The Protective Role of Coastal Marshes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Salt marshes lie between many human communities and the coast and have been presumed to protect these communities from coastal hazards by providing important ecosystem services. However, previous characterizations of these ecosystem services have typically been based on a small number of historical studies, and the consistency and extent to which marshes provide these services has not been investigated. Here, we review the current evidence for the specific processes of wave attenuation, shoreline stabilization and floodwater attenuation to determine if and under what conditions salt marshes offer these coastal protection services. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We conducted a thorough search and synthesis of the literature with reference to these processes. Seventy-five publications met our selection criteria, and we conducted meta-analyses for publications with sufficient data available for quantitative analysis. We found that combined across all studies (n = 7), salt marsh vegetation had a significant positive effect on wave attenuation as measured by reductions in wave height per unit distance across marsh vegetation. Salt marsh vegetation also had a significant positive effect on shoreline stabilization as measured by accretion, lateral erosion reduction, and marsh surface elevation change (n = 30). Salt marsh characteristics that were positively correlated to both wave attenuation and shoreline stabilization were vegetation density, biomass production, and marsh size. Although we could not find studies quantitatively evaluating floodwater attenuation within salt marshes, there are several studies noting the negative effects of wetland alteration on water quantity regulation within coastal areas. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results show that salt marshes have value for coastal hazard mitigation and climate change adaptation. Because we do not yet fully understand the magnitude of this value, we propose that decision makers employ natural systems to maximize the benefits and ecosystem services provided by salt marshes and exercise caution when making decisions that erode these services

ULTRACOATINGS: Enabling Energy and Power Solutions in High Contact Stress Environments through Next-Generation Nanocoatings

This work was a portion of a larger DOE/ITP Grand Challenge project led by Eaton Corporation and which included Ames Lab, Borg Warner Morse, and Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne. The current report summarizes work done under a CRADA between ORNL and Eaton. Tests of two types were performed at ORNL during the course of this work: (1) simulations of timing chain wear and friction under reciprocating conditions, and (2) pin-on-disk screening tests for bearings undergoing unidirectional sliding. The four materials supplied for evaluation in a timing chain link simulation were hardened type 440B stainless steel, nitrided type 440B stainless steel, VC-coated type 52100 bearing steel, and (ZrTi)B-coated type 52100 bearing steel. Reciprocating wear tests revealed that the VC coating was by far the most wear resistant. In friction, the nitrided stainless steel did slightly better than the other materials. The results will also be included in the overall project report by Eaton Corp

Marine Reptiles

Of the more than 12,000 species and subspecies of extant reptiles, about 100 have re-entered the ocean. Among them are seven species of sea turtles and about 80 species and subspecies of sea snakes, as well as a few other species that are occasionally or regularly found in brackish waters, including various other snakes, the saltwater crocodile, and the marine iguana of the Galapagos Islands. The largest group of marine reptiles, the sea snakes, occur in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans from the east coast of Africa to the Gulf of Panama. They inhabit shallow waters along coasts, around islands and coral reefs, river mouths and travel into rivers more than 150 km away from the open ocean. A single species has been found more than 1000 km up rivers. Some have also been found in lakes. The taxonomic status of the sea snakes is still under review and no general agreement exists at the moment. The effects of the exploitation on sea snakes have been investigated in the Philippines and Australia but are almost unknown from other areas. Investigations indicate that some populations are already extinct and others are in danger of extinction in various parts of Asia. All sea turtles are endangered except one. The marine iguana of the Galapagos Islands remains vulnerable due to its limited range. Brackish water snakes are closely associated with mangrove forests and as such are subject to deforestation and coastal development schemes that result in habitat loss. In addition, some are collected for their skins. While none of the coastal species are considered in danger of extinction at the present time, many are data deficient

Marine Conservation in the Azores: Evaluating Marine Protected Area Development in a Remote Island Context

In the Archipelago of the Azores, over 110,000 km2 of marine areas presently benefit from some form of protection, including a suite of coastal habitats, offshore areas, seamounts, hydrothermal vents, and large parcels of mid-ocean ridge. These areas are integrated in the recently established network of marine protected areas (MPAs), which stands as the cornerstone of Azorean marine conservation policies. This article describes and analyses the process of MPA establishment in the Azores and the current network of protected areas. Three phases of MPA development are identified, progressing from individual MPA establishment with little scientific support in the 1980s, the increasing scope of scientific research during the 1990s under European Union initiatives and the gradual implementation of an MPA network in the 2000s. Expert critical evaluation of the contemporary situation demonstrates that this network must be integrated within a wider regional marine management strategy, with MPA success being contingent upon the implementation of management plans, appropriate enforcement and monitoring, and bridging gaps in scientific knowledgeThisworkispartoftheresearchproject“2020:toward ecosystem-basedmanagementoftheAzoresmarine resources,biodiversityandhabitatsM2.1.2/I/026/2011.” FCT/MCTESprovidedindividualfundingsupporttoRA (SFRH/BD/46621/2008),ACwassupportedbyProgram InvestigadorFCT(IF/00029/2014/CP1230/CT0002)from FCTandPA(Ciência2007and2008).IMAR-DOP/UAz isResearchandDevelopmentunitno.531andLARSyS- AssociatedLaboratoryno.9fundedbythePortuguese FoundationforScienceandTechnology(FCT)through FCT—Pest/OE/EEI/LA0009/2011–2014(COMPETE,QERN, andOE)andbytheAzoresFundScienceandTechnology (FRTC)Pro-ConvergenciaandRAA

Evaluating Tidal Marsh Sustainability in the Face of Sea-Level Rise: A Hybrid Modeling Approach Applied to San Francisco Bay

Tidal marshes will be threatened by increasing rates of sea-level rise (SLR) over the next century. Managers seek guidance on whether existing and restored marshes will be resilient under a range of potential future conditions, and on prioritizing marsh restoration and conservation activities.Building upon established models, we developed a hybrid approach that involves a mechanistic treatment of marsh accretion dynamics and incorporates spatial variation at a scale relevant for conservation and restoration decision-making. We applied this model to San Francisco Bay, using best-available elevation data and estimates of sediment supply and organic matter accumulation developed for 15 Bay subregions. Accretion models were run over 100 years for 70 combinations of starting elevation, mineral sediment, organic matter, and SLR assumptions. Results were applied spatially to evaluate eight Bay-wide climate change scenarios.Model results indicated that under a high rate of SLR (1.65 m/century), short-term restoration of diked subtidal baylands to mid marsh elevations (-0.2 m MHHW) could be achieved over the next century with sediment concentrations greater than 200 mg/L. However, suspended sediment concentrations greater than 300 mg/L would be required for 100-year mid marsh sustainability (i.e., no elevation loss). Organic matter accumulation had minimal impacts on this threshold. Bay-wide projections of marsh habitat area varied substantially, depending primarily on SLR and sediment assumptions. Across all scenarios, however, the model projected a shift in the mix of intertidal habitats, with a loss of high marsh and gains in low marsh and mudflats.Results suggest a bleak prognosis for long-term natural tidal marsh sustainability under a high-SLR scenario. To minimize marsh loss, we recommend conserving adjacent uplands for marsh migration, redistributing dredged sediment to raise elevations, and concentrating restoration efforts in sediment-rich areas. To assist land managers, we developed a web-based decision support tool (www.prbo.org/sfbayslr)

Valuing and evaluating marine ecosystem services: putting the right price on marine environments?

The flow of ecosystem services from coral reefs, seagrass meadows and mangrove forests sustains the livelihoods of billions of people worldwide. Faced with the global degradation of marine and coastal ecosystems, policy makers are increasingly focusing on ecosystem service valuation techniques to encourage conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. Here we provide a review and synthesis of the available information on economic valuation techniques as applied to tropical marine habitats. Our study demonstrates the high variability and lack of consistency in outcomes from these studies. We conclude that, if the concept of ecosystem goods and services is to make a positive contribution towards managing the impacts of humans on the environment, then economic valuation approaches must reflect the inherent limitations of economic theory whilst emphasizing the complexity and heterogeneity of the natural environment and human decision making

Understanding coastal social values through citizen science: The example of Coastsnap in Western Australia

