coastal ecosystems

08June

5 Marine Conservation Success Stories

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On the 8^th of June we celebrate the World Oceans Day, a day to remind everyone of the major role the oceans have in everyday life. Some of you might think that the world currently has more pressing urgencies than worrying about the health of our oceans, but even at times of a health crisis and protests the ocean is setting an example. The oceans are an incredible reservoir of new compounds that have led to the development of new antibacterial and antiviral treatments. Even the test used for the detection of COVID-19 relies on enzymes that were first discovered in deep-sea bacteria back in 1969. The most successful conservation projects are the results of communities standing by each other and working towards a common goal of improving livelihoods and protecting ecosystems.

The theme of the UN World Oceans Day 2020 is “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean”. The oceans are currently suffering from the combined effects of the climate crisis, overfishing, and habitat degradation. As the challenges to the ocean continue to grow, so does the need for novel solutions and the people driving them. At times, the information relating to the current state of the oceans (think coral bleaching, endangered species, mangrove deforestation) can be overwhelming, and downright depressing. What we all need right now is some #oceanoptimism to remind ourselves that there is hope of positive change, which is why we have chosen 5 inspiring marine conservation success stories that highlight projects that have made a difference.

1. Community participation in the protection of hawksbill nesting sites

The first story is that of the hawksbill turtle , which is listed as “critically endangered” on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Until as recently as 2007, the hawksbill turtle was thought to be essentially extinct in the Eastern Pacific. However, during an international workshop, experts shared local knowledge from their perspective areas, including nesting reports, which brought new hope for the species in the Eastern Pacific. In 2009, a team of experts visited the Estero Padre Ramos Nature Reserve in Nicaragua, which was rumoured to host a significant number of hawksbill turtles. What they found exceeded all expectations: the estuary hosts 40% of the known hawksbill nesting sites in the entire eastern Pacific. Unfortunately, the majority of nests were being poached for subsistence.

Nesting hawksbill. Photo credit: WCS

The Nicaraguan Hawksbill Project was initiated in 2010 and builds on the cohesive participation of local communities, government institutions, and various NGOs. The project has had a tremendous impact, resulting in the protection of more than 500 nests, the release of more than 50,000 hatchlings, satellite tracking of individual turtles, and monitoring of nesting beaches. Their secret to success? The community is directly involved in the decision-making process and the locals receive compensations for reporting nesting hawksbill as an incentive to protect rather than poach nests. That way the scientists have more allies in the field to monitor vast strips of beaches and the locals are given a sustainable alternative to poaching.

Protected incubation of nests. (c) Anna Schleimer

Marking of juvenile hawksbill in Padre Ramos Estuary. (c) Anna Schleimer

Contributors of Nicaraguan Hawksbill Project. (c) Anna Schleimer

2. Accelerating heat tolerance in corals

Coral reefs aren’t doing well to put it mildly. The coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef decreased by about half due to summer heat waves in 2016 and 2017, followed by an 89% drop in coral larval recruitment in 2018. Despite this rapid loss, scientists have made a discovery that brings some hope for corals. Generally, when the water gets too warm, corals expel the algal symbionts that live in their tissue, leading to coral bleaching. Buerger and colleagues grew these algal symbionts at elevated temperatures (31°C) in the laboratory for 4 years. Their hope was to increase the heat-tolerance of the symbiont, which could, in turn, increase the heat-tolerance of corals when reintroduced into the host. And did it work? Three of the 10 laboratory heat-evolved algal symbionts indeed increased bleaching tolerance in corals. These findings are unlikely to be the desperately needed quick-fix to the problems that corals face. However, the study significantly improved our understanding on heat-tolerance in corals and, maybe, such heat-evolved algal symbionts could be used in coral reef restoration projects.

3. Comeback of the Leviathans

Some whales have still not recovered from commercial whaling. Of particular concern is the case of the North Atlantic right whale of which there are only about 400 animals left. However, other species have made a successful comeback following international bans on commercial whaling. The nearly complete protection of the fin whale, the second largest animal after the blue whale, throughout its range has allowed the global population to reach around 100,000 mature individuals, population trend increasing. This trend is so encouraging that the status was moved from “endangered” to the less severe “vulnerable” category on the IUCN list of endangered species in 2018. Fin whales generally live in deep, off-shore waters, where there is minimal fishing or shipping intensity, which could explain why they fared so much better than the North Atlantic right whales. However, other whales with offshore distributions, such as blue whales, still only number a few thousand individuals in the North Atlantic. The different recovery rates among species, despite the international ban on commercial hunting, highlight that whales now face a plethora of challenges, related to increased fishing and shipping intensity and climate-induced ecosystem changes.

