Ten golden rules for restoration to secure resilient and just seagrass social‐ecological systems

Plants People Planet, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 7(1), С. 33 - 48

Опубликована: Авг. 5, 2024

Societal Impact Statement Seagrass meadows are a globally important habitat subject to significant loss. As efforts restore these sensitive habitats hampered by their high cost and low levels of reliability, rigorous guidance is required improve effectiveness ensure they cost‐effective. Here, we define 10 golden rules for how can undertake seagrass restoration. We do this considering that restoration be successful, it needs take place with people not against people. The framework present aims direct holistic achieve broad goals people, biodiversity the planet. Summary world has lost proportion its seagrass, although glimmers hope recovery exist, losses degradations continue. First foremost, evidence highlights need put on global pathway net gain. Achieving outcome requires conservation what remains priority, but reaching gain coverage increase at rates unlikely achieved naturally; large‐scale active fill gap. Novel finance mechanisms aligned climate emergency crises increasingly leading larger scale projects. However, no clear exists developing or prioritising approaches. With expensive unreliable, Building from terrestrial marine sources, here, apply ‘10 rules’ concept, first outlined reforestation later applied coral reefs, In doing so, follow international standards ecological view in context, whereby regeneration either planting enhancing facilitating natural recovery. These somewhat differ those reef restoration, principally due relative immaturity science. placed within coupled social‐ecological systems more broadly, multiple pertaining

Язык: Английский

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Methane Emissions From Nordic Seagrass Meadow Sediments

Frontiers in Marine Science, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 8

Опубликована: Янв. 18, 2022

Shallow coastal soft bottoms are important carbon sinks. Submerged vegetation has been shown to sequester carbon, increase sedimentary organic (C org ) and thus suppress greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The ongoing regression of seagrass cover in many areas the world can therefore lead accelerated emission GHGs. In Nordic waters, meadows have a high capacity for storage, with some being recognized as blue hotspots. To what extent these stocks methane (CH 4 is not yet known. We investigated benthic CH (i.e., net release from sediment) relation (i.e. Zostera marina C content (%) during warm summer period (when emissions likely be highest). Methane exchange was measured situ chambers at nine sites distributed three regions along salinity gradient ∼6 Baltic Sea (Finland) ∼20 Kattegat (Denmark) ∼26 Skagerrak (Sweden). sediments adjacent unvegetated generally low compared other habitats region (such mussel banks wetlands) worldwide. lowest found Finland. positive relationship between both areas, whereas no clear observed. Overall, data suggest that average levels ranging 0.3 3.0 μg m –2 h –1 , which least 12–78 times lower (CO 2 equivalents) than their accumulation rates previously estimated region, thereby hampering role Thus, relatively weak Z. will outweigh importance sinks under present environmental conditions.

Язык: Английский

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The Importance of Dead Seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) Matte as a Biogeochemical Sink

Frontiers in Marine Science, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 9

Опубликована: Март 28, 2022

We assessed the potential of dead seagrass Posidonia oceanica matte to act as a biogeochemical sink and provide coherent archive environmental change in degraded area Mediterranean Sea (Augusta Bay, Italy). Change sediment properties (dry bulk density, grain size), concentration elements (C org , C inorg N, Hg) stable isotope ratios (δ 13 C, δ 15 N) with depth were measured P. unvegetated (bare) sediments polluted area, an adjacent meadow. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed clear clustering by habitat, which explained 72% variability our samples was driven mainly accumulation N Hg finer matte. Assessment temporal trends concentrations changes these over last 120 years, increase following onset industrial activities 65 y BP (i.e., yr. 1950) that sustained even after loss around 35 BP. Despite decrease early 1980s pollution abatement, overall levels 2-fold higher local post-industrial period, enrichment factor 3.5 Mean stocks 25 cm thick deposits (4.08 ± 2.10 kg m -2 0.14 0.04 0.19 g ) yr (35.3 19.6 -1 1.2 0.4 0.0017 0.0004 than bare or Our results indicate maintained its and, like living counterpart, can serve effective allow for reconstructing coastal areas where severe perturbations have led loss. Appropriate management contaminated should be prioritized prevent release pollutants carbon from mattes.

Язык: Английский

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Nordic Blue Carbon Ecosystems: Status and Outlook

Frontiers in Marine Science, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 9

Опубликована: Май 31, 2022

Vegetated coastal and marine habitats in the Nordic region include salt marshes, eelgrass meadows and, particular, brown macroalgae (kelp forests rockweed beds). Such contribute to storage of organic carbon (Blue Carbon – BC) support protection, biodiversity water quality. Protection restoration these therefore have potential deliver climate change mitigation co-benefits. Here we present existing knowledge on BC terms habitat area, C-stocks sequestration rates, co-benefits, policies management status inspire a coherent roadmap. The area extent is incompletely assessed, but available information sums up 1,440 km 2 1,861 (potentially 2,735) seagrass meadows, 16,532 130,735 , including coarse Greenland estimates) macroalgae, yielding total 19,833 134,910) . Saltmarshes experienced major declines over past century, while macroalgal trends are more diverse. Based limited marsh data, sediment average 3,311 g C org m -2 (top 40-100 cm) rates 142 yr -1 Eelgrass 2,414 25 initial data for range 5-33 quantified one site short term restoration. For peer-reviewed estimates C-stock lacking. Overall, review reveals substantial BC-stocks, highlights that evidence still insufficient provide robust estimate all BC-stocks rates. Needed better quantification fluxes, particularly as well identification target areas management. also points directives regulations protecting vegetation, local initiatives with increase C-sequestration underlines increased coordination at national scales across sectors needed. We propose roadmap science maximize mitigate additional ecosystem functions.

