scholarly journals Reserves as tools for alleviating impacts of marine disease

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1689) ◽  
pp. 20150210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joleah B. Lamb ◽  
Amelia S. Wenger ◽  
Michelle J. Devlin ◽  
Daniela M. Ceccarelli ◽  
David H. Williamson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Coral Disease ◽  
Disease Prevalence ◽  
Run Off ◽  
One Year ◽  
Over Exploitation

Marine protected areas can prevent over-exploitation, but their effect on marine diseases is less clear. We examined how marine reserves can reduce diseases affecting reef-building corals following acute and chronic disturbances. One year after a severe tropical cyclone, corals inside reserves had sevenfold lower levels of disease than those in non-reserves. Similarly, disease prevalence was threefold lower on reserve reefs following chronic exposure to terrestrial run-off from a degraded river catchment, when exposure duration was below the long-term site average. Examination of 35 predictor variables indicated that lower levels of derelict fishing line and injured corals inside reserves were correlated with lower levels of coral disease in both case studies, signifying that successful disease mitigation occurs when activities that damage reefs are restricted. Conversely, reserves were ineffective in moderating disease when sites were exposed to higher than average levels of run-off, demonstrating that reductions in water quality undermine resilience afforded by reserve protection. In addition to implementing protected areas, we highlight that disease management efforts should also target improving water quality and limiting anthropogenic activities that cause injury.

scholarly journals A benchmark survey of plankton, fish and benthic composition in Poblacion and Kadurong Reefs in Liloan, Cebu, Philippines

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brisneve Edullantes ◽  
Fleurdeliz Maglangit ◽  
Angelito Ortiz ◽  
Joana Mie Casibo ◽  
Lorraine Louise Vicentuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Coastal Development ◽  
Fish Stock ◽  
Coastal Protection ◽  
Goods And Services

Coral reefs offer valuable ecosystem goods and services, such as coastal protection, erosion regulation, fishery, biodiversity, habitat and nursery grounds. However, they face threats from anthropogenic activities, including poor water quality, global warming, coastal development and unsustainable fisheries. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) provide a structured and holistic approach in addressing these threats. Regular monitoring and assessment of these MPAs are crucial components in evaluating the MPAs design and effectiveness. Two coral reefs (i.e. Poblacion and Kadurong Reefs) were established as MPAs in Liloan, Cebu, Philippines to protect crucial habitat and biodiversity with the hope of improving fisheries by avoiding fish stock disintegration. These coral reefs provide shelter to many commercially-significant fish species, supporting subsistence and livelihood in the community. These MPAs are not only biologically rich, but they also support socio-economic stability. Hence, management and protection of the coral reefs in the MPAs of Liloan, Cebu is of paramount importance. To formulate conservation and applicable management measures, research and monitoring should be in place. This paper presents the data collected from the short term monitoring in the Poblaction and Kadurong Reefs. The paper describes an important set of data that can be used by the stakeholders to benchmark biophysical assessments for management of marine-protected areas in Liloan. This data paper provides baseline information on the health of the coral reefs of the MPAs in Liloan, Cebu. Datasets covering physico-chemical and biological parameters inclusive of water quality, coral reef cover, fish and plankton occurrence and abundance were determined using the standard protocols for surveying tropical marine resources. The results will serve as a benchmark in formulating guidelines and implementing relevant policies for the effective management and protection of the MPAs in Liloan, Cebu, Philippines.

scholarly journals Potential changes in the connectivity of marine protected areas driven by extreme ocean warming

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana Shigihara Lima ◽  
Douglas Francisco Marcolino Gherardi ◽  
Luciano Ponzi Pezzi ◽  
Leilane Gonçalves dos Passos ◽  
Clarissa Akemi Kajiya Endo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Oceanic Islands ◽  
Ocean Warming ◽  
Surface Currents ◽  
Southwest Atlantic ◽  
Tropical Ocean ◽  
Regional Effects ◽  
Rcp 8.5

AbstractProjected future climate scenarios anticipate a warmer tropical ocean and changes in surface currents that will likely influence the survival of marine organisms and the connectivity of marine protected areas (MPAs) networks. We simulated the regional effects of climate change on the demographic connectivity of parrotfishes in nine MPAs in the South Atlantic through downscaling of the HadGEM2-ES Earth System Model running the RCP 8.5 greenhouse gas trajectory. Results indicate a tropicalization scenario over the tropical southwest Atlantic following an increase of sea surface temperature (SST) between 1.8 and 4.5 °C and changes in mean surface currents between − 0.6 to 0.5 m s−1 relative to present conditions. High mortality rates will reduce demographic connectivity and increase the isolation of oceanic islands. The simulation of organismal response to ocean warming shows that acclimation can significantly improve (p < 0.001) particle survival, promoting connectivity and tropicalization of MPAs, with potential impacts on their functional integrity and long-term resilience.

scholarly journals A New Long-Term Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Program for the Knowledge and Management in Marine Protected Areas of the Mexican Caribbean

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7814
Author(s):  
Susana Perera-Valderrama ◽  
Sergio Cerdeira-Estrada ◽  
Raúl Martell-Dubois ◽  
Laura Rosique-de la Cruz ◽  
Hansel Caballero-Aragón ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Marine Ecosystems ◽  
Observation System ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Biodiversity Monitoring ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Mexican Caribbean

In the Mexican Caribbean, 15 marine protected areas (MPAs) have been established for managing and protecting marine ecosystems. These MPAs receive high anthropogenic pressure from coastal development, tourism, and fishing, all in synergy with climate change. To contribute to the MPAs’ effectiveness, it is necessary to provide a long-term observation system of the condition of marine ecosystems and species. Our study proposes the establishment of a new marine biodiversity monitoring program (MBMP) focusing on three MPAs of the Mexican Caribbean. Five conservation objects (COs) were defined (coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, marine turtles, and sharks-rays) for their ecological relevance and the pressures they are facing. Coral reef, seagrass and mangroves have multiple biological, biogeochemical and physical interactions. Marine turtles are listed as endangered species, and the status of their populations is unknown in the marine area of the MPAs. Elasmobranchs play a key role as top and medium predators, and their populations have been poorly studied. Indicators were proposed for monitoring each CO. As a technological innovation, all information obtained from the MBMP will be uploaded to the Coastal Marine Information and Analysis System (SIMAR), a public, user-friendly and interactive web platform that allows for automatic data management and processing.

Evaluating the ecological effects of Mediterranean marine protected areas: habitat, scale and the natural variability of ecosystems

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.A. GARCÍA CHARTON ◽  
I.D. WILLIAMS ◽  
A. PÉREZ RUZAFA ◽  
M. MILAZZO ◽  
R. CHEMELLO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Multiple Scales ◽  
Natural Variability ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Nested Designs ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Habitat Scale ◽  
Physical Elements

The capability to detect and predict the responses of marine populations and communities to the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) depends on the ability to distinguish between the influences of management and natural variability due to the effects of factors other than protection. Thus, it is important to understand and quantify the magnitude and range of this natural variability at each scale of observation. Here we review the scale of responses of target populations and communities to protection within Mediterranean MPAs, against their ‘normal’ spatio-temporal heterogeneity, and compare those with documented cases from other temperate and tropical marine ecosystems. Additionally, we approach the problem of the relative importance of habitat structure, considered as a set of biological and physical elements of the seascape hierarchically arranged in space at multiple scales, to drive natural variability. We conclude that much more effort has to be made to characterize heterogeneity in relation to Mediterranean MPAs, and to quantify and explain relationships between target species and their habitats as sources of such variability. These studies should be based on sound sampling designs, which (1) generate long-term data sets, and would ideally (2) be based on a Mediterranean-wide comparison of a number of protected and unprotected localities, (3) be designed from a multi-scaled perspective, and (4) control for factors other than protection, in order to avoid their confounding effects. The need for appropriate spatial and temporal replication, nested designs and power analysis is advocated.

Assessing long-term water quality impacts of reducing phosphorus fertilizer in a US suburban watershed

Water Policy ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 917-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeyuan Qiu ◽  
Tony Prato ◽  
Hongmei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Phosphorus Fertilizer ◽  
Municipal Governments ◽  
Load Duration ◽  
Run Off ◽  
The Usa

Phosphorus run-off from urban lawn care is a significant water quality concern in many US suburban communities. Many state and municipal governments in the USA adopt urban fertilizer laws or ordinances that prohibit the use of phosphorus-containing lawn fertilizers. This study assesses the long-term water-quality impacts of two phosphorus-reduction scenarios in a suburban watershed in Central New Jersey. While Scenario I reduces the phosphorus fertilizer application rates by 25%, Scenario II completely eliminates phosphorus fertilizer for urban lawns as required by such laws, rules or ordinances. The long-term water-quality impacts were estimated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool and then compared to the total maximum daily load (TMDL) water-quality standards using the load duration curve approach. Scenario I will decrease total phosphorus (TP) load to streams by 15.34%. Scenario II achieves greater reduction in TP load to streams than Scenario I, but results in excessive nitrogen run-off and violation of the TMDL standard for total nitrogen. While many regulatory measures focus on reducing phosphorus run-off by prohibiting the use of phosphorus in urban lawn fertilizer, they should be carefully implemented to balance the nutrient needs to maintain healthy lawns and avoid such unintended consequences.

scholarly journals Anthropogenic and catchment characteristic signatures in the water quality of Swiss rivers: a quantitative assessment

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Botter ◽  
Paolo Burlando ◽  
Simone Fatichi
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Water Quality Data ◽  
Natural And Anthropogenic Factors

Abstract. The hydrological and biogeochemical response of rivers carries information about solute sources, pathways, and transformations in the catchment. We investigate long-term water quality data of eleven Swiss catchments with the objective to discern the influence of catchment characteristics and anthropogenic activities on delivery of solutes in stream water. Magnitude, trends and seasonality of water quality samplings of different solutes are evaluated and compared across catchments. Subsequently, the empirical dependence between concentration and discharge is used to classify different solute behaviors. Although the influence of catchment geology, morphology and size is sometime visible on in-stream solute concentrations, anthropogenic impacts are much more evident. Solute variability is generally smaller than discharge variability. The majority of solutes shows dilution with increasing discharge, especially geogenic species, while sediment-related solutes (e.g. Total Phosphorous and Organic Carbon species) show higher concentrations with increasing discharge. Both natural and anthropogenic factors impact the biogeochemical response of streams and, while the majority of solutes show identifiable behaviors in individual catchments, only a minority of behaviors can be generalized across catchments that exhibit different natural, climatic and anthropogenic features.

scholarly journals Contribution of Marine Protected Areas in Fisheries Governance in South Mediterranean

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 156
Author(s):  
Said Chaouki CHAKOUR ◽  
Asma CHAKER
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Fisheries Governance ◽  
Conservation Projects ◽  
High Level ◽  
Social And Environmental Impacts

When studying fishing activities in south Mediterranean, particularly in Algeria, we face the particular case of coastal territory. The high dependence of human activities on marine territories and their resources is always related to the high level of conflicts, between fishing actors and other stakeholders, generated by some conservation projects. The aim of this paper is to highlight and illustrate the approach of MPAs (Marine Protected Areas) governance and their role in conserving biodiversity, in order to clarify their economic, social and environmental impacts on human activities such as fishing. This paper defends the flowing thesis: in the long term, protection could reduce conflicts, contribute to sustainable management of fisheries and improve the welfare of fishers’ community.

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