Photo Credit: TerreSky/MICS Photo

4. Tubbataha Reef: A Shark Eden

Located in the coral triangle in the Philippines, the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park was found to host an incredibly high number of reef sharks during a recent expedition led by researchers from the Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, the Tubbataha Management Office, and the Marine Megafauna Foundation. These numbers provide hope because worldwide many shark populations are in decline and reef health is deteriorating. That is why the find of such a healthy reef with frequent shark sightings is indeed reason to celebrate! Using underwater visual surveys and underwater camera traps, the scientists studied the abundance and biodiversity of sharks and rays at this reef, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1993. They observed some of the highest abundances of grey reef sharks and whitetip reef sharks known worldwide! There are multiple reasons for the success of this natural park. One of the most important factors is that the park is very well managed and rules of no-take are enforced thanks to the dedicated staff of the Tubbataha Management Office and the Rangers of Tubbataha Reefs. Its remoteness, size and protection since the 1980s have likely also contributed to the conservation of a healthy ecosystem. Enforcement of regulations and the participation of local communities are a key ingredient to successful marine protected areas, otherwise they risk to turn into so-called “paper-parks” that only exist on paper.

5. Rewilding the coast one tree at a time

Mangrove forests shelter our shores, harbour an incredible biodiversity and absorb a significant amount of CO₂. In short, the livelihoods of many communities depend on mangroves. However, almost half of the total mangrove forest cover in the world has disappeared since 1980 due to an increase in commercial logging, fuel wood collection, conversion to rice or coconut agriculture, and aquaculture ponds (e.g. shrimp farms). To counter this degradation, many mangrove planting initiatives have mobilised volunteers to replant mangroves in recent years. While the intentions are noble, the IUCN warns that such mass mangrove planting efforts are often not sustainable. For instance a common mistake in mangrove restoration is not choosing the right species for the right site and not getting the ‘right mix’ of species. The good news? With the increasing wealth and availability of knowledge on mangroves and how to restore them, successful restoration projects are possible. The Mangrove Action Project promotes and teaches its best practice ‘Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration’ technique. Their method aims to address the problems that caused mangrove loss in the first place and focuses on understanding the ecology, hydrology (water flows), and needs of the local community to develop a customised restoration plan. Already this technique has been successfully applied to rehabilitate mangroves in Thailand and Indonesia, as part of the post-tsunami recovery. Through training workshops across the world, we are sure to see more successful mangrove restoration initiatives in future.

Malapascua Island, Philippines. (c) Anna Schleimer

(c) Antonio Busiello | WWF-US

Text written by Anna Schleimer. Happy World Oceans Day!

Image credit cover photo: Shutterstock/WWF/Simon Pierce/TerreSky MICS photo/Anna Schleimer
09February
Coastal ecosystems – Threats and challenges
Article written by Venetia Galanaki.

Mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and saltmarshes, collectively referred to as coastal ecosystems, are some of the most valuable habitats on the planet, yet they are being lost at alarming rates. With approximately half of the Earth’s population residing on the coastal zone, anthropogenic (meaning caused by humans) pressure on these ecosystems is much higher compared to more remote habitats. On a global scale, the annual rate of decline has been estimated to be 1–3% for mangroves, 2–5% for seagrass meadows, 1–2% for saltmarshes. If this trend continues at the same rate over the next 50 years, only 15% of area covered by coastal ecosystems will remain compared to the coverage at the end of World War II. Estimating loss is a tricky business as historical data are limited and more often than not highly inaccurate. However, what is worrisome is that the rates at which we are losing these important ecosystems seem to be accelerating despite the recognition of their invaluable ecosystem services.

(Image credit: Duarte et al., 2008)

Numerous and often interconnected factors have led to this decline.

Coastal development and Tourism: construction of pipelines, structuring of ports and deployment of cables for communication, has made the complete removal of these ecosystems common practice. Infrastructure built to accommodate the rapid increase of the tourism industry is leaving no room for these ecosystems. In addition, tourism related activities such as anchoring over seagrass meadows and the mere overcrowding in coastal areas is intensifying the pressure. Mangroves also suffer from overharvesting as their wood has a number of uses.

Land runoff and Pollution: Due to their close proximity to agricultural land, coastal plants are threatened by land large amounts of fertilisers and pesticides that end up in the water and can ultimately cause their death. The damage caused by runoff is further intensified In river estuaries where water is carried from large stretches of agricultural land. Additionally, specifically for seagrass meadows untreated sewage waste and aquaculture can be really harmful due to the load of organic matter in the water.

Invasive species also majorly impact these ecosystems as they can alter food webs and destabilise the entire ecosystem.

Climate change related phenomena, primarily sea level rise, majorly affects the long term health of these ecosystems. Mangroves are damaged by excessive water in their roots and destabilisation of their sediment. In seagrass meadows, rising sea levels prevent the necessary light needed for healthy seagrass growth. Saltmarshes are usually constrained by human made structures and so sea level rise forces their area cover to decrease in a process known as coastal squeeze. Mangrove health is also intricately connected with coral reefs as they shelter them from strong currents. Reefs, being further offshore, constitute the first barrier for strong currents and waves and so when they are damaged, mangroves are more susceptible to them.

