Journal ArticleDOI
Threats to sandy beach ecosystems: A review
Omar Defeo,Anton McLachlan,David S. Schoeman,Thomas A. Schlacher,Jenifer E. Dugan,Alan Jones,Mariano Lastra,Felicita Scapini +7 more
TLDR
In this paper, the authors provide a brief synopsis of the unique physical and ecological attributes of sandy beach ecosystems and review the main anthropogenic pressures acting on the world's single largest type of open shoreline.Abstract:
We provide a brief synopsis of the unique physical and ecological attributes of sandy beach ecosystems and review the main anthropogenic pressures acting on the world's single largest type of open shoreline. Threats to beaches arise from a range of stressors which span a spectrum of impact scales from localised effects (e.g. trampling) to a truly global reach (e.g. sea-level rise). These pressures act at multiple temporal and spatial scales, translating into ecological impacts that are manifested across several dimensions in time and space so that today almost every beach on every coastline is threatened by human activities. Press disturbances (whatever the impact source involved) are becoming increasingly common, operating on time scales of years to decades. However, long-term data sets that describe either the natural dynamics of beach systems or the human impacts on beaches are scarce and fragmentary. A top priority is to implement long-term field experiments and monitoring programmes that quantify the dynamics of key ecological attributes on sandy beaches. Because of the inertia associated with global climate change and human population growth, no realistic management scenario will alleviate these threats in the short term. The immediate priority is to avoid further development of coastal areas likely to be directly impacted by retreating shorelines. There is also scope for improvement in experimental design to better distinguish natural variability from anthropogenic impacts. Sea-level rise and other effects of global warming are expected to intensify other anthropogenic pressures, and could cause unprecedented ecological impacts. The definition of the relevant scales of analysis, which will vary according to the magnitude of the impact and the organisational level under analysis, and the recognition of a physical–biological coupling at different scales, should be included in approaches to quantify impacts. Zoning strategies and marine reserves, which have not been widely implemented in sandy beaches, could be a key tool for biodiversity conservation and should also facilitate spillover effects into adjacent beach habitats. Setback and zoning strategies need to be enforced through legislation, and all relevant stakeholders should be included in the design, implementation and institutionalisation of these initiatives. New perspectives for rational management of sandy beaches require paradigm shifts, by including not only basic ecosystem principles, but also incentives for effective governance and sharing of management roles between government and local stakeholders.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Contrasting futures for ocean and society from different anthropogenic CO2 emissions scenarios
Jean-Pierre Gattuso,Jean-Pierre Gattuso,Alexandre K. Magnan,Raphaël Billé,William W. L. Cheung,Ella L. Howes,Fortunat Joos,D. Allemand,Laurent Bopp,Sarah R. Cooley,C. M. Eakin,Ove Hoegh-Guldberg,Ryan P. Kelly,Hans-Otto Pörtner,Alex Rogers,John M. Baxter,D. Laffoley,D. Osborn,Aleksandar Rankovic,Julien Rochette,Ussif Rashid Sumaila,Sébastien Treyer,Carol Turley +22 more
TL;DR: The physics, chemistry, and ecology of the oceans might be affected based on two CO2 emission trajectories: one business as usual and one with aggressive reductions, consistent with the Copenhagen Accord of keeping mean global temperature increase below 2°C in the 21st century.
Journal ArticleDOI
Coastal habitats shield people and property from sea-level rise and storms
Katie K. Arkema,Greg Guannel,Gregory M. Verutes,Spencer A. Wood,Anne D. Guerry,Mary Ruckelshaus,Peter Kareiva,Martin Lacayo,Jessica M. Silver +8 more
TL;DR: In this article, the authors calculate a hazard index for every 1 km 2 of the United States coastline and use this index to identify the most vulnerable people and property as indicated by being in the upper quartile of hazard for the nation's coastline.
Journal ArticleDOI
The role of ecosystems in coastal protection: Adapting to climate change and coastal hazards
Mark Spalding,Susan Ruffo,Carmen Lacambra,Imen Meliane,Lynne Z. Hale,Christine C. Shepard,Michael W. Beck +6 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a method to reduce the vulnerability of coastal communities to rising seas and coastal hazards through their multiple roles in wave attenuation, sediment capture, vertical accretion, erosion reduction and the mitigation of storm surge and debris movement.
Journal ArticleDOI
Ecosystem-based marine spatial management: Review of concepts, policies, tools, and critical issues
Stelios Katsanevakis,Vanessa Stelzenmüller,Andy South,Thomas Kirk Sørensen,Peter J.S. Jones,Sandy Kerr,Fabio Badalamenti,Christos Anagnostou,Patricia Breen,Guillem Chust,Giovanni D’Anna,Michael Duijn,Tatiana Filatova,Fabio Fiorentino,Helena Hulsman,Kate R. Johnson,Aristomenis P. Karageorgis,Ingrid Kröncke,Simone Mirto,Carlo Pipitone,Susan Portelli,Wanfei Qiu,Henning Reiss,Dimitris Sakellariou,Maria Salomidi,Luc van Hoof,Vassiliki Vassilopoulou,Tomás Vega Fernández,Sandra Vöge,Anke Weber,Argyro Zenetos,Remment ter Hofstede +31 more
TL;DR: Ecosystem based marine spatial management (EB-MSM) is an approach that recognizes the full array of interactions within an ecosystem, including human uses, rather than considering single issues, species, or ecosystem services in isolation.
Journal ArticleDOI
Climate Change, Human Impacts, and Coastal Ecosystems in the Anthropocene
Qiang He,Brian R. Silliman +1 more
TL;DR: It is underscores that an enhanced understanding of interactions between climate change and local human impacts is of profound importance to improving predictions of climate change impacts, devising climate-smart conservation actions, and helping enhance adaption of coastal societies to climate change in the Anthropocene.
References
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Benjamin S. Halpern,Shaun Walbridge,Kimberly A. Selkoe,Kimberly A. Selkoe,Carrie V. Kappel,Fiorenza Micheli,Caterina D'Agrosa,Caterina D'Agrosa,John F. Bruno,Kenneth S. Casey,Colin M. Ebert,Helen E. Fox,Rod Fujita,Dennis Heinemann,Hunter S. Lenihan,Elizabeth M. P. Madin,Matthew T. Perry,Elizabeth R. Selig,Elizabeth R. Selig,Mark Spalding,Robert S. Steneck,Reg Watson +21 more
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Book
Systematic Conservation Planning
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The pollution of the marine environment by plastic debris: a review.
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Journal ArticleDOI
Impact of Anthropogenic CO2 on the CaCO3 System in the Oceans
Richard A. Feely,Christopher L. Sabine,Kitack Lee,William M. Berelson,Joanie Kleypas,Victoria J. Fabry,Frank J. Millero +6 more
TL;DR: The in situ CaCO3 dissolution rates for the global oceans from total alkalinity and chlorofluorocarbon data are estimated, and the future impacts of anthropogenic CO2 on Ca CO3 shell–forming species are discussed.