Assessing, quantifying and valuing the ecosystem services of coastal lagoons

The natural conservation of coastal lagoons is important not only for their ecological importance, but also because of the valuable ecosystem services they provide for human welfare and wellbeing. Coastal lagoons are shallow semi-enclosed systems that support important habitats such as wetlands, mangroves, salt-marshes and seagrass meadows, as well as a rich biodiversity. Coastal lagoons are also complex social-ecological systems with ecosystem services that provide livelihoods, wellbeing and welfare to humans. This study assessed, quantified and valued the ecosystem services of 32 coastal lagoons. The main findings of the study are: (i) the definitions of ecosystem services are still not generally accepted; (ii) the quantification of ecosystem services is made in many different ways, using different units; (iii) the evaluation in monetary terms of some ecosystem service is problematic, often relying on non-monetary evaluation methods; (iv) when ecosystem services are valued in monetary terms, this may represent very different human benefits; and, (v) different aspects of climate change, including increasing temperature, sea-level rise and changes in rainfall patterns threaten the valuable ecosystem services of coastal lagoons.DEVOTES project, from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration [308392]; networks and communities of Eurolag; Future Earth Coasts; SCOR; Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) Investigador Programme [IF/00331/2013]; Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia [UID/MAR/04292/2013]; CESAM by FCT/MEC national funds (PIDDAC) [UID/AMB/50017/2013 - POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007638]; FEDER; European Commission, under the 7th Framework Programme through the collaborative research project LAGOONS [283157]; FCT [SFRH/BPD/107823/2015, SFRH/BPD/91494/2012

An overview of ecological status, vulnerability and future perspectives of European large shallow, semi-enclosed coastal systems, lagoons and transitional waters

The paper gives an overview of some of the large, shallow, semi-enclosed coastal systems (SECS) in Europe, These SECS are important both from the ecological and the economic perspective (socioecological systems) and provide many valuable ecosystem goods and services. Although some of the systems are transitional waters under theWater Framework Directive, this is not the case for all of the systems. The paper adopts a Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response approach to analyse the ecological status, vulnerability and future perspectives of these systems in the context of global change.This work has been supported by: the EUROMEDLAG federation, http://www.euromedlag.eu/lagoonsfederation/; EC 5FP grant agreement 00084 (DITTY), http://www.ecolag.univ-montp2. fr/index.php?option¼com_content&task¼view&lang¼en&id¼226; EC 6FP grant agreement 036992 (SPICOSA),www.spicosa.eu/; the LOICZ project, http://www.loicz.org/.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Phytoplankton community structure in the Goro lagoon analyzed by microscopy and molecular approaches

This study aimed at investigating the phytoplankton dynamics in a coastal lagoon with complex hydrological dynamics (Sacca di Goro, Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy) highly utilized for shellfish farming, by combining a morphological approach (microscopy) with the innovative eDNA metabarcoding, towards a more informed management of transitional areas. A monthly sampling was carried out between September 2020-2021 in 4 sites. Both the molecular and morphological method resulted valid tools for phytoplankton monitoring. Seasonal variation in phytoplankton abundances and high densities during spring dominated by diatoms (Chaetoceros, Skeletonema, Pseudo-nitzschia, and Cyclotella spp.) were found. Differences in taxa identification between the two methods were observed, as 147 and 158 taxa were reported using the morphological and molecular approach respectively. Although eDNA resulted efficient in detecting cryptic taxa and picophytoplankton that were not morphologically identified, limitations were reported in resolution at species level, in quantification and in identification of some groups (Cyanobacteria and Euglenophyceae), due to the lack of representative sequences in current databases. Potential HAB species were found at low densities (dinoflagellates: Prorocentrum cordatum, Gonyaulax sp., Alexandrium sp., Heterocapsa sp., and diatoms: Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima and seriata complex) which could be threats to shellfish farm and human health. The study highlights the value of implementing monitoring programs using innovative tools (e.g., eDNA) to analyse the phytoplankton diversity and identify toxic species. Due to the sensitivity of transitional ecosystems, combining different approaches, such as microscopy able to quantify phytoplankton at low taxonomic level and a fast and powerful molecular tool, could be fundamental to assess the composition and ecological function of microalgal communities and facilitate a better conservation strategy in view of climate changes.Primarily, I will be forever indebted to the Flemish Interuniversity Council, Erasmus Mundus Joint master’s degree (EMJMD-Europe) who allowed me to be one of their international scholars and giving me full support during my studies