The vast majority of threats occur on a local level and can be minimised through efficient coastal planning and management. Eliminating local threats and, thus allowing ecosystems to be healthier, can help build resilience against the more widespread effects of climate change. Sadly, the destruction of these ecosystems is often “justified” as a means to generate profit. However, such decision-making neglects the fact that the mere existence of coastal ecosystems greatly contributes to the economy through the ecosystem benefits that they provide, such as protection from storm surges and sea level rise and support of local livelihoods. In recent years, the efforts to conserve our coasts have intensified and the laws and regulations protecting them have strengthened. Yet, until bold commitments are made they will continue to decline at the rates we see today, leaving humans and wildlife at a loss.

About the author: Venetia comes from Greece and the Mediterranean sea has always been her happy place. A Biomedical scientist turned conservationist, whose love for the ocean led her to pursue a career in protecting it. Over the years, she has conducted fieldwork in a variety of fields, including dolphin bioacoustics, marine pollution and seagrass carbon. She currently works in Marine Protected Area planning and management in Greece.

Reference: Duarte, C.M., Dennison, W.C., Orth, R.J. and Carruthers, T.J., 2008. The charisma of coastal ecosystems: addressing the imbalance. Estuaries and coasts, 31(2), pp.233-238. Full article here.
07January

Blue Carbon – The importance of coastal ecosystems in climate change

Article written by Venetia Galanaki.

What is the first thought that springs to mind when thinking about ecosystems that contribute in reducing CO₂? Most probably forests and grasslands right? But what about all the plants that reside on the coasts? Like mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrass meadows.

These ecosystems are present in coastal and shallow waters all over the globe but their significance in CO₂ absorption has only recently started being recognised. The increased research attention gave rise to the term ‘’Blue Carbon’’ referring to carbon stored in their tissues and sediment. Blue carbon ecosystems, similarly to other vegetated ecosystems, remove CO₂ from the water column through photosynthesis leading to a decrease in its total concentration. This decrease creates a disequilibrium in its concentration between the air and the water, thus driving additional CO₂ in the water and removing it from the atmosphere.

Blue carbon ecosystems store carbon in two distinct pools, their plant tissues and the sediment with the latter being the largest. Carbon rich sediment forms as a result of the accumulation of dead plant biomass and can be preserved over millennial timescales. The tissues of coastal plants are particularly resistant to bacterial decomposition due to the low concentration of oxygen in the soil, preventing the release of the carbon they have stored during their lifetime. In addition to locally produced carbon, mangroves and seagrass meadows have the ability to trap carbon floating around in the water, through slowing down water flow and promoting sedimentation of its particles.

Coastal ecosystems are capable of storing significantly larger amounts of carbon per unit area than their terrestrial counterparts. On average, they have been found to store even up to four times higher quantities of carbon. This remarkable ability arises due to their high photosynthetic rates, which allow for increased CO₂ absorption from the water, and their extraordinary capacity to lock carbon in their soil creating large sediment carbon stocks

In addition to their function as carbon sinks, coastal ecosystems provide a range of services necessary for climate change adaptation such as protection from sea level rise and storm surges. Major conservation initiatives, such as the Blue Carbon Initiative, have promoted the efforts to conserve these ecosystems but they continue to degrade at alarming rates. Over the last few decades, mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrass meadows have been declining at an average rate of 100 square kilometres per year, establishing them as some of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet. Inadequate mapping, mainly of seagrass, poses an additional challenge to estimating losses as the original extent cover remains unknown.

Anthropogenic factors relating to increased coastal development are the main reasons behind their degradation. Naturally, the health of these ecosystems majorly influences their carbon trapping ability. Once the plants are destroyed or removed, their sediment becomes exposed releasing several years worth of trapped carbon back into the water, contributing to the increase of greenhouse gases. Studying Blue Carbon is highly important in fully understanding the role of the oceans in the carbon cycle. Also, increased research attention is crucial in attracting restoration funds and strengthening protection measures.

Currently, numerous restoration initiatives are taking place yet no greenhouse gas reduction schemes involving these ecosystems have been developed. The creation of such schemes as well as the inclusion of blue carbon ecosystems in the carbon market could provide powerful incentives for their protection. Given the current levels of CO₂ in the atmosphere, it is critically important that these ecosystems are more rigorously protected and restored so they can continue to provide their much needed benefits for people and wildlife.

About the author: Venetia comes from Greece and the Mediterranean sea has always been her happy place. A Biomedical scientist turned conservationist, whose love for the ocean led her to pursue a career in protecting it. Over the years, she has conducted fieldwork in a variety of fields, including dolphin bioacoustics, marine pollution and seagrass carbon. She currently works in Marine Protected Area planning and management in Greece.

Image credit: Venetia Galanaki, WWF, Joseph Smith, The Blue Carbon Initiative, Anna Schleimer

Tag : coastal ecosystems

5 Marine Conservation Success Stories

1. Community participation in the protection of hawksbill nesting sites

2. Accelerating heat tolerance in corals

3. Comeback of the Leviathans

4. Tubbataha Reef: A Shark Eden

5. Rewilding the coast one tree at a time

Coastal ecosystems – Threats and challenges

Blue Carbon – The importance of coastal ecosystems in climate change