Coastal Restoration Challenges and Strategies for Small Island Developing States in the Face of Sea Level Rise and Climate Change

Coasts, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 4(2), P. 235 - 286

Published: April 1, 2024

The climate crisis poses a grave threat to numerous small island developing states (SIDS), intensifying risks from extreme weather events and sea level rise (SLR). This vulnerability heightens the dangers of coastal erosion, chronic water quality degradation, dwindling resources, demanding global attention. resultant loss ecological persistence, functional services, ecosystem resilience jeopardizes protection against wave action SLR, endangering habitats’ economic value, food security, infrastructure, livelihoods. Implementing integrated strategies is imperative. A thorough discussion available best management practices for restoration presented in context SIDS needs, threats, major constraints. Solutions must encompass enhanced green infrastructure (coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves/wetlands, urban shorelines), sustainable development practices, circular economy principles, adoption policies. requires securing creative funding, promoting job creation, fostering local stakeholder engagement. Tailored each island’s reality, solutions overcome socio-economic, logistical, political obstacles. Despite challenges, timely opportunities exist habitat change adaptation Integrated spanning disciplines stakeholders necessitate significant will.

Language: Английский

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Stronger Hurricanes and Climate Change in the Caribbean Sea: Threats to the Sustainability of Endangered Coral Species

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(4), P. 1506 - 1506

Published: Feb. 9, 2024

An increasing sea surface temperature as a result of climate change has led to higher frequency and strengthening hurricanes across the northeastern Caribbean in recent decades, with risks impacts endangered corals sustainability coral reefs. Category five Hurricanes Irma María during 2017 caused unprecedented damage reef ecosystems Puerto Rico, including mechanical destruction, localized sediment bedload (horizontal transport abrasion), burial by hurricane-generated rubble fields. inflicted significant site-, depth-, life history trait-specific corals, substantial widespread branching species, moderate foliose high small-sized encrusting massive morphotypes due rubble. There was mean 35% decline Acropora palmata live cover, 79% A. cervicornis, 12% Orbicella annularis, 7% O. faveolata, franksi, 96% Dendrogyra cylindrus. Hurricane disturbances resulted major regime shift favoring dominance macroalgae, algal turf, cyanobacteria. Recovery from recruitment or fragment reattachment significantly on more distant reefs, but there none for species. Stronger under projected may represent threat conservation species which will require enhancing propagation restoration strategies, integration adaptive, ecosystem-based management approaches. Recommendations are discussed enhance redundancy, rapid responses, conservation-oriented strategies.

Language: Английский

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A successful method to restore seagrass habitats in coastal areas affected by consecutive natural events

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11, P. e16700 - e16700

Published: Jan. 2, 2024

Background Seagrass meadows, known for providing essential ecosystem services like supporting fishing, coastline protection from erosion, and acting as carbon sinks to mitigate climate change effects, are facing severe degradation. The current deteriorating state can be attributed the combination of anthropogenic activities, biological factors ( i.e ., invasive species), natural forces hurricanes). Indeed, global seagrass cover is diminishing at an alarming mean rate 7% annually, jeopardizing health these vital ecosystems. However, in Island Municipality Culebra, Puerto Rico, losses occurring a faster pace. For instance, hurricanes have caused over 10% losses, recovery seagrasses across Culebra’s coast has been slow due low growth rates native Thalassia testudinum Syringodium filiforme ) invasion species Halophila stipulacea . Restoration programs are, thus, necessary revitalize communities associated fauna while limiting spread species. Methods Here, we present results meadow restoration project carried out Punta Melones (PTM), response impact Hurricanes Irma María during 2017. technique used was planting propagation units (PUs), each with area 900 cm 2 , planted depth between 3.5 4.5 m. A total 688 PUs were August 2021 2023, sub-sample 88 monitored April 2023. Results showed 95% survived, Hurricane Fiona causing most mortalities potentially burial by sediment movement uplifting wave energy. surface increased approximately 200% 2,459 ), shoot density 168% 126 shoots PU). Additionally, flowering fruiting observed multiple units, indicating 1) that action taken did not adversely affect 2) successful revitalizing populations. achieved remarkable success, primarily substantial volume PUs. Likely this high played crucial role facilitating connection among roots, shoots, microfauna higher number undamaged active rhizome meristems short shoots. These collectively contributed enhanced survivorship PUs, ultimately leading favorable outcome project.