Linking water quality to living resources in a mid-Atlantic lagoon system, USA

The mid-Atlantic coastal bays are shallow coastal lagoons, separated from the Atlantic Ocean by barrier sand islands with oceanic exchanges restricted to narrow inlets. The relatively poor flushing of these lagoon systems makes them susceptible to eutrophication resulting from anthropogenic nutrient loadings. An intensive water quality and seagrass monitoring program was initiated to track ecological changes in the Maryland and Virginia coastal bays. The purpose of this study was to analyze existing monitoring data to determine status and trends in eutrophication and to determine any associations between water quality and living resources. Analysis of monitoring program data revealed several trends: (1) decadal decreases in nutrient and chlorophyll concentrations, followed by recently increasing trends; (2) decadal increases in seagrass coverage, followed by a recent period of no change; (3) blooms of macroalgae and brown tide microalgae; and (4) exceedance of water quality thresholds: chlorophyll a (15 mu g/L), total nitrogen (0.65 mg/L or 46 mu mol/L), total phosphorus (0.037 mg/L or 1.2 mu mol/L), and dissolved oxygen (5 mg/L) in many areas within the Maryland coastal bays. The water quality thresholds were based on habitat requirements for living resources (seagrass and fish) and used to calculate a water quality index, which was used to compare the bay segments. Strong gradients in water quality were correlated to changes in seagrass coverage between segments. These factors indicate that these coastal bays are in a state of transition, with a suite of metrics indicating degrading conditions. Continued monitoring and intensified management will be required to avert exacerbation of the observed eutrophication trends. Coastal lagoons worldwide are experiencing similar degrading trends due to increasing human pressures, and assessing status and trends relative to biologically relevant thresholds can assist in determining monitoring and management priorities and goals

Modulation of Watershed Nutrient Loads By Tidal Creek Ecosystems on The Virginia Eastern Shore

While deeper estuaries typically demonstrate predictable responses to increased nutrient loads, responses in shallow systems are more varied, due in part to the presence of multiple benthic autotrophs. Shallow systems are particularly vulnerable to increases in watershed nutrient loads due to their position at the interface between land and open water. The prevailing conceptual model of eutrophication for shallow systems currently describes a succession in the dominant autotroph from seagrass to macroalgae to phytoplankton, but this model does not include benthic microalgae, which can sequester nutrients in photic systems. The Virginia Eastern Shore is characterized by shallow lagoons connected to upland watersheds through small tidal creeks, where the main source of fresh water and nutrients is groundwater. While some studies have characterized the response of the lagoons to nutrient loads, little is known about the tidal creeks and whether they act as filters, transformers, or conduits for land-based nutrients. We examined the role tidal creeks play in modulating watershed nutrient inputs in the Great Machipongo River (GMR) system, the largest tidal creek complex on the seaside of the Virginia Eastern Shore. We developed a field monitoring program that provided data to calibrate a reduced complexity Estuarine Ecosystem Model (EEM). Production, respiration, and net ecosystem metabolism were quantified, using both the open water and component methods, seasonally at three sites within this system. These rates together with monthly concentrations of standing stock nutrients and water column chlorophyll, monthly DataFlow surveys of physiochemical parameters, seasonally and spatially-intensive benthic chlorophyll surveys, and a bathymetric survey were used to develop and calibrate the EEM. The model was used to assess the degree to which tidal creeks export (via flushing), remove (via denitrification), or transform (via autotrophic uptake) land-based nutrient loads to the adjacent lagoons during baseflow and storm conditions. Component metabolism studies showed the system was overall net autotrophic, with increasing dominance of benthic processes towards the head of the estuary. Open water metabolism studies suggested the system was overall net heterotrophic, but we believe this conclusion is biased by the surrounding marshes and violations of the constant water mass assumption. The creek system exported 61,476 kg N y-1 as phytoplankton biomass, an amount approximately equal to inputs from the watershed and atmosphere, and imported 172,830 kg N y-1 in dissolved inorganic forms for a net import of 111,354 kg N y-1 from Hog Island Bay. Phytoplankton uptake, benthic microalgal uptake, and denitrification accounted for 216%, 343%, and 38% of the annual input of watershed and atmospheric N to the system, indicative of rapid cycling and advection of nutrients from Hog Island Bay. The storm simulation showed that almost all of the additional 28,635 kg N y-1 added from the watershed was flushed to Hog Island Bay and a small portion was denitrified. This study indicates that GMR system function is dominated by benthic processes, and the system acts as a transformer and filter of land-based nutrients during normal conditions and a conduit of nutrients during storm conditions