The coast is socially, economically, and environmentally vital to humanity, yet at risk due to population growth, development, and climate change. Coastal managers are required to make complex decisions regarding the trade-offs that may arise because of these threats, hence evidence-based policy is essential. Advances in biophysical data have improved understanding of coastal change, yet comparative social data is limited. Innovations are required to generate social values data that: (i) links with biophysical data; (ii) is consistent, representative, and long-term; and (iii) requires low resource investment. This paper reports on a pilot program that sought to address these needs by linking with an established citizen science program, CoastSnap, to collect information on community use and values in the Peron Naturaliste region, south-west Western Australia. The program successfully monitored community use and values uncovering the importance of nature-based activities and the mental/emotional health benefits of interacting with the coast. It highlights spatial differences in use and value that can support regional coastal planning. In the longer-term, the approach could enable decision-makers to monitor change in use and values resulting from, for example, infrastructure investments or physical coastal change. Limitations include little control over respondent sample and lack of knowledge regarding barriers to participation. Further research into the factors that motivate users and their preferences for interacting with the remote survey technologies, along with an expanded network of CoastSnap Social Survey sites, would facilitate regional, national, and global comparison of use and values. The approach provides a valuable addition to coastal managers’ data collection toolbox, generating social data that are temporal, integrates with biophysical data, and supports regional coastal planning, whilst increasing opportunities to interact with the public to enhance awareness, interest and support for coastal management

Man-made structures in the marine environment: A review of stakeholders’ social and economic values and perceptions

Man-made marine structures (MMS) are commonly used to describe any artificial structure in the marine environment, encompassing oil and gas infrastructure and pipelines, artificial reefs, jetties, piers and shipwrecks. MMS are increasingly proposed to address issues facing marine planners, including augmenting fish stocks through the creation of artificial reefs and the repurposing of redundant offshore oil and gas infrastructure (‘rigs to reefs’). Marine spatial planning is a highly contested process, characterised by multiple stakeholders with often divergent priorities due to competing objectives and values. Understanding stakeholder perspectives in relation to MMS is therefore critical in formulating appropriate policies. This review presents the first systematic and comprehensive integration of information from academic journals and ‘grey’ literature relating to social and economic values and perceptions of MMS. The review identifies that, despite advocacy for research on social and economic values of MMS, there are significant gaps in knowledge, in particular relating to comparative assessments of stakeholder values across different types of MMS. Priority areas for future research are highlighted

An Investigation into the Determining Factors of Zoo Visitor Attendances in UK Zoos

The debate as to which animals are most beneficial to keep in zoos in terms of financial and conservative value is readily disputed; however, demographic factors have also been shown to relate to visitor numbers on an international level. The main aims of this research were: (1) To observe the distribution and location of zoos across the UK, (2) to develop a way of calculating zoo popularity in terms of the species kept within a collection and (3) to investigate the factors related to visitor numbers regarding admission costs, popularity of the collection in terms of the species kept and local demographic factors. Zoo visitor numbers were positively correlated with generated popularity ratings for zoos based on the species kept within a collection and admission prices (Pearson correlation: n = 34, r = 0.268, P = 0.126 and n = 34, r = −0.430, P = 0.011). Animal collections are aggregated around large cities and tourist regions, particularly coastal areas. No relationship between demographic variables and visitor numbers was found (Pearson correlation: n = 34, r = 0.268, P = 0.126), which suggests that the popularity of a zoo's collection relative to the types and numbers of species kept is more indicative of a collection's visitor numbers than its surrounding demographic figures. Zoos should incorporate generating high popularity scores as part of their collection planning strategies, to ensure that they thrive in the future, not only as tourist attractions but also as major conservation organizations

Collecting wild Miscanthus germplasm in Asia for crop improvement and conservation in Europe whilst adhering to the guidelines of the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity

We would like to thank Dr Helen Ougham and Professor Howard Thomas for their valuable comments on this manuscript; Sarah Hawkins at IBERS for the leading of harvesting and phenotyping works; and Paul Barber at Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate, Wales & West Midlands, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) for advice on germplasm collection practice and quarantine management. This research was supported by the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) under a project entitled ‘Accession of CBD compliant Miscanthus and Triarrhena germplasm from China, Japan and Taiwan for incorporation in the UK Miscanthus breeding programme’ [grant no. NF0436]. The breeding and evaluation were conducted under ‘Genetic improvement of Miscanthus as a sustainable feedstock for bioenergy in the UK (GIANT)’ [supported by Defra and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000690, ‘Research Councils UK’), UK, grant no. LK0863]. LH, ID and JCB were supported by BBSRC grant nos BBS/E/G/00003134 and BBS/E/W/0012843A.Peer reviewedPublisher PD