Hidden Giants: The Story of Bolbometopon muricatum at Ningaloo Reef

Fishes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Damian P. Thomson ◽  
Anna K. Cresswell ◽  
Christopher Doropoulos ◽  
Michael D. E. Haywood ◽  
Melanie Orr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Engineer ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
First Record ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
Ningaloo Reef ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Reef Fish Species ◽  
World Heritage Area ◽  
Bolbometopon Muricatum

Bolbometopon muricatum (bumphead parrotfish, Valenciennes, 1839) is a conspicuous, iconic and ecologically important coral reef fish species. B. muricatum plays an important role in the bioerosion of the reef framework and as a result has been described as both an ecosystem engineer and keystone species. Despite the complete absence of B. muricatum from 32 years of scientific surveys across the Ningaloo Reef World Heritage Area, we recorded a total of 155 individuals of B. muricatum across 63.2 ha of reef crest surveys, equating to mean density of 2.38 ind/ha. Our observations represent the first record of this iconic species in scientific surveys at Ningaloo and in combination with qualitative observations of B. muricatum by expert witnesses, indicate B. muricatum is likely to have been present in ecologically relevant densities since 2006. The densities of B. muricatum observed at northern Ningaloo in 2021 suggest this species is removing an estimated 13.42 tonnes/ha or 1.34 kg/m2 of calcium carbonate per year, which is broadly comparable with estimates of total parrotfish bioerosion across many reefs in the central Indian and Pacific Oceans. Although not currently afforded elevated conservation status within management plans, B. muricatum possess many life-history characteristics that make them vulnerable to overfishing and may justify consideration for increased protection within the world heritage listed Ningaloo Reef Marine Park.

scholarly journals Natura 2000 sites and fisheries in German offshore waters

2008 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Søren Anker Pedersen ◽  
Heino Fock ◽  
Jochen Krause ◽  
Christian Pusch ◽  
Anne L. Sell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Fishery Management ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Favourable Conservation Status ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Natura 2000 Site ◽  
Environmentally Sound ◽  
Fishing Impacts

Abstract Pedersen, S. A., Fock, H., Krause, J., Pusch, C., Sell, A. L., Böttcher, U., Rogers, S. I., Sköld, M., Skov, H., Podolska, M., Piet, G. J., and Rice, J. C. 2009. Natura 2000 sites and fisheries in German offshore waters.–ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 155–169. The principal objective of sites selected as part of Natura 2000 is to achieve or maintain a favourable conservation status of habitats and species named in the EU Birds and Habitats directives. In the German exclusive economic zone, the habitat types protected by this legislation are sandbanks and reefs; protected species include marine mammals, seabirds, and specific migratory fish species. The ICES project Environmentally Sound Fishery Management in Protected Areas (EMPAS) aims to answer two questions: (i) To what extent do specific fishing activities significantly threaten attainment of the conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 sites? (ii) What management measures would reduce these conflicts and how effective would they be at helping to ensure the favourable condition of these sites? Assessments of fishing impacts on Natura 2000 sites require basic data on the conservation status of individual habitats and species, as well as data for fine-scale distributions of ongoing fishing activities. This paper describes and discusses the process used by the EMPAS project in developing fishery-management plans for each Natura 2000 site in German offshore waters.

Seacage aquaculture in a World Heritage Area: The environmental footprint of a Barramundi farm in tropical Australia

2010 ◽  
Vol 60 (9) ◽  
pp. 1489-1501 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. David McKinnon ◽  
Lindsay A. Trott ◽  
Richard Brinkman ◽  
Samantha Duggan ◽  
Sarah Castine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Heritage ◽  
Environmental Footprint ◽  
Tropical Australia ◽  
World Heritage Area ◽  
Heritage Area

scholarly journals New record of Allamanda blanchetti Kunth (Apocynaceae) for the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 112
Author(s):  
Diego Santos ◽  
Swami Leitão Costa ◽  
Francisco Carlos Pinheiro Costa
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
New Record ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
First Record ◽  
Brazilian Atlantic Forest ◽  
Information Distribution ◽  
Upland Forest ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
New Information ◽  
Status Assessment

This study report the first record of Allamanda blanchetii Kunth in the Atlantic Forest, Brazil. This species was collected from an upland forest in Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forest. This occurrence adds new information about the distribution of this species and expands its range to Brazil, which is important for its conservation. We provide taxonomic information, distribution maps, conservation status assessment, photograps, and an identification key for the Allamanda L. species in the Atlantic Forest.

scholarly journals Conservation in Countries with Multiple Crisis Factors: The Case of Los Katios National Natural Park, a World Humanity Heritage in Danger

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 28-40
Author(s):  
Johanna Fernández B ◽  
Kirstie Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
National Parks ◽  
Conservation Biology ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Natural Park ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Colombian Government ◽  
Illegal Activities

Conservation biology aims to stop habitat loss and extinction of species. To achieve these goals there are several methods such as the establishment of natural reserves and national parks that in synthesis work as protected areas. However, the management of areas with high conservation priorities can be a challenge to conservation biology and all of the professionals involved in this process.The Colombian National Natural Park, Los Katios, hosts more than the 20% of Colombian biodiversity and is located in a region which is characterised as being one of the most biodiverse and endemic points on the planet. The park was declared a World Humanity Heritage Area in 1994 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and on the 8th of July 2009, the Colombian government solicited to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee the inclusion of the park on the list of World Heritage in Danger due to the pressures from illegal activities and inefficient surveillance in the area.Through the case of study of Los Katios National Natural Park, this review looks explores the extent to which the socio-economic situation and the internal crises of a country can influence the effectiveness of the conservation programs in protected areas. It also explains the relevance of National Natural Parks and the effects that some factors, such as violence; illegal crops; poverty; and environmental budget, can have on the performance of the conservation biology.This review concludes that the conservation of protected areas in countries with deep internal crises, such as in the case of Los Katios in Colombia, cannot be based solely on the fundamental conservation goals and that it is necessary to include government priorities and some strategies to counteract social issues as violence, poverty and insufficient funds when creating management plans.

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