Monitoring in the Western Pacific region shows evidence of seagrass decline in line with global trends

Short, Frederick T., Coles, Robert, Fortes, Miguel D., Victor, Steven, Salik, Maxwell, Isnain, Irwan, Andrew, Jay, and Seno, Aganta (2014) Monitoring in the Western Pacific region shows evidence of seagrass decline in line with global trends. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 83 (2). pp. 408-416.

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Abstract

Seagrass systems of the Western Pacific region are biodiverse habitats, providing vital services to ecosystems and humans over a vast geographic range. SeagrassNet is a worldwide monitoring program that collects data on seagrass habitats, including the ten locations across the Western Pacific reported here where change at various scales was rapidly detected. Three sites remote from human influence were stable. Seagrasses declined largely due to increased nutrient loading (4 sites) and increased sedimentation (3 sites), the two most common stressors of seagrass worldwide. Two sites experienced near-total loss from of excess sedimentation, followed by partial recovery once sedimentation was reduced. Species shifts were observed at every site with recovering sites colonized by pioneer species. Regulation of watersheds is essential if marine protected areas are to preserve seagrass meadows. Seagrasses in the Western Pacific experience stress due to human impacts despite the vastness of the ocean area and low development pressures.

Item ID: 35894
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1879-3363
Keywords: seagrass, monitoring, Western Pacific, decline, nutrients, sedimentation
Funders: David and Lucile Packard Foundation, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, University of New Hampshire
Date Deposited: 22 Oct 2014 07:03
FoR Codes: 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050206 Environmental Monitoring @ 50%
05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050202 Conservation and Biodiversity @ 50%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960802 Coastal and Estuarine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100%
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