10 research outputs found
A review of a decade of lessons from one of the world’s largest MPAs: conservation gains and key challenges
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this recordtribute to global conservation targets, we review outcomes of the last decade of marine conservation research in the British
Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), one of the largest MPAs in the world. The BIOT MPA consists of the atolls of the Chagos
Archipelago, interspersed with and surrounded by deep oceanic waters. Islands around the atoll rims serve as nesting grounds
for sea birds. Extensive and diverse shallow and mesophotic reef habitats provide essential habitat and feeding grounds for
all marine life, and the absence of local human impacts may improve recovery after coral bleaching events. Census data
have shown recent increases in the abundance of sea turtles, high numbers of nesting seabirds and high fsh abundance, at
least some of which is linked to the lack of recent harvesting. For example, across the archipelago the annual number of
green turtle clutches (Chelonia mydas) is~20,500 and increasing and the number of seabirds is ~1 million. Animal tracking
studies have shown that some taxa breed and/or forage consistently within the MPA (e.g. some reef fshes, elasmobranchs
and seabirds), suggesting the MPA has the potential to provide long-term protection. In contrast, post-nesting green turtles
travel up to 4000 km to distant foraging sites, so the protected beaches in the Chagos Archipelago provide a nesting sanctuary for individuals that forage across an ocean basin and several geopolitical borders. Surveys using divers and underwater
video systems show high habitat diversity and abundant marine life on all trophic levels. For example, coral cover can be
as high as 40–50%. Ecological studies are shedding light on how remote ecosystems function, connect to each other and
respond to climate-driven stressors compared to other locations that are more locally impacted. However, important threats
to this MPA have been identifed, particularly global heating events, and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fshing
activity, which considerably impact both reef and pelagic fshes.Bertarelli Foundatio
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Wave, light, and dissolved oxygen exposures drive novel coastal eelgrass (Zostera pacifica) transplant performance
The high ecological and economic value of seagrass has been long recognized, with these foundational habitats providing myriad ecosystem services. Yet through cumulative anthropogenic impacts, seagrasses are exhibiting extensive declines globally. A litany of studies and active restoration trials have demonstrated practical methodologies to restore seagrass habitats and effectively return critical habitat functions to degraded coastal zone systems worldwide. Seagrass loss along the U.S. West Coast has precipitated decades of seagrass protection, conservation, and restoration efforts. Yet, mitigation transplanting efforts have prioritized Zostera marina (narrow-leaved eelgrass) in shallow, protected environments, while a dearth of information is available on species inhabiting offshore islands and exposed mainland coasts. In this study, we conducted a novel transplant of Zostera pacifica, a wide-leaved species found in depths of 7 – 20 m along the offshore islands and mainland coast of California. Transplants were conducted at three geographically distinct sites in Santa Monica Bay, coupled with continuous monitoring of biophysical parameters providing insight into physical drivers at transplant and donor sites. Utilizing in situ data, and environmental thresholds adapted from the literature for Z. marina, we performed exposure analyses to evaluate factors influencing Z. pacifica transplant performance. Exceedances of threshold values for environmental parameters, specifically, wave exposure and near-bed flow speeds (Hrms > 0.59 m and Urms > 0.1 m s-1), photosynthetically active radiation (< 3 and > 5 mol m-2 day-1) and dissolved oxygen (< 3 mg O2 L-1) exposure impacted transplant survivorship. These results suggest Z. pacifica persist in biophysically dynamic conditions and are sensitive to exceedances of thresholds, underlining the importance of pre-transplant site-selection processes to this species. These data represent the first holistic study of Z. pacifica transplanting on an exposed mainland coast, which provides a view into the baseline environmental envelopes within existing Z. pacifica habitat, and further, may serve as a model for investigating scalable open coast seagrass restoration for temperate regions
Laser Field Effects on the Transport Phenomena: Energy Loss,Stopping Power and Inverse Bremsstrahlung Process
Mo(ve)ments in professional identification: achieving professional identity and becoming a teacher in Danish and Kenyan teacher education
Anomalous photoluminescence and raman scattering behavior in heavily Mg+ ion-implanted InP
A review of a decade of lessons from one of the world’s largest MPAs: conservation gains and key challenges
Given the recent trend towards establishing very large marine protected areas (MPAs) and the high potential of these to contribute to global conservation targets, we review outcomes of the last decade of marine conservation research in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), one of the largest MPAs in the world. The BIOT MPA consists of the atolls of the Chagos Archipelago, interspersed with and surrounded by deep oceanic waters. Islands around the atoll rims serve as nesting grounds for sea birds. Extensive and diverse shallow and mesophotic reef habitats provide essential habitat and feeding grounds for all marine life, and the absence of local human impacts may improve recovery after coral bleaching events. Census data have shown recent increases in the abundance of sea turtles, high numbers of nesting seabirds and high fish abundance, at least some of which is linked to the lack of recent harvesting. For example, across the archipelago the annual number of green turtle clutches (Chelonia mydas) is ~ 20,500 and increasing and the number of seabirds is ~ 1 million. Animal tracking studies have shown that some taxa breed and/or forage consistently within the MPA (e.g. some reef fishes, elasmobranchs and seabirds), suggesting the MPA has the potential to provide long-term protection. In contrast, post-nesting green turtles travel up to 4000 km to distant foraging sites, so the protected beaches in the Chagos Archipelago provide a nesting sanctuary for individuals that forage across an ocean basin and several geopolitical borders. Surveys using divers and underwater video systems show high habitat diversity and abundant marine life on all trophic levels. For example, coral cover can be as high as 40–50%. Ecological studies are shedding light on how remote ecosystems function, connect to each other and respond to climate-driven stressors compared to other locations that are more locally impacted. However, important threats to this MPA have been identified, particularly global heating events, and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activity, which considerably impact both reef and pelagic fishes