The Gulf: a young sea in decline.

doi:10.1016/J.MARPOLBUL.2009.10.017

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The Gulf: a young sea in decline.

Journal Article•DOI•

The Gulf: a young sea in decline.

Charles Sheppard¹, Mohsen Al-Husiani², F. Al-Jamali³, Faiza Al-Yamani², Rob Baldwin, James M. Bishop², Francesca Benzoni⁴, Eric Dutrieux, Nicholas K. Dulvy⁵, Subba Rao V. Durvasula⁶, D.A. Jones, Ron Loughland, David Medio, Manickam Nithyanandan, Graham M. Pilling⁷, Igor Polikarpov², Andrew R. G. Price¹, Samuel J. Purkis⁸, Bernhard Riegl⁸, Maria Saburova⁹, Kaveh Samimi Namin¹⁰, Oliver Taylor, Simon C. Wilson, Khadija Zainal¹¹ - Show less +20 more•Institutions (11)

University of Warwick¹, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research², Qatar University³, University of Milan⁴, Simon Fraser University⁵, Dartmouth College⁶, Suffolk University⁷, Nova Southeastern University⁸, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine⁹, National Museum of Natural History¹⁰, University of Bahrain¹¹

01 Jan 2010-Marine Pollution Bulletin (Pergamon)-Vol. 60, Iss: 1, pp 13-38

TL;DR: This review examines the substantial changes that have taken place in marine habitats and resources of the Gulf over the past decade, finding that the prognosis for the Gulf continuing to provide abundant natural resources is poor.

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About: This article is published in Marine Pollution Bulletin.The article was published on 2010-01-01. It has received 652 citations till now.

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Journal Article•DOI•

Environmental Impacts of Dredging and Other Sediment Disturbances on Corals: A Review

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Paul L. A. Erftemeijer¹, Bernhard Riegl², Bert W. Hoeksema³, Peter A. Todd⁴•Institutions (4)

Sinclair Knight Merz¹, Nova Southeastern University², Naturalis³, National University of Singapore⁴

01 Sep 2012-Marine Pollution Bulletin

TL;DR: The results of this analysis reveal a significant relationship of coral sensitivity to turbidity and sedimentation with growth form, but not with calyx size, and meaningful criteria to limit the extent and turbidity of dredging plume effects will always require site-specific evaluations.

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601 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

Assessment and management of heavy metal pollution in the marine environment of the Arabian Gulf: A review

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Humood A. Naser¹•Institutions (1)

University of Bahrain¹

15 Jul 2013-Marine Pollution Bulletin

TL;DR: Reviewing heavy metal contamination in a variety of marine organisms, and sediments, and suggests measures for environmental management of heavy metal pollution in the Arabian Gulf confirmed that heavy metal concentrations in marine organisms were generally within allowable concentrations and pose no threat to public health.

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304 citations

Cites background from "The Gulf: a young sea in decline."

...Despite high standards of sewage treatment throughout the Arabian Gulf countries (Sheppard et al., 2010), large quantities of domestic effluents are discharged to coastal and marine environments....
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...It is relatively a shallow basin with an average depth of 35 m (Sheppard et al., 2010)....
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...Dredging and reclamation, industrial and sewage effluents, hypersaline water discharges from desalination plants, and oil pollution are examples of anthropogenic stresses that contribute to environmental degradation in the Arabian Gulf (Sheppard et al., 2010), which is classified among the highest anthropogenically impacted regions in the world (Halpern et al....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Microplastics contamination in molluscs from the northern part of the Persian Gulf

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Abolfazl Naji, Marzieh Nuri, A. Dick Vethaak¹•Institutions (1)

VU University Amsterdam¹

01 Apr 2018-Environmental Pollution

TL;DR: The results indicated that molluscan shellfish from the Persian Gulf contain MPs, with higher concentrations in a predatory species, suggesting trophic transfer of MPs in the food web.

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227 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

Symbiodinium thermophilum sp. nov., a thermotolerant symbiotic alga prevalent in corals of the world's hottest sea, the Persian/Arabian Gulf

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Benjamin C. C. Hume¹, Cecilia D'Angelo¹, Edward G. Smith², Jamie R. Stevens³, John A. Burt², Jörg Wiedenmann⁴, Jörg Wiedenmann¹ - Show less +3 more•Institutions (4)

National Oceanography Centre, Southampton¹, New York University Abu Dhabi², University of Exeter³, University of Southampton⁴

27 Feb 2015-Scientific Reports

TL;DR: Through the characterisation of Symbiodinium associations of 6 species (5 genera) of Gulf corals, it is demonstrated that S. thermophilum is the prevalent symbiont all year round in the world's hottest sea, the southern Persian/Arabian Gulf.

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Abstract: Coral reefs are in rapid decline on a global scale due to human activities and a changing climate. Shallow water reefs depend on the obligatory symbiosis between the habitat forming coral host and its algal symbiont from the genus Symbiodinium (zooxanthellae). This association is highly sensitive to thermal perturbations and temperatures as little as 1°C above the average summer maxima can cause the breakdown of this symbiosis, termed coral bleaching. Predicting the capacity of corals to survive the expected increase in seawater temperatures depends strongly on our understanding of the thermal tolerance of the symbiotic algae. Here we use molecular phylogenetic analysis of four genetic markers to describe Symbiodinium thermophilum, sp. nov. from the Persian/Arabian Gulf, a thermally tolerant coral symbiont. Phylogenetic inference using the non-coding region of the chloroplast psbA gene resolves S. thermophilum as a monophyletic lineage with large genetic distances from any other ITS2 C3 type found outside the Gulf. Through the characterisation of Symbiodinium associations of 6 species (5 genera) of Gulf corals, we demonstrate that S. thermophilum is the prevalent symbiont all year round in the world's hottest sea, the southern Persian/Arabian Gulf.

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213 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

The growing need for sustainable ecological management of marine communities of the Persian Gulf.

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Peter F. Sale¹, David A. Feary², John A. Burt³, Andrew G. Bauman⁴, Geórgenes H. Cavalcante⁵, Ken G. Drouillard⁶, Björn Kjerfve⁷, Björn Kjerfve⁸, Elise Marquis⁹, Charles G. Trick¹⁰, Paolo Usseglio¹¹, Hanneke Van Lavieren¹ - Show less +8 more•Institutions (11)

United Nations University¹, URS Corporation², New York University Abu Dhabi³, James Cook University⁴, Qatar Airways⁵, University of Windsor⁶, World Maritime University⁷, Texas A&M University⁸, National Taiwan University⁹, University of Western Ontario¹⁰, University of Hawaii¹¹

27 Jan 2011-AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment

TL;DR: An excellent opportunity exists for one or more of the bordering countries to initiate a bold and effective, long-term, international collaboration in environmental management for the Gulf.

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Abstract: The Persian Gulf is a semi-enclosed marine system surrounded by eight countries, many of which are experiencing substantial development. It is also a major center for the oil industry. The increasing array of anthropogenic disturbances may have substantial negative impacts on marine ecosystems, but this has received little attention until recently. We review the available literature on the Gulf’s marine environment and detail our recent experience in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) to evaluate the role of anthropogenic disturbance in this marine ecosystem. Extensive coastal development may now be the single most important anthropogenic stressor. We offer suggestions for how to build awareness of environmental risks of current practices, enhance regional capacity for coastal management, and build cooperative management of this important, shared marine system. An excellent opportunity exists for one or more of the bordering countries to initiate a bold and effective, long-term, international collaboration in environmental management for the Gulf.

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201 citations

Cites background from "The Gulf: a young sea in decline."

...To accommodate expanding industries and rapid population increase, there have been massive changes to large areas of ecologically productive coastal habitats throughout the Gulf (Sheppard et al. 1992; Sheppard et al. 2010)....
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...These topics have been well covered (e.g., Khan et al. 2002; Sheppard et al. 2010); we summarize them briefly....
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...While there may be a tendency for infaunal diversity to track the diversity of better-known faunal groups, decreasing from the wider Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman to the Arabian Gulf ( Sheppard et al. 1992; Price et al. 1993; Carpenter et al. 1997), the paucity of research available may exaggerate these trends....
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...Despite high standards for wastewater treatment throughout the Gulf region (UNEP 2001; Sheppard et al. 2010), large quantities of domestic and industrial wastewater still enter local waters....
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...Coastal development projects are expected to have pervasive and long-lasting effects on the health of the Gulf (Sheppard et al. 2010)....
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References

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Open Access

More filters

Climate change 2007: the physical science basis

[...]

Susan Solomon, Dahe Qin, Martin R. Manning, Melinda Marquis, Kristen Averyt, Melinda M.B. Tignor, H. L. Miller, Z. Chen - Show less +4 more

01 Jan 2007

TL;DR: The first volume of the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report as mentioned in this paper was published in 2007 and covers several topics including the extensive range of observations now available for the atmosphere and surface, changes in sea level, assesses the paleoclimatic perspective, climate change causes both natural and anthropogenic, and climate models for projections of global climate.

...read moreread less

Abstract: This report is the first volume of the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report. It covers several topics including the extensive range of observations now available for the atmosphere and surface, changes in sea level, assesses the paleoclimatic perspective, climate change causes both natural and anthropogenic, and climate models for projections of global climate.

...read moreread less

32,826 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

The value of the world's ecosystem services and natural capital

[...]

Robert Costanza¹, Rudolf de Groot, Stephen Farberk, Monica Grasso¹, Bruce Hannon², Karin E. Limburg³, Shahid Naeem⁴, José M. Paruelo⁵, Robert Raskin⁶, Paul Suttonkk⁵, Marjan van den Belt - Show less +7 more•Institutions (6)

University of Maryland, College Park¹, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign², Stockholm University³, University of Minnesota⁴, University of Buenos Aires⁵, Jet Propulsion Laboratory⁶

15 May 1997-Nature

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors have estimated the current economic value of 17 ecosystem services for 16 biomes, based on published studies and a few original calculations, for the entire biosphere, the value (most of which is outside the market) is estimated to be in the range of US$16-54 trillion (10^(12)) per year, with an average of US $33 trillion per year.

...read moreread less

Abstract: The services of ecological systems and the natural capital stocks that produce them are critical to the functioning of the Earth's life-support system. They contribute to human welfare, both directly and indirectly, and therefore represent part of the total economic value of the planet. We have estimated the current economic value of 17 ecosystem services for 16 biomes, based on published studies and a few original calculations. For the entire biosphere, the value (most of which is outside the market) is estimated to be in the range of US$16-54 trillion (10^(12)) per year, with an average of US$33 trillion per year. Because of the nature of the uncertainties, this must be considered a minimum estimate. Global gross national product total is around US$18 trillion per year.

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18,139 citations

"The Gulf: a young sea in decline." refers background in this paper

...For most Gulf States, coastal habitats are less than 20% of the total sea area, yet their ecological value, especially seagrass and tidal flats, is 40–75 times greater than open ocean (Costanza et al., 1997; Balmford et al., 2002)....
[...]

Book•

Climate change 2007 : the physical science basis : contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

[...]

Susan Solomon

01 Jan 2007

TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a historical overview of climate change science, including changes in atmospheric constituents and radiative forcing, as well as changes in snow, ice, and frozen ground.

...read moreread less

Abstract: Summary for policymakers -- Technical summary -- Historical overview of climate change science -- Changes in atmospheric constituents and radiative forcing -- Observations: atmospheric surface and climate change -- Observations: changes in snow, ice, and frozen ground -- Observations: ocean climate change and sea level -- Paleoclimate -- Coupling between changes in the climate system and biogeochemistry -- Climate models and their evaluation -- Understanding and attributing climate change -- Global climate projections -- Regional climate projections -- Annex I: Glossary -- Annex II: Contributors to the IPCC WGI Fourth Assessment Report -- Annex III: Reviewers of the IPCC WGI Fourth Assessment Report -- Annex IV: Acronyms.

...read moreread less

7,738 citations

Journal Article•

Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis.

[...]

Stefano Schiavon, Roberto Zecchin

01 Jan 2007-Center for the Built Environment

TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a document, redatto, voted and pubblicato by the Ipcc -Comitato intergovernativo sui cambiamenti climatici - illustra la sintesi delle ricerche svolte su questo tema rilevante.

...read moreread less

Abstract: Cause, conseguenze e strategie di mitigazione Proponiamo il primo di una serie di articoli in cui affronteremo l’attuale problema dei mutamenti climatici. Presentiamo il documento redatto, votato e pubblicato dall’Ipcc - Comitato intergovernativo sui cambiamenti climatici - che illustra la sintesi delle ricerche svolte su questo tema rilevante.

...read moreread less

4,187 citations

"The Gulf: a young sea in decline." refers background in this paper

...In the Gulf, average projected air temperature rises by the end of the century are around 2–4 C (Meehl et al., 2007)....
[...]
...Precipitation is expected to increase slightly overall (Meehl et al., 2007), but outputs from rivers entering from the Shatt Al-Arab are expected to decrease (Milly et al....
[...]
...Precipitation is expected to increase slightly overall (Meehl et al., 2007), but outputs from rivers entering from the Shatt Al-Arab are expected to decrease (Milly et al., 2005, and see later)....
[...]

Book Chapter•

Global climate projections

[...]

Gerald A. Meehl, Thomas F. Stocker, William D. Collins, Pierre Friedlingstein, T. Gaye, Jonathan M. Gregory, A. Kitoh, Reto Knutti, James M. Murphy, Akira Noda, Sarah C. B. Raper, I. G. Watterson, Andrew J. Weaver, Z. C. Zhao - Show less +10 more

01 Jan 2007

3,995 citations

"The Gulf: a young sea in decline." refers background in this paper

...In the Gulf, average projected air temperature rises by the end of the century are around 2–4 C (Meehl et al., 2007)....
[...]
...Precipitation is expected to increase slightly overall (Meehl et al., 2007), but outputs from rivers entering from the Shatt Al-Arab are expected to decrease (Milly et al., 2005, and see later)....
[...]