scholarly journals An Alien Invader is the Cause of Homogenization in the Recipient Ecosystem: A Simulation-Like Approach

Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Morri ◽  
Monica Montefalcone ◽  
Giulia Gatti ◽  
Paolo Vassallo ◽  
Chiara Paoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Comprehensive Database ◽  
Habitat Classification ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Nw Italy ◽  
Alien Invader ◽  
Monitoring Activity

Biotic homogenization is an expected effect of biological invasions. Invasive alien species typically show great adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions and may expand into different habitats, thus reducing the dissimilarity among the recipient communities. We tested this assumption by analyzing a comprehensive database (78 species × 229 samples) collected between 2012 and 2017 in the marine protected area of Portofino (NW Italy), where Caulerpa cylindracea, one of the worst invaders in the Mediterranean Sea, exhibits high substratum cover at depths between 1 m and 45 m in 14 different communities (identified according to the European Nature Information System EUNIS for habitat classification). Five samples for each of the eight depth zones (i.e., 5 m, 10 m, 15 m, 20 m, 25 m, 30 m, 35 m, and 40 m) were randomly re-sampled from the comprehensive database to produce a dataset of 67 species × 40 samples. Then, a second dataset of 66 species × 40 samples was simulated by excluding Caulerpa cylindracea. Both re-sampled datasets underwent multivariate analysis. In the presence of C. cylindracea, the overall similarity among samples was higher, thus indicating homogenization of the rocky reef communities of Portofino Marine Protected Area. Continued monitoring activity is needed to understand and assess the pattern and extent of C. cylindracea’s inclusion in the recipient ecosystems.

scholarly journals Evidence of the top–down role of predators in structuring sublittoral rocky-reef communities in a Marine Protected Area and nearby areas of the Canary Islands

2008 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Clemente ◽  
José Carlos Hernández ◽  
Alberto Brito
Keyword(s):  
Canary Islands ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Adult Density ◽  
Top Down ◽  
El Hierro ◽  
Reef Communities ◽  
Predation Rates

Abstract Clemente, S., Hernández, J. C., and Brito, A. 2009. Evidence of the top–down role of predators in structuring sublittoral rocky-reef communities in a Marine Protected Area and nearby areas of the Canary Islands. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 64–71. Differences in the sea urchin Diadema aff. antillarum population structure, which have been attributed to removal of predatory fish through overfishing, are observed throughout the Canary Islands. Low urchin abundances and a “desired conservation state” are currently found in Mar de Las Calmas Marine Protected Area and nearby fished areas (FAs) in El Hierro Island, in contrast to the occurrence of high urchin densities and the “undesired conservation state” in the highly FAs (HFAs) of Tenerife Island. Under these different levels of fishing pressure, we consider a set of ecological variables potentially affecting urchin populations (settlement, recruitment, adult urchin densities, predation rates, and abundance of urchin fish predators) to infer their magnitude and relative importance in addressing community-wide changes. No differences in settlement and recruitment rates were found, but predation pressure was higher in El Hierro, where adult density was low and predation rates were high. The combination of these factors provides evidence of a top–down control of sublittoral reef communities. Although the effect of protection was less clear, we demonstrate the positive effects of reduced fishing effort in enhancing trophic cascade processes and reducing the establishment of barren grounds.

The Use of an Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle ( UAV ) to Survey Shark Species Over Sand and Rocky‐Reef Habitats in a Marine Protected Area

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn A. Ayres ◽  
James T. Ketchum ◽  
Rogelio González‐Armas ◽  
Felipe Galván‐Magaña ◽  
Alex Hearn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Shark Species ◽  
Aerial Vehicle

scholarly journals Population Structure and Growth of the Threatened Pen Shell, Pinna rudis (Linnaeus, 1758) in a Western Mediterranean Marine Protected Area

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 785 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. NEBOT COLOMER ◽  
M. VÁZQUEZ-LUIS ◽  
J. R. GARCÍA-MARCH ◽  
S. DEUDERO
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Shell Width ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Pen Shell ◽  
Absolute Growth ◽  
Slow Growing ◽  
Established Population

Coastal ecosystems are being extensively degraded by human activities. Benthic, slow-growing and long-lived species are highly vulnerable to these impacts. Marine protected areas might avoid biodiversity losses through habitat protection. The pen shell Pinna rudis is a protected species, but scarce data are available on its ecology and biology. The present study is a comprehensive ecological study encompassing several unknown aspects of the growth and inner record in relation to habitat types, density and size distribution. A total of 418 strip transects were conducted by scuba diving in the Marine Protected Area of Cabrera National Park (39.14° N, 2.96° E), during the summers of 2011, 2012 and 2013. Sampling was conducted across different habitats and depths exploring 152,146.35 m2 in total. Densities varied spatially within the park (from 0 to 6.89 ind./100 m2) corresponding to a wide range of sizes and ages. Most pen shells were patchily distributed and mainly concentrated in caves. Two hotspots with high densities represent the highest densities ever recorded worldwide, showing a possible link to high larval accumulation and settlement. The population size structure showed a unimodal distribution with shell width ranging from 6.2 to 25.0 cm, with an average shell width of 16.0 ± 3.4 cm. The absolute growth was asymptotic, with a maximum age and length of 28-31 years and 45 cm, respectively. This study on the biology and ecology of a well-established population of Pinna rudis in the Western Mediterranean could set a baseline for the conservation of this species in other areas.