Язык: Английский

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Seagrass meadow stability and composition influence carbon storage

Landscape Ecology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 38(12), С. 4419 - 4437

Опубликована: Июнь 16, 2023

Abstract Context Seagrass ecosystems are lauded for storing organic carbon in underlying sediments, but storage is highly variable, even at relatively small spatial scales. While environmental setting and seagrass cover known drivers of capacity, it unclear how other features such as species composition influence storage, whether historical vs. contemporary better predictors storage. Objectives We examined the variables on surface (0–10 cm) sediment meadow-scale (~ 25 km 2 ), addition to drivers. Our study area was located within a subtropical mixed-species meadow along low-energy coastline northeastern Gulf Mexico (Cedar Key, Florida, USA). Methods derived metrics from 14-year monitoring datasets measured densities grain size, biomass composition, well characteristics related hydrology physical disturbance (i.e., relative exposure, elevation, distance navigation channels). assessed bivariate relationships between predictor with linear regression analyses used path analysis assess hypothesized subset densities. Results low global values, Cedar Key meadows varied by an order magnitude. Sediment size strongly densities, had only indirect effects Historical cover, variability diversity were generally than variables. identity–specifically presence Thalassia testudinum –were also significant Conclusions In historically diverse persistent dominated late-successional contained largest stores. results highlight importance site history terms stability (inversely cover) identity enhancing The we comparatively weak however, exposure elevation may not be most relevant hydrological scale. Together, these findings suggest that context scale dependent.

Язык: Английский

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Experimental study on wave attenuation and cross-shore profiles by submerged flexible vegetation

Ocean Engineering, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 307, С. 118218 - 118218

Опубликована: Май 23, 2024

Язык: Английский

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

Molecular Ecology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 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

Язык: Английский

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Restoring Halodule uninervis: evaluating planting methods and biodiversity

Restoration Ecology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Фев. 4, 2025

Seagrass provides a crucial habitat for numerous marine species and serves as vital food source endangered species, like dugongs. While extensive research on restoration has been conducted certain temperate slow‐growing climax seagrass limited attention given to tropical pioneer species. This study aimed assess compare two methods the Halodule uninervis evaluate their potential biodiversity recovery after planting. We field experiment at subtropical Inhaca Island, southern Mozambique, testing efficiency of planting (plugs single shoots) densities (~100 ~300 shoots/m 2 ). monitored shoot density in sites 16 months, benthic macrofauna 12 months. Results demonstrated that could grow all combinations both sites. Specifically, method high‐density treatment proved most effective, resulting approximately 1000 within year. Faunal densities, primarily dominated by polychaetes followed malacostraca, bivalves, gastropods, indicated rapid colonization planted areas, especially treatments. Our findings suggest restoring H. is feasible using tested methods. particularly significant because preferred dugong source, its decline due anthropogenic activities be reversed through efforts. Nonetheless, conserving existing should primary focus, approaches employed valuable tool managing coastal areas.

Язык: Английский

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Influence of landscape characteristics and submerged aquatic vegetation on sediment carbon and nitrogen storage in shallow brackish water habitats

Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 15(1)

Опубликована: Март 6, 2025

While marine seagrass habitats are acknowledged as sinks for carbon and nutrients, much less is known about sequestration in brackish-water vegetation. Here, we quantify the amount of organic (Corg) total nitrogen (TN) shallow bay sediments (0-25 cm) brackish Baltic Sea assess how it varies with morphometric isolation from sea, catchment characteristics abundance The sedimentary Corg TN content per surface area varied across gradient (mean Corg: 2500-4600 g/m2; mean TN: 320-570 g/m2), enclosed bays having highest percentage TN, but low sediment density (< 0.1 g cm3), while open had more compact lower TN. influence vegetation on was clear, suggesting that coastal morphology affecting hydrodynamic exposure an important determinant C accumulation bays. results show morphometrically isolated areas constitute significant nitrogen, which should be considered management any regional estimates blue nutrient functions.

Язык: Английский

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Carbon storage of seagrass ecosystems may experience tipping points in response to anthropogenic stress - a modeling perspective

Frontiers in Complex Systems, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 3

Опубликована: Март 18, 2025

Coastal Blue Carbon ecosystems like seagrass meadows are foundation habitats with a capacity to sequester and store organic carbon in their sediments, protection restoration may thereby support climate change mitigation while also supporting biodiversity many other ecosystem functions. However, being lost due human activities, disease and, some regions, change, which trigger the release of stored into atmosphere. Yet, we do not fully understand how global change-induced loss influences sedimentary dynamics. What is even less clear whether result tipping points, i.e. , abrupt difficult-to-reverse shifts, flux dynamics turning from net sinks sources. Here, propose that conceptual mechanistic models coupled ecological biogeochemical can help study effects major stressors on associated fluxes. We then illustrate one case such model focuses anthropogenic induced mortality by physical stress as an example. Our perspective highlights modeling approach for understanding response fluxes be useful informing coastal management towards actions.

Язык: Английский

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