The commercially important shoemaker spinefoot, Siganus sutor , connects coral reefs to neighbouring seagrass meadows

2020 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 1034-1044
Author(s):  
Ameer Ebrahim ◽  
Jude P. Bijoux ◽  
Peter J. Mumby ◽  
Ian R. Tibbetts
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Seagrass Meadows ◽  
Commercially Important

scholarly journals The perverse fisheries consequences of mosquito net malaria prophylaxis in East Africa

AMBIO ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 1257-1267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin L. Jones ◽  
Richard K. F. Unsworth
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Trophic Structure ◽  
Bed Nets ◽  
Great Effort ◽  
Mosquito Net ◽  
Seagrass Meadows ◽  
Mosquito Nets ◽  
Biomass Removal ◽  
Global Health Issue ◽  
Commercially Important

Abstract Malaria is a serious global health issue, with around 200 million cases per year. As such, great effort has been put into the mass distribution of bed nets as a means of prophylaxis within Africa. Distributed mosquito nets are intended to be used for malaria protection, yet increasing evidence suggests that fishing is a primary use for these nets, providing fresh concerns for already stressed coastal ecosystems. While research documents the scale of mosquito net fisheries globally, no quantitative analysis of their landings exists. The effects of these fisheries on the wider ecosystem assemblages have not previously been examined. In this study, we present the first detailed analysis of the sustainability of these fisheries by examining the diversity, age class, trophic structure and magnitude of biomass removal. Dragnet landings, one of two gear types in which mosquito nets can be utilised, were recorded across ten sites in northern Mozambique where the use of Mosquito nets for fishing is common. Our results indicate a substantial removal of juveniles from coastal seagrass meadows, many of which are commercially important in the region or play important ecological roles. We conclude that the use of mosquito nets for fishing may contribute to food insecurity, greater poverty and the loss of ecosystem functioning.

Differences in diet and foraging behaviour of commercially important rabbitfish species on coral reefs in the Indian Ocean

Coral Reefs ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 977-988
Author(s):  
A. Ebrahim ◽  
T. S. H. Martin ◽  
P. J. Mumby ◽  
A. D. Olds ◽  
I. R. Tibbetts
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
The Indian Ocean ◽  
Commercially Important

scholarly journals Stronger Together: Do Coral Reefs Enhance Seagrass Meadows “Blue Carbon” Potential?

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Alberto Guerra-Vargas ◽  
Lucy Gwen Gillis ◽  
José Ernesto Mancera-Pineda
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Carbon Potential ◽  
Blue Carbon ◽  
Seagrass Meadows

Coral reef gastropods - a sustainable resource?

1995 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann L. Poulsen
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Local Extinction ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Vulnerable Species ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Commercially Important ◽  
Ornamental Species

Large, colourful coral reef gastropods including the Giant Triton Charonia tritonis,helmet shells (Cassidae), cowries (Cypraeidae) and volutes (Volutidae) are exploited in an unregulated and unsustainable way throughout much of the Indo-Pacific region. The consequences for their populations, for the populations of their prey or for the ecology of their habitats are rarely considered. Serious decline in stocks of edible coral reef molluscs through unregulated harvesting demonstrates the need for controls on the collection and trade of commercially important species. Continued, unrestricted collecting will eventually lead to the local extinction of vulnerable species on substantial numbers of reefs. Research on the biology and ecology of ornamental species is urgently needed to facilitate the implementation of appropriate management strategies for long-term utilization. A co-operative effort to monitor and regulate trade will also contribute toward the maintenance of sustainable gastropod populations on coral reefs.

Ecological State of Coral Reefs for Conservation and Developmental Planning in Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Philippines

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel G. Becira ◽  
Benjamin J. Gonzales ◽  
Honorio B. Pagliawan
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Resource Assessment ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Commercial Fish ◽  
Pinna Nobilis ◽  
Commercially Important

In Palawan, Philippines, Honda Bay is fast becoming a target recreational site for curious domestic and foreign visitors. The general objectives of this resource assessment are to gather information regarding status of the marine resources in Pandan Island, and to provide recommendations for their sustainable use. Assessment was done using line intercept transect (LIT), fish visual census (FVC) and an imaginary transect belt for coral cover, fish, and macro-invertebrates, respectively. Average live coral cover around Pandan Island can be categorized as good (57%), with stations 7 and 1 and 2 categorized as excellent (76-100%) and fair (26-50%) conditions, respectively. Some 178 fish species were recorded in Pandan Island waters of which seven (7) highly target and 29 common commercial fish species were found. The estimated total reef fish biomass around Pandan Island is 588 mt/ km2. A total of eight macro invertebrate (shells, etc.) species belonging to five families was found around Pandan Island. The study concluded that of these eight species, six are commercially important,Tridacnacro cea(taklobo), Tridacnasquamosa (taklobo), Hippopusporcellanus(taklobo), Trochusniloticus(topshell), Pinna nobilis (tarab), and Bohadschiamarmota (sea cucumber). Five of these species the T. crocea, T. squamosa, H. porcellanus, P. nobilis, and T. niloticus are listed as endangered species by International Union for Conservation of Nature.   Keywords - target species, macro-invertebrates, coral cover, coral reefs, reef fish, conservation

scholarly journals Tropical seagrass meadows modify seawater carbon chemistry: implications for coral reefs impacted by ocean acidification

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 024026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard K F Unsworth ◽  
Catherine J Collier ◽  
Gideon M Henderson ◽  
Len J McKenzie
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Carbon Chemistry ◽  
Seagrass Meadows

scholarly journals Assessment of seagrass communities in the northern Gulf of Aqaba: Mapping their distribution