Inferring Environmental Change in Estuaries from Plant Macrofossils

Aquatic plants are critical components of estuarine ecosystems supporting biodiversity and a range of ecosystem services such as sediment stabilisation and denitrification. However, estuarine plants, similar to their freshwater counterparts, are in decline and under threat. The examination of remains of aquatic plants in sediment records can document the fate of the plants themselves, along with numerous natural and anthropogenic changes in estuaries, including those associated with relative sea level change, pollution and habitat degradation. In comparison with other proxies, the use of macrofossils in estuaries is in its relative infancy. However, many approaches to the examination of plant macrofossils can be utilised from the freshwater domain where a number of advances have been made, particularly in the past decade

Lagoon Wastewater Effluent Impacts Stream Metabolism in Red River Tributaries

Lagoons are the most common form of sewage treatment for rural Canadian communities and may therefore be a major source of pollution to local waterways. However, the environmental effects of pulse releases of lagoon effluent are largely unknown. This study reports on changes in physicochemical conditions and stream metabolism occurring as result of summer lagoon effluent releases into Red River tributaries, Manitoba, Canada. We calculated metrics of stream metabolism using the single-station, open water method. We found that an effluent release results in a significant short-term increase in physicochemical (i.e., water nutrients, stream discharge) conditions which had a subsidy effect on stream metabolism. We also found that stream metabolism was significantly greater in effluent exposed versus unexposed reaches; however, our results suggest the degree of effect depends on whether the release occurred early or late in the summer. The findings of this study have implications for lagoon management and future stream monitoring projects aimed at evaluating the effects of lagoon wastewater effluent

Biodiversity of Marine Microbes

The book entitled “Biodiversity of Marine Microbes” aims at highlighting the significance of marine microbes as primary producers, their contribution in complex ecological processes and their roles in biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functioning. The book includes five research papers covering the diversity and composition of marine microbial communities representing all three domains of life in various marine environments, including coastal eutrophic areas, ice waters, and lagoons. One paper examines the diversity and succession of bacterial and archaeal communities from coastal waters in mesocosm experiments. The combination of classical tools with novel technological advances implemented in the methods of the papers offered an opportunity to answer fundamental questions and shed light on the complex and diverse life of marine microbes

Removal and Reuse of Phosphorus as a Fertilizer from CAFO Runoff

Eutrophication is the process in which nutrient saturated waters promote algal blooms on the surface of the water. This limits the amount of dissolved oxygen content in the water, effectively limiting the range of species that can survive in a body of water. Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) can contribute to this issue. The animals in a CAFO produce large amounts of nutrient-rich waste streams that can enter natural waterways if not properly managed and increase the problem of eutrophication. The ability to treat these waste streams and recover the excess nutrients would allow for not only the reduction of nutrient leaching and runoff but would help create sustainable phosphorus practice. Phosphorus is vital in terms of food production, and there is no replacement for phosphorus for plants or humans. As the population continues to increase, food demand will as well. This means that at any point that phosphorus can be recovered, it should be. To recover phosphorus effectively from waste water sources, reverse osmosis, anion exchange, or adsorption are all viable options. Woo Pig Pooie researched these options for recovering phosphorus, and adsorption was found to be the most promising from standpoints of low maintenance and cost effectiveness. Multiple adsorption materials were ranked based on appropriate performance of cost, particle size, adsorption qualities, and the effects of application of the material. Water treatment residuals, WTR (i.e. spent alum from a drinking water treatment plant), was determined to be the most effective adsorbent. WTR, a waste product, is 80% water as it exits the water treatment plant. It must be pelletized and dried before use as an adsorbent. Pelletized and dried WTR was utilized in a full-scale facility treating 62 GPM of feed using two 11,000 gallons packed columns with associated equipment. If the cost of pelletizing and drying the WTR is included, an alternative strategy for implementation on individual farms is for several farmers to form a cooperative, which would allow the minimization of the $1,460,000 fixed capital cost and the$504,000 cost of manufacturing of the drying pelletizing facility. This would allow for the maximum amount of WTR to be treated increasing the revenue of the operation to $731,500. The cooperative would have an operation of 10 years with a net present value of$5,000. Experimental results using WTR packed columns have shown non-detectable levels of phosphorus in the effluent. The produced phosphorus saturated WTR could be land applied to reduce the level of nutrients in runoff from fields, making a safer agriculture operation