Language: Английский

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Bringing Back Reef Fish: Sustainable Impacts of Community-Based Restoration of Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata) in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico (2008–2023)

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(14), P. 5985 - 5985

Published: July 12, 2024

In response to the severe fragmentation of Elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata (Lamarck, 1816), stands caused by a major winter swell (“Holy Swell”) in March 2008, an emergency community-based low-tech restoration was initiated Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. Over 15-year period, coral demographic performance and fish assemblages were monitored across four restored control (non-restored) 100 m2 plots. The effort proved be highly successful, leading successful survival growth, sustained recovery assemblages, particularly herbivore guilds. Significantly increased abundance, biomass, diversity observed all trophic functional groups, fishery target species, geo-ecological groups both These positive outcomes attributed enhanced spatial complexity long-term “nutrient hotspots” within plots, refugia effect from benthic complexity, dispersal paths promoting spillover effects adjacent non-restored areas. Restoring guilds played crucial role restoring vital ecological processes reef ecosystem resilience. Recommendations include integrating assemblage into strategies, establishing natural nursery plots for future sourcing, incorporating concept seascapes holistic ecosystem-based approach restoration.

Language: Английский

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A decade of study on the condition of western Cuban coral reefs, with low human impact

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11, P. e15953 - e15953

Published: Aug. 31, 2023

Background The long-time study of coral reefs with low human impacts can provide information on the effects regional pressures like climate change, and is an opportunity to document how these are reflected in communities. An example minimal local anthropogenic Guanahacabibes reefs, located westernmost region Cuba. objectives this were: evaluate temporal variability six benthic biological indicators explore possible relationship between predictive abiotic variables response variables. Methods Four reef sites were sampled 2008 2017, analyze (living cover, fleshy algae index, species richness, abundance, trait groups Functional Reef Index). Seven (wave exposure, sea surface temperature, degree heating week, chlorophyll-a concentration, particulate organic carbon, photosynthetically available radiation, diffuse attenuation coefficient) compiled 2007 2016, from remote sensing datasets, their indicators. Permanova statistical analysis was used trends years, Routine Analysis Based Linear Distances (DISTLM) some dependencies biotic Results We found significant analysis, a decrease living decline predominance branching massive framework reef-building species, Orbicella increase index. Some (average weeks, standard deviation coefficient, average among others) significantly explained indicators; however, determination coefficients low. Conclusions Certain functionality appreciated, taking into account secondary nom-massive last years. A weak association analysis. current scenario condition seems be regulated by global weakly associated effects, longer terms.

Language: Английский

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Outplants of the Threatened Coral Acropora cervicornis Promote Coral Recruitment in a Shallow-Water Coral Reef, Culebra, Puerto Rico

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(24), P. 16548 - 16548

Published: Dec. 5, 2023

The numerous socioeconomic and ecological challenges that coral reef degradation poses in the Greater Caribbean have led to a surge restoration efforts. In this context, outplanting nursery-reared colonies has emerged as one of most common strategies used rejuvenate degraded reefs reinstate critical ecosystem processes such recruitment. However, extent which promotes recruitment species remains subject ongoing debate. This study tested hypothesis reintroducing threatened Acropora cervicornis To test our hypothesis, series quadrats were established an area populated with A. outplants reference location devoid coral. further investigate relationship between recruitment, experiment was implemented half restored received outplant, while other left undisturbed. After year, all recruits located within counted identified. It found mean recruit density exceeded by factor 2.15. Results also unveiled positive association presence cervicornis. Specifically, colony 2.21 4.65-times higher than without outplants. intriguing observation underscores pivotal role shaping dynamics corals areas, highlighting potential active enhance resilience deteriorating ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Benthic Foraminiferal Dynamics in Reef-Associated Sediments of Jobos Bay, Puerto Rico: 2018–2019

The Journal of Foraminiferal Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 54(2), P. 95 - 106

Published: April 1, 2024

Abstract Jobos Bay, southeastern Puerto Rico, experiences strong environmental gradients between an historically impacted coastal-plain and oligotrophic Caribbean waters. The coastal zone is dynamic both seasonally interannually. During 2018–2019, water quality, sediments, benthic-foraminiferal assemblages were assessed from fore- back-reef sites off three cays that separate Bay Temperature salinity reflected seasonal variations, inorganic nitrogen indicated terrestrial runoff, sediment texture influence of winds wave energy. Foraminiferal in the fore-reef dominated by Amphistegina while taxa such as Quinqueloculina Discorbis sediments. Low test densities energy predominantly siliciclastic Interannual differences textures collected during comparable months timing storm passages. prevalence algal symbiont-bearing suitable quality for reef accretion. This study foraminiferal provides baseline data on interannual variability.

Language: Английский

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Peer Review #3 of "A decade of study on the condition of western Cuban coral reefs, with low human impact (v0.1)"

Published: Aug. 31, 2023

Certain decrease in the functionality of coral reef was appreciated, taking into account

Language: Английский

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Peer Review #2 of "A decade of study on the condition of western Cuban coral reefs, with low human impact (v0.1)"

Published: Aug. 31, 2023

Certain decrease in the functionality of coral reef was appreciated, taking into account

Language: Английский

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Peer Review #1 of "A decade of study on the condition of western Cuban coral reefs, with low human impact (v0.3)"

Published: Aug. 31, 2023

Certain decrease in the functionality of coral reef was appreciated, taking into account

Language: Английский

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