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gidon Winters ◽  
Rachamim Shem Tov ◽  
Tal Elmaliach ◽  
Dor Edelist ◽  
Gil Rilov
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Gulf Of Aqaba ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Seagrass Meadows ◽  
Seagrass Cover ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Scientific Attention ◽  
Conservation And Management

Within the Gulf of Aqaba, coral reefs have been considered the dominating ecosystem, attracting not only scientific attention, but also restoration efforts, aquarium exhibits and outreach educational programs. Seagrasses, which are known worldwide as a highly important ecosystem, have not received much attention by the public, scientists or authorities involved in conservation and management in this region. This is surprising considering the value of ecosystem services associated with seagarsses and the fact that many of these services are important to adjacent coral reefs. The absence of comprehensive seagrass maps for this region, prohibits other downstream activities such as evaluations of the associated ecosystem services and implementation of potential conservation and management tools. Here we present efforts to map seagrass meadows along the Israeli coast of the northern Gulf of Aqaba. Mapping was done by snorkeling with a GPS and a handheld echo-sounder. Transects perpendicular to the shore were conducted with measurements taken every 10-20 m that included water depth, GPS position and percent of seagrass cover estimated visually up to 13-23 m depending on visibility. In addition to these transects, we also tracked the shallow boundary of the meadows parallel to shore, usually at 3-5 m depth. Both data sets were then fed into Arc-GIS to create an interpolated GIS layer. Out of 11 km available shoreline, we swam along 9.7 km and collected a total of 2830 data points. Seagrasses were found growing along 7.5 km of these shores, with seagrass meadows covering 707,000 sqm2.estimated to be worth = US$ 2,000,000 year-1 in associated ecosystem services. In addition to mapping the seagrass meadows themselvs, we also mapped the potential dangers to seagrasses in the region. Disturbances were ranked as low, medium or high according to severity and frequency. We expect that these maps (GIS layers) will allow us to not only understand the current distribution of seagrasses in the area, but also to develop a GIS-based tool that will improve our understanding of how changes in the Gulf could affect the cover and state of seagrasses, and thus improve conservation efforts in the region.

scholarly journals Economic mapping and assessment of Cymodocea nodosa meadows as nursery grounds for commercially important fish species. A case study in the Canary Islands

One Ecosystem ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrique Casas ◽  
Laura Martín-García ◽  
Francisco Otero-Ferrer ◽  
Fernando Tuya ◽  
Ricardo Haroun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Cymodocea Nodosa ◽  
Seagrass Meadows ◽  
Value Transfer ◽  
Suitability Maps ◽  
Commercially Important

Cymodocea nodosa seagrass meadows provide several socio-economically ecosystem services, including nurseries for numerous species of commercial interest. These seagrasses are experiencing a worldwide decline, with global loss rates approaching 5% per year, mainly related to coastal human activities. Cymodocea nodosa, the predominant seagrass in the Canary Archipelago (Spain), is also exposed to these threats, which could lead to habitat loss or even local disappearance. In this case study, we estimated the potential economic value of Cymodocea nodosa seagrass meadows for local fisheries at an archipelago scale. Habitat suitability maps were constructed using MAXENT 3.4.1, a software for modelling species distributions by applying a maximum entropy machine-learning method, from a set of environmental variables and presence and background records extracted from historical cartographies. This model allows characterising and assessing the C. nodosa habitat suitability, overcoming the implicit complexity derived from seasonal changes in this species highly dynamic meadows and using it as a first step for the mapping and assessment of ecosystem services. In a second step, value transfer methodologies were used, along with published economic valuations of commercially-interesting fish species related to C. nodosa meadows. We estimate that the potential monetary value of these species can add up to more than 3 million euros per year for the entire Archipelago. The simplicity of the proposed methodology facilitates its repeatability in other similar regions, using freely available data and hence, being suitable for data-scarce scenarios.

AN OIL SPILL AFFECTING CORAL REEFS AND MANGROVES ON THE CARIBBEAN COAST OF PANAMA

1987 ◽  
Vol 1987 (1) ◽  
pp. 401-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Cubit ◽  
Charles D. Getter ◽  
Jeremy B. C. Jackson ◽  
Stephen D. Garrity ◽  
Hugh M. Caffey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Caribbean Coast ◽  
Seagrass Meadows ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
Seaward Edge ◽  
Mean Water Level ◽  
Mangrove Roots

ABSTRACT In April 1986, more than 50,000 barrels of medium weight crude oil were spilled into the largest complex of coral reefs and mangroves on the central Caribbean coast of Panama. Considerable amounts of oil came ashore at Punta Galeta, where a long-term environmental sciences program of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute provided extensive baseline information for investigating the effects of the oil spill. Immediate mortality was most apparent for organisms living at the seaward edge of the reef flats and on drying substrata above mean water level. By June 1986, a number of reef species were reduced in abundance, and a bloom of microalgae grew over much of the reef flat that had been directly exposed to the oil at low tide. The abundances of some fast-growing algae appeared to have recovered by September 1986, but the slower-growing corals, zoanthids, and calcareous algae were at the lowest abundances recorded. Defoliation and mortality of mangroves, particularly Rhizophora mangle, was severe on windward coasts, and other areas where the oil penetrated into sediments around the mangrove roots. Oysters and other organisms living on mangrove roots also suffered severe mortality. The types of habitats and organisms affected were obviously dependent on the particular weather conditions during the oil spill. Studies are continuing to follow succession and other changes in seagrass meadows, coral reefs, mangrove forests, and associated habitats that were affected by the oil.

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