scholarly journals Early conservation benefits of a de facto marine protected area at San Clemente Island, California

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael W. Esgro ◽  
James Lindholm ◽  
Kerry J. Nickols ◽  
Jessica Bredvik
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Marine Spatial Planning ◽  
Linear Modeling ◽  
Remotely Operated Vehicle ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Density And Biomass ◽  
San Clemente Island

AbstractDe facto marine protected areas (DFMPAs) are regions of the ocean where human activity is restricted for reasons other than conservation. Although DFMPAs are widespread globally, their potential role in the protection of marine habitats, species, and ecosystems has not been well studied. In 2012 and 2013, we conducted remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys of marine communities at a military DFMPA and an adjacent fished reference site at San Clemente Island, the southernmost of California’s Channel Islands. We used data extracted from ROV imagery to compare density and biomass of focal species, as well as biodiversity and community composition, between the two sites. Generalized linear modeling indicated that both density and biomass of California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher) were significantly higher inside the DFMPA. Biomass of ocean whitefish (Caulolatilus princeps) was also significantly higher inside the DFMPA. However, species richness and Shannon-Weaver diversity were not significantly higher inside the DFMPA, and overall fish community composition did not differ significantly between sites. Demonstrable differences between the DFMPA and fished site for two highly sought-after species hint at early potential benefits of protection, though the lack of differences in the broader community suggests that a longer trajectory of recovery may be required for other species. A more comprehensive understanding of the potential conservation benefits of DFMPAs is important in the context of marine spatial planning and global marine conservation objectives.

scholarly journals Regional High-Resolution Benthic Habitat Data from Planet Dove Imagery for Conservation Decision-Making and Marine Planning

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 4215
Author(s):  
Steven R. Schill ◽  
Valerie Pietsch McNulty ◽  
F. Joseph Pollock ◽  
Fritjof Lüthje ◽  
Jiwei Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Accuracy Assessment ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Benthic Habitat ◽  
Storm Damage ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
High Resolution Imagery

High-resolution benthic habitat data fill an important knowledge gap for many areas of the world and are essential for strategic marine conservation planning and implementing effective resource management. Many countries lack the resources and capacity to create these products, which has hindered the development of accurate ecological baselines for assessing protection needs for coastal and marine habitats and monitoring change to guide adaptive management actions. The PlanetScope (PS) Dove Classic SmallSat constellation delivers high-resolution imagery (4 m) and near-daily global coverage that facilitates the compilation of a cloud-free and optimal water column image composite of the Caribbean’s nearshore environment. These data were used to develop a first-of-its-kind regional thirteen-class benthic habitat map to 30 m water depth using an object-based image analysis (OBIA) approach. A total of 203,676 km2 of shallow benthic habitat across the Insular Caribbean was mapped, representing 5% coral reef, 43% seagrass, 15% hardbottom, and 37% other habitats. Results from a combined major class accuracy assessment yielded an overall accuracy of 80% with a standard error of less than 1% yielding a confidence interval of 78%–82%. Of the total area mapped, 15% of these habitats (31,311.7 km2) are within a marine protected or managed area. This information provides a baseline of ecological data for developing and executing more strategic conservation actions, including implementing more effective marine spatial plans, prioritizing and improving marine protected area design, monitoring condition and change for post-storm damage assessments, and providing more accurate habitat data for ecosystem service models.

scholarly journals Reduced fish diversity despite increased fish biomass in a Gulf of California Marine Protected Area

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e8885
Author(s):  
Georgina Ramírez-Ortiz ◽  
Héctor Reyes-Bonilla ◽  
Eduardo F. Balart ◽  
Damien Olivier ◽  
Leonardo Huato-Soberanis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of California ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Fish Diversity ◽  
Fishing Pressure ◽  
General Increase ◽  
Functional Richness ◽  
Density And Biomass

Multi-use marine protected areas (MUMPAs) are a commonly applied tool for marine conservation in developing countries, particularly where large no-take reserves are not socially or politically feasible. Although MUMPAs have produced benefits around the world, the persistence of moderate fishing pressure reduces the likelihood of achieving the primary objective of these areas, which is the conservation of ecosystems. In this study we used traditional and functional metrics to evaluate how fish assemblages changed through time in a MUMPA, including shifts in species responses and in ecological processes. We conducted visual censuses of fishes at Espíritu Santo Island, México (MUMPA; N = 320; 24°N, 110°W) from 2005 to 2017 to assess fish richness, size-distribution and density. Three functional indices were calculated using six traits (size, mobility, period of activity, aggregation, position in water column and diet): functional richness (volume occupied by species), dispersion (complementarity between species) and originality (inverse of functional redundancy). We compared fish diversity among three management zone types (sustainable fishing, traditional fishing and no-take zones), through a 13-year period, assessing which species increased or decreased in occurrence, density, and biomass, and how indices respond over time. Despite a general increase in biomass and stability in density and originality, we detected a reduction in fish biodiversity in the form of declines in species and functional richness, which could imply the risk of local extinction and decrease in certain ecosystem processes. In addition, changes in functional dispersion showed that some functions are losing representation through time. Although no single cause is apparent, such factors as competitive interactions, habitat loss and persistence of fishing pressure potentially explain these decreases. The rise in biomass was associated with a general increase in the average size, rather than increased biomass of commercial species, as the latter remained stable during the study period. Expansion of no-take areas, enforcement of fishing regulations, and surveillance in core zones, should be implemented to reverse the decline in particular species and to promote conservation of fish functional diversity in this MUMPA.

scholarly journals Strategies for Managing Marine Disease

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Kate Glidden ◽  
Laurel C. Field ◽  
Silke Bachhuber ◽  
Shannon M. Hennessey ◽  
Robyn Cates ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Management ◽  
Marine Organism ◽  
Marine Ecosystem ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Wildlife Disease ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
Marine Wildlife

The incidence of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) has increased in wildlife populations in recent years and is expected to continue to increase with global change. Marine diseases in particular are relatively understudied compared to terrestrial disease, but they can disrupt ecosystem resilience, cause economic loss, or threaten human health. While there are many existing tools to combat the direct and indirect consequences of EIDs, these management strategies are often insufficient or ineffective in marine habitats compared to their terrestrial counterparts, often due to fundamental differences in marine and terrestrial systems. Here, we first illustrate how the marine environment and marine organism life history present challenges or opportunities for wildlife disease management. We then assess the application of common disease management strategies to marine versus terrestrial systems to identify those that may be most effective for marine disease outbreak prevention, response, and recovery. Finally, we recommend multiple actions that will enable more successful management of marine wildlife disease emergencies in the future. These include prioritizing marine disease research and understanding its links to climate change, preventatively increasing marine ecosystem health, forming better monitoring and response networks, developing marine veterinary medicine programs, and enacting policy that addresses marine and other wildlife disease. Overall, we encourage a more proactive rather than reactive approach to marine conservation in general and to marine wildlife disease in particular and emphasize that multi-disciplinary collaborations are key to managing marine wildlife health.

scholarly journals Influence of chemosynthetic ecosystems on nematode community structure and biomass in the deep eastern Mediterranean Sea

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 18131-18173
Author(s):  
N. Lampadariou ◽  
V. Kalogeropoulou ◽  
K. Sevastou ◽  
K. Keklikoglou ◽  
J. Sarrazin
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Nematode Community ◽  
Cold Seep ◽  
Mud Volcanoes ◽  
Mussel Bed ◽  
Remotely Operated Vehicle ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Density And Biomass

Abstract. Mud volcanoes are a special type of cold seeps where life is based on chemoautotrophic processes. They are considered as extreme environments and are characterised by unique megafaunal and macrofaunal communities. However, very few studies on mud volcanoes taking into account the smaller meiobenthic communities have been carried out. Two mud volcanoes were explored during the MEDECO cruise (2007) with the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Victor-6000; Amsterdam, located south of Turkey between 1700 and 2000 m depth (Anaximander mud field) and Napoli, south of Crete, located along the Mediterranean Ridge at about 2000 m depth (Olimpi mud field). The major aim of this study was to describe distributional patterns of meiofaunal communities and nematode assemblages from different seep microhabitats. Meiofaunal taxa and nematode assemblages at both mud volcanoes differed significantly from other Mediterranean sites in terms of standing stocks, dominance and species diversity. Density and biomass values were significantly higher at the seep sites, particularly at Amsterdam. Nematodes, the dominant meiofaunal taxon, displayed deeper penetration vertically into the sediment at the seep areas, indicating that biological rather than physicochemical factors are responsible for their vertical distribution. Patterns of nematode diversity varied, displaying both very high or very low species richness and dominance, depending on the habitat studied. The Lamellibrachia periphery and mussel bed of Napoli exhibited the highest species richness while the reduced sediments of Amsterdam yielded a species-poor nematode community, dominated by two successful species; one belonging to the genus Aponema and the other to the genus Sabatieria. Analysis of β-diversity showed that habitat heterogeneity of mud volcanoes contributed substantially to the total nematode species richness in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. These observations indicate a strong influence of mud volcanoes and cold-seep ecosystems on the meiofaunal communities and nematode assemblages.

scholarly journals SECONDARY PRODUCTION OF Scolelepis goodbodyi (POLYCHAETA: SPIONIDAE) IN A TROPICAL SANDY BEACH IN THE SOUTHWESTERN ATLANTIC, BRAZIL

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (04) ◽  
pp. 819-833
Author(s):  
Luciana Sanches Dourado Leão ◽  
◽  
Abílio Soares-Gomes ◽  
José Roberto Botelho de Souza ◽  
Cinthya Simone Gomes Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Secondary Production ◽  
Environmental Variability ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Southwestern Atlantic ◽  
Web Studies ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
Production Values ◽  
Annual Biomass ◽  
Density And Biomass

The secondary production is the result of the functional response of populations subject to various environmental factors. Marine habitats vary in terms of quantity and quality of food supply, and the use of secondary production values, as well as renewal rates (P/B), may be used as estimates for understanding the incorporation of organic matter and energy per unit, population or community in each area. This estimative was performed for the population of Scolelepis goodbodyi in a tropical beach in the Southwestern Atlantic, located in an upwelling area. A comparison of Spionidae and non-spionid populations from different latitudes was also done. The Mass Specific Growth Rate method (MSGR) and the Production/Biomass ratio (P/B) were used to estimate the somatic annual production and average annual biomass. The mean density and biomass were 16.38 ind. m-2 and 2.78 g AFDW m-2,respectively. The secondary production and P/B were 8.3 g AFDW m-2 y-1 and 2.98 y1, respectively. The growth rate in weight was greater for the small size than the large size classes. The largest individuals (W3C = 1.0 mm) showed the lowest biomass and secondary production values. The observed high rates of secondary production and P/B suggest that this S. goodbodyi population can transfer large amounts of biomass to higher trophic levels of the local food web. Studies of the secondary production of spionidae populations in different latitudes, including the population of S. goodbodyi in the beach of Manguinhos, showed variability in their rates probably due to the differences of several factors such as life history and environmental variability

scholarly journals Ocean Optimism: Moving Beyond the Obituaries in Marine Conservation

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 479-499
Author(s):  
Nancy Knowlton
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
Single Solution ◽  
Important Progress ◽  
Made In

While the ocean has suffered many losses, there is increasing evidence that important progress is being made in marine conservation. Examples include striking recoveries of once-threatened species, increasing rates of protection of marine habitats, more sustainably managed fisheries and aquaculture, reductions in some forms of pollution, accelerating restoration of degraded habitats, and use of the ocean and its habitats to sequester carbon and provide clean energy. Many of these achievements have multiple benefits, including improved human well-being. Moreover, better understanding of how to implement conservation strategies effectively, new technologies and databases, increased integration of the natural and social sciences, and use of indigenous knowledge promise continued progress. Enormous challenges remain, and there is no single solution; successful efforts typically are neither quick nor cheap and require trust and collaboration. Nevertheless, a greater focus on solutions and successes will help them to become the norm rather than the exception.

scholarly journals Detection of Stones in Marine Habitats Combining Simultaneous Hydroacoustic Surveys

Geosciences ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svenja Papenmeier ◽  
H. Hass
Keyword(s):  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Benthic Communities ◽  
Sediment Surface ◽  
Sidescan Sonar ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Outer Reef ◽  
Single Beam ◽  
Marine Deposits ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
High Backscatter

Exposed stones in sandy sublittoral environments are hotspots for marine biodiversity, especially for benthic communities. The detection of single stones is principally possible using sidescan-sonar (SSS) backscatter data. The data resolution has to be high to visualize the acoustic shadows of the stones. Otherwise, stony substrates will not be differentiable from other high backscatter substrates (e.g., gravel). Acquiring adequate sonar data and identifying stones in backscatter images is time consuming because it usually requires visual-manual procedures. To develop a more efficient identification and demarcation procedure of stone fields, sidescan sonar and parametric echo sound data were recorded within the marine protected area of “Sylt Outer Reef” (German Bight, North Sea). The investigated area (~5.900 km2) is characterized by dispersed heterogeneous moraine and marine deposits. Data from parametric sediment echo sounder indicate hyperbolas at the sediment surface in stony areas, which can easily be exported. By combining simultaneous recorded low backscatter data and parametric single beam data, stony grounds were demarcated faster, less complex and reproducible from gravelly substrates indicating similar high backscatter in the SSS data.

scholarly journals Green manure and phosphorus fertilization affect weed community composition and crop/weed competition in organic maize

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 493-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Carlesi ◽  
Federica Bigongiali ◽  
Daniele Antichi ◽  
Corrado Ciaccia ◽  
Fabio Tittarelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Green Manure ◽  
Competitive Ability ◽  
Early Growth ◽  
Phosphorus Fertilization ◽  
Weed Competition ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Green Manuring ◽  
Density And Biomass ◽  
Crop Weed Competition

AbstractGreen manure and compost-enriched in phosphorus can promote the sustainability of cropping systems by increasing soil fertility over the long term. They can also be used to manage crop/weed interactions, a key element in guaranteeing an appropriate level of satisfactory crop yields. We studied how green manuring with hairy vetch (Vicia villosaRoth.) and the application of different types of phosphorous-enriched compost affect weed/maize (Zea maysL.) interactions in an organic stockless Mediterranean agroecosystem for two consecutive dry years. Green manure stimulated the expression of maize traits related to a higher competitive ability against weeds, such as early growth, height and leaf area index, while the effect of compost was less clear. Regarding crop/weed competition, both green manuring and a phosphorus-enriched compost application gave a significant advantage to maize. Neither green manure nor compost increased total weed density and biomass compared to the control. Green manuring significantly affected the weed community composition. The relative density of ruderal and competitive-ruderal species (according to Grime's classification) was higher in plots where the green manure was applied. The use of green manure, together with novel composting techniques, significantly affected crop/weed competitive interactions, favoring maize, but also creating favorable conditions for unwanted weed species such as competitive-ruderals. Increasing nitrogen availability in the early growth stages of maize through green manuring can increase crop competitive ability. However, this may not suffice to preserve the system from future weed problems, should potentially detrimental species be selected. Dedicated strategies for the control of emerging weed species may thus be needed.

scholarly journals Rhodolith Bed Discovered off the South African Coast

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luther A. Adams ◽  
Gavin W. Maneveldt ◽  
Andrew Green ◽  
Natasha Karenyi ◽  
Denham Parker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
River Mouth ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Cape Coast ◽  
Remotely Operated Vehicle ◽  
Coralline Red Algae ◽  
Red Macroalgae

Rhodolith beds have not previously been recorded in South Africa. A multidisciplinary research effort used remote sampling tools to survey the historically unexplored continental shelf off the Eastern Cape coast of South Africa. A rhodolith bed, bearing both living and dead non-geniculate coralline red algae, was discovered in the 30–65 m depth range off the Kei River mouth in the newly proclaimed Amathole Offshore Marine Protected Area. Some of the rhodolith forming coralline algal specimens were identified as belonging to at least three genera based on their morphology and anatomy, namely, Lithophyllum, Lithothamnion and a non-descript genus. Rhodolith mean mass and diameter were 44.85 g ± 34.22 g and 41.28 mm ± 10.67 mm (N = 13), respectively. Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) imagery revealed a suite of epibenthic red macroalgae associated with the rhodolith bed. Taxonomy, vertical structure and distribution of rhodoliths in South Africa require further investigation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document