Hasil untuk "General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution"

Konstantinos Touloumis, Athanassios C. Tsikliras, Athanassios C. Tsikliras et al.

Overfishing remains widespread in European seas, and the 2020 sustainability objectives under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) have not been fully met, leaving many stocks outside safe biological limits. At the same time, management must also ensure economic viability for fishing fleets, highlighting the need to quantify trade-offs between stock recovery and fleet profitability. Building on previous research, we assess 220 fish and invertebrate stocks across eight ecoregions, providing higher spatial resolution than previous analyses. Using a surplus-production framework, we model biomass and profitability trajectories under alternative exploitation scenarios. Results show that reducing fishing mortality to moderate exploitation patterns produces the most robust improvements in profitability across regions, while also supporting biomass rebuilding. However, the magnitude and timing of these effects vary geographically: northeast Atlantic regions start from higher baseline stock status but exhibit more modest marginal gains, whereas Mediterranean and Black Sea regions, despite poorer initial conditions, display stronger rebuilding potential and larger relative improvements once fishing pressure is reduced, with pronounced heterogeneity among subregions. These findings suggest that moderate exploitation reductions can yield long-term economic gains, though transitional costs and ecosystem constraints may limit near-term feasibility. Our results have direct relevance for region-specific European Union (EU) management, indicating where existing multiannual plans may require complementary measures to align biological sustainability with fleet profitability. We conclude that spatially resolved bioeconomic assessments can inform adaptive management and support progress toward both ecological and socioeconomic objectives under the CFP and associated frameworks.

Jianbin Fu, Weixian Liu

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) provisions form a crucial part of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (the BBNJ Agreement) and are expected to have significant implications for States Parties. From a Chinese perspective, this study applies the SWOT-PEST analytical framework to examine the potential impacts of the BBNJ EIA rules on China.The findings reveal both opportunities and challenges across four dimensions: political, economic, social, and technological. Politically, China possesses certain policy and legal foundations, yet these are not fully developed, and while its international discourse power may expand, new regulatory barriers may arise. Economically, the healthy development of the marine economy supports the implementation of the new rules, however, in the short term, enterprises face multiple pressures such as rising costs and delayed returns, intensifying resource competition, while in the long run, this may facilitate their transformation and upgrading. Socially, despite existing gaps relative to international benchmarks, the engagement of diverse stakeholders provides a foundational basis for rule implementation, and although rising social pressures and adaptation costs present challenges, this also creates opportunities for multi-stakeholder development. Technologically, advancements in deep-sea technologies provide critical support for rule implementation while core technologies remain bottlenecked, facing threats from external technological barriers and simultaneously offering opportunities for cultivating marine technology expertise. Based on this analysis, the paper proposes potential strategies, including active participation in global ocean governance, advancement of deep-sea technologies, promotion of corporate transformation, and improvement of domestic legal frameworks

James Reed, Jos Barlow, Rachel Carmenta et al.

ABSTRACT The Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) marked a renewed commitment to addressing the global biodiversity crisis. This framework of four goals and 23 interim targets is intended to guide and accelerate conservation efforts over the next 25 years and is more ambitious than its predecessor, the Aichi 2020 targets. However, the pursuit of multilateral agreements is dependent upon national pledges, and the limited success of the Aichi targets shows that national pledges are of little worth without aligned (sub)national action. We assessed the submitted National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans of several member countries to determine their alignment with the bold ambition of the GBF. We find a lack of alignment between the GBF and country submissions across many targets, with the notable exception of Target 3—commonly interpreted as increasing protected area coverage to 30% by 2030. Reflecting on the submissions, recent developments, and our collective experience, we outline key considerations that could help guide future submissions and implementation strategies. We caution against cherry‐picking specific targets, highlighting that an overemphasis on Target 3 will fail to achieve the overarching vision of living in harmony with nature. This requires a more holistic and inclusive approach to conservation and a focus on the full suite of GBF targets.

Thomas W. Bonnot, D. Todd Jones‐Farrand, Nate D. Muenks et al.

Abstract Despite the recent increase in landscape conservation and the design processes agencies are undertaking, there remains an implementation gap due to an inability to evaluate general strategies and account for uncertainties faced by managers. We demonstrated how a decision support process (DSP), recently developed to inform landscape conservation design, can address uncertainties and complexities inherent in landscape conservation to facilitate long‐term, large‐scale conservation planning. We applied the DSP to landscape conservation efforts within conservation opportunity areas (COA) of states in the Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks region. We engaged state planners within the region to identify important landscape conservation uncertainties they face in planning. We developed, simulated, and modeled the impacts of conservation addressing 3 uncertainties identified by state wildlife managers and evaluated the impacts by examining the responses of state and local populations of 2 bird species of conservation concern, prairie warbler (Setophaga discolor) and wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina). The responses of prairie warbler populations to conservation strategies indicated that both approaches of protecting quality habitat from land‐use change and restoring and enhancing lower quality and nonhabitat improved their viability at regional, statewide, and COA scales. However, we noted that the relative effectiveness of strategies varied among states in ways that suggest a state's process for delineating COAs and what threats they face could influence which conservation approach to consider. Our findings highlight the need for regional coordination and the use of decision‐support processes to guide effective conservation at landscape scales.

Dinah A. E. Ogara, Dinah A. E. Ogara, Joji Morishita et al.

Ports and neighbouring cities function as connectors between land and water and have long accommodated a substantial flow of goods and services. Port cities in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region and the Global South (GS) are rapidly and inevitably expanