RESUMEN
Ecosystem services (ES) embrace contributions of nature to human livelihood and well-being. Reef environments provide a range of ES with direct and indirect contributions to people. However, the health of reef environments is declining globally due to local and large-scale threats, affecting ES delivery in different ways. Mapping scientific knowledge and identifying research gaps on reefs' ES is critical to guide their management and conservation. We conducted a systematic assessment of peer-reviewed articles published between 2007 and 2022 to build an overview of ES research on reef environments. We analyzed the geographical distribution, reef types, approaches used to assess ES, and the potential drivers of change in ES delivery reported across these studies. Based on 115 articles, our results revealed that coral and oyster reefs are the most studied reef ecosystems. Cultural ES (e.g., subcategories recreation and tourism) was the most studied ES in high-income countries, while regulating and maintenance ES (e.g., subcategory life cycle maintenance) prevailed in low and middle-income countries. Research efforts on reef ES are biased toward the Global North, mainly North America and Oceania. Studies predominantly used observational approaches to assess ES, with a marked increase in the number of studies using statistical modeling during 2021 and 2022. The scale of studies was mostly local and regional, and the studies addressed mainly one or two subcategories of reefs' ES. Overexploitation, reef degradation, and pollution were the most commonly cited drivers affecting the delivery of provisioning, regulating and maintenance, and cultural ES. With increasing threats to reef environments, the growing demand for assessing the contributions to humans provided by reefs will benefit the projections on how these ES will be impacted by anthropogenic pressures. The incorporation of multiple and synergistic ecosystem mechanisms is paramount to providing a comprehensive ES assessment, and improving the understanding of functions, services, and benefits.
Asunto(s)
Antozoos , Ecosistema , Animales , Humanos , Arrecifes de Coral , Conservación de los Recursos Naturales/métodos , Antozoos/fisiología , Modelos EstadísticosRESUMEN
Coral reefs, vital and ecologically significant ecosystems, are among the most jeopardized marine environments in the Atlantic Ocean, particularly along the northeastern coast of Brazil. The persistent lack of effective management and conservation has led to fragmented information on reef use and pressures, hindering the understanding of these ecosystems' health. Major difficulties and challenges include inadequate data, diverse anthropogenic pressures, and the complex interaction between marine species. This study sought to bridge this knowledge gap by conducting a comprehensive analysis of marine diversity and anthropogenic pressures, specifically focusing on Seixas coral reef near João Pessoa city, an area notably impacted by tourism. Utilizing 25 monitoring transects, subdivided into 1 m2 quadrants, the marine diversity was meticulously evaluated through innovative procedures including (a) sedimentological and geochemical field surveys, (b) application of Shannon-Weaver diversity and Simpson dominance indices, (c) cluster analysis, (d) species identification of macroalgae, coral, and fish, and (e) an examination of anthropogenic interactions and pressures on the coral reef. The assessment encompassed three distinct zones: Back Reef, Reef Top, and Fore Reef, and identified a total of 25 species across 15 genera and 10 fish families. The findings revealed the prevalence of brown macroalgae, fish, and coral, with heightened abundance of red macroalgae in the Fore Reef, which also exhibited the greatest diversity (2.816) and dominance (0.894). Original achievements include the identification of specific spatial variations, recognition of the anthropogenic factors leading to ecological changes, and the formulation of evidence-based recommendations. The study concludes that escalating urbanization and burgeoning daily tourist visits to the reef have exacerbated negative impacts on Seixas coral reef's marine ecosystem. These insights underscore the urgent need for strategic planning and resource management to safeguard the reef's biodiversity and ecological integrity.
Asunto(s)
Antozoos , Algas Marinas , Humanos , Animales , Arrecifes de Coral , Ecosistema , Efectos Antropogénicos , Brasil , Biodiversidad , PecesRESUMEN
When the Fundão dam collapsed in Brazil, 50 million m3 of iron ore tailings were released into the Doce river, resulting in the world's largest mining disaster. The contaminated mud was transported 668 km downstream of the Doce river and reached the Atlantic Ocean 17 days after the collapse. Seven months later, there was evidence that the tailings had reached the largest and richest coral reef formation in the South Atlantic Ocean. This study provides the first description of species composition, abundance, and diversity patterns of fish assemblages in estuaries, coastal areas, and coral reefs affected by the rupture of the mining dam in the Doce river. A linear mixed model (GLMM) was used to evaluate the influence of salinity on fish abundance across estuarine and coastal ecosystems. In addition, based on functional traits related to habitat use and feeding habits, this study identified fish species suitable as bioindicators of the long-lasting effects of this major mining disaster. Bottom trawls were used to sample five estuaries and their respective coastal areas, and a visual census was employed to sample five reef areas, representing an impact gradient. A total of 269 species were recorded in all three habitats, but only seven were shared among them. The results showed lower similarity in assemblages among estuarine areas compared to the coastal and reef areas. Species composition among estuaries and reef ecosystems was more heterogeneous. In contrast, coastal habitats exhibited high homogeneity. Salinity had no statistically significant effect on fish abundance either in estuaries (p = 0.22) and along the coast (p = 0.14). Twelve fish species were identified as suitable bioindicators for evaluating the long-lasting effects of resuspension of contaminated sediments. These species are commonly found in the ecosystems under the influence of the disaster inhabiting potentially contaminated substrates and substrate-associated benthic preys.