Occurrence and Distribution of an Invasive Octocoral, Carijoa riisei in Malaysia’s Marine Park of Pulau Payar

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Normah S ◽  
◽  
Ismail MS ◽  
Md. Nizam I ◽  
Zaidnuddin I ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Percent Cover ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Marine Park ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Remedial Actions ◽  
Carijoa Riisei ◽  
Study Sites

The occurrence of the invasive snowflake coral, Carijoa riisei (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860) in Malaysian waters was reported after the species was first detected at Pulau Payar Marine Park in 2014. Its recent appearance in Pulau Payar highlights the need for baseline data concerning the distribution pattern and diversity of C. riisei within the Pulau Payar Marine Park and may enable effective remedial actions in controlling the overgrowth of this octocoral. The snowflake coral and other substrates were quantified over quadrats located randomly on a 50 m transects in three study sites, i.e. Coral Garden, Kaca Reef and Lembu Rock. The percent cover of each substrate category and diversity were determined using the Coral Point Count with Excel extensions (CPCe) software. The snowflake coral was most frequently observed at the depths of 10 to 20 m at each of the study sites. The area with highest coverage of this octocoral was in Kaca Reef at the depth of 20m. About one-third of the benthos and abiotic substrate at all sites was populated by C. riisei. Statistically, no significant differences were found between the distributions of C. riisei by sites. Using diversity indices, we were able to demonstrate the ability of this species to exploit a wide range of differing environments. This ability has allowed it to spread within this marine protected area. Based on this study, we suggested monitoring programs should be regularly conducted within Pulau Payar Marine Park, other reefs should be surveyed for its presence, and an effective mitigation program should be developed for the conservation of the marine ecosystems affected by this invasive species.

scholarly journals Integrating distribution models and habitat classification maps into marine protected area planning

2018 ◽  
Vol 212 ◽  
pp. 40-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Ferrari ◽  
Hamish Malcolm ◽  
Joe Neilson ◽  
Vanessa Lucieer ◽  
Alan Jordan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Habitat Classification ◽  
Protected Area Planning ◽  
Area Planning

scholarly journals Invasive alien species add to the uncertain future of protected areas

NeoBiota ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 57 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Desika Moodley ◽  
Llewellyn C. Foxcroft ◽  
Ana Novoa ◽  
Klára Pyšková ◽  
Jan Pergl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
National Parks ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
General Interest ◽  
Current Conservation ◽  
Wide Range

Establishing and managing protected areas (national parks, nature reserves and other sites of conservation value) represent the most common approach to conserving species and ecosystems, but these areas are vulnerable to global environmental change. Recently, Golden Kroner et al. (2019) suggested protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD) as one of the main threats to biodiversity conservation. However, there are several other elements, of similar concern, that threaten conservation efforts in protected areas, such as climate change and pollution. Here, in a commentary to the Golden Kroner et al. (2019) paper, we address an additional important element affecting protected area dynamics and robustness that was overlooked by these authors – invasions by alien species. We argue that invasive alien species (IAS) contribute directly to the pressures of biodiversity loss by competing with native species and modifying the characteristics of the invaded ecosystems, and virtually no protected areas are free from these effects. Therefore, excluding IAS from legal instruments and policy frameworks underpinning current conservation approaches in protected areas presents a great risk for nature conservation. Consequently, this aligns poorly with the idea of protected areas being a cornerstone for conservation at local, regional and national levels. For that reason and to paint a more complete picture of the effectiveness of protected areas, we argue that when other factors threatening the existence and functioning of protected areas are discussed, we also need to account for biological invasions. This will ensure that adaptive conservation management strategies protect a wide range of species, ecosystems, and landscapes. Hence, this commentary aims to be of general interest for policymakers, managers and researchers.

Using community-based monitoring with GIS to create habitat maps for a marine protected area in Australia

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 865-871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacquomo Monk ◽  
Daniel Ierodiaconou ◽  
Alecia Bellgrove ◽  
Laurie Laurenson
Keyword(s):  
Global Positioning System ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Positioning System ◽  
Marine Habitat ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Global Positioning

In recent years there has been an increase in community-based monitoring programmes developed and implemented worldwide. This paper describes how the data collected from such a programme could be integrated into a Geographic Information System (GIS) to create temperate subtidal marine habitat maps. A differential Global Positioning System was utilized to accurately record the location of the trained community-based SCUBA diver data. These georeferenced data sets were then used to classify benthic habitats using an aerial photograph and digitizing techniques. This study demonstrated that trained community-based volunteers can collect data that can be utilized within a GIS to create reliable and cost-effective maps of shallow temperate subtidal rocky reef systems.

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