasses, parrotfish grazing bioerosion rates. Given these potential cross‐ecosystem benefits, our results as a priority enhance resilience climatic change effects, such sea‐level rise bleaching. encourage incorporation estimates prioritization exercises for restoration.

Language: Английский

Citations

4
Atolls are globally important sites for tropical seabirds DOI
Sebastian Steibl, Simon Steiger, Alex Wegmann

et al.

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8(10), P. 1907 - 1915

Published: Aug. 15, 2024

Language: Английский

Citations

4
Re-connecting ecosystems: Integrating coral reefs into monitoring of island restoration DOI Creative Commons
Cassandra E. Benkwitt, Kalia Bistolas, Jayna L. DeVore

et al.

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

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Nutrientscape ecology: a whole-system framework to support the understanding and management of coastal nutrient connectivity DOI Creative Commons
Pirta Palola, Simon J. Pittman, Antoine Collin

et al.

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 40(3)

Published: Feb. 19, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Seabird-derived nitrogen supply enhances photosynthetic activity in a reef-building coral DOI Creative Commons
Martin Thibault, Anne Lorrain, Nicolas Duprey

et al.

Marine Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 209, P. 107147 - 107147

Published: April 11, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Active and passive pathways of nutrient transfer in coral reef ecosystems DOI Creative Commons
Ruth E. Dunn, Nicholas A. J. Graham,

Laura-Li Jeannot

et al.

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 30, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Seabird-vectored pelagic nutrients integrated into temperate intertidal rocky shores DOI Creative Commons
Samuel Healing, Cassandra E. Benkwitt, Ruth E. Dunn

et al.

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: May 1, 2024

Seabirds provide inter-habitat connectivity by transporting vast quantities of nutrients from their pelagic feeding grounds to terrestrial and marine ecosystems via nitrogen phosphorous rich guano. However, it remains unclear whether seabird are cycling through many nearshore, temperate systems, such as United Kingdom (UK) rocky shores. Furthermore, also unknown how nutrient subsidies impact biodiversity, productivity, recolonisation rates in UK intertidal systems. Here, the Farne Islands, Northumberland, areas high densities during breeding seasons, was compared nearby low density on Northumberland coast. Estimated derived inputs were 420-1,025 949-2,279 times higher, respectively, islands than mainland. Seabird led substantially enriched stable isotope (δ 15 N) values total content soil, plants, lichen, barnacles, limpets, higher δ N macroalgae turf algae. The contained marginally greater algal species richness predators. other drivers could not be ruled out, mainland sources wave exposure at sites. No difference limpet size, biomass, or abundance existed between On plots artificially cleared simulate a disturbance event, barnacles recolonised faster These findings evidence that vectored incorporated into islands, therefore play an important role facilitating ecosystem connectivity.

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Geolocation and immersion loggers reveal year‐round residency and facilitate nutrient deposition rate estimation of adult red‐footed boobies in the Chagos Archipelago, tropical Indian Ocean DOI Creative Commons
Stephen C. Votier,

Grace Corcoran,

Pete Carr

et al.

Journal of Avian Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 2024(9-10)

Published: May 28, 2024

Bio‐logging has revealed much about high‐latitude seabird migratory strategies, but behaviour in tropical species may differ, with implications for understanding nutrient deposition. Here we use combined light‐level and saltwater immersion loggers to study the year‐round movement of adult red‐footed boobies Sula sula rubripes from Chagos Archipelago, Indian Ocean, assess movements estimate deposition rates based on number days they spent ashore. Light levels suggest that are resident Archipelago year‐round, although there large latitudinal errors this close equator. Immersion data also indicate residency tracked birds returning land every one or two days. Spending an average 79.86 ± 2.80 280.84 2.64 nights per year allows us 21 670 pairs deposit 37.34 0.56 tonnes −1 guano‐derived nitrogen throughout archipelago. Our findings have conservation phylogenetics, as well assessing impact nutrients coral reef ecosystems.

Language: Английский

Citations

1