Articles tagged with Coastal Ecosystems
Scientists are using integrated ecosystem assessments to prioritize strategies for restoring Puget Sound's ecosystem. Increasing salmon production can have negative impacts on wild Chinook salmon populations, highlighting the need for balanced management approaches.
Researchers from Université de Montréal and Cary Institute found that commercial fishing plays a declining role in removing man-made nitrogen from coastal waters. Nitrogen-rich fertilizer run-off has increased nitrogen levels in coastal ecosystems, causing excessive plant growth, lack of oxygen, and reduced fish populations.
Commercial fisheries play a crucial role in removing terrestrial nitrogen from coastal waters, but their contribution has decreased significantly over time. As a result, the global nitrogen balance is becoming increasingly skewed, leading to eutrophication and other environmental problems.
A new study indicates that preserving coastal ecosystem services doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing approach, and a better understanding of how ecosystems respond in a 'nonlinear' fashion could help reach societal compromises. The researchers used the values and uses of mangrove forests in Thailand as a case study, finding that prote...
Researchers explore how modern concepts from mathematical ecology can benefit economically vital yet ecologically complex areas. The four articles in the special section highlight different aspects of attempts to incorporate these concepts into ecosystem-based management.
A study found that overfishing large sharks leads to an explosion of their ray and skate prey species, which in turn devastates scallop populations. The decline of great sharks has triggered cascading effects throughout coastal food webs, impacting local communities that depend on healthy fisheries.
A recent study by Ohio State University scientists reveals that Antarctic warming is reducing animals at the base of the ecosystem, causing some penguin populations to shift southward. The loss of sea ice and decrease in krill abundance will have significant impacts on marine ecosystems.
Seagrasses are critical for coastal ecosystems, providing habitat for aquatic life and mitigating pollution impact. A global conservation effort is needed to protect these habitats.
Two studies use spatially explicit models to quantify ecosystem services and their costs, guiding conservation planning in Paraguay and California. The approaches reveal tradeoffs between biodiversity and ecosystem services, highlighting the need for a systematic framework that balances both.
A review highlights the need for ecological consideration in renewable energy development, particularly offshore wind farms. Environmental impacts of construction, operation, and decommissioning of these projects could harm coastal species and ecosystems. However, offshore renewables also offer opportunities to enhance local biodiversity.
Pelagic shark assemblage declines drastically, with oceanic whitetip shark declining by over 99%, yet no conservation attention is given to these species.
Researchers are using innovative new tools to study coastal ecosystems, including genetic mapping of marine populations and remote ocean sensing. These tools are helping scientists understand the dynamics of ocean environments and track the movement of marine species.
Recent research reveals a mix of natural and human-induced changes in Florida Bay, with a significant increase in the mussel species Brachidontes exustus and a decline in molluscan diversity. Understanding natural variability is crucial to restore ecosystems to their natural state.
Jim Estes, a marine biologist with the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, will pursue research on restoring the Bering Sea and North Pacific ecosystem. He aims to provide information on how human effects manifest in the oceans, leading to drastic ecosystem changes.
The Piping Plover population has shown a significant increase of 7% since the last census in 1991, primarily attributed to conservation efforts along the Atlantic coast. However, midcontinent bird populations have declined due to massive nest flooding on the Missouri River and lack of habitat improvement in prairie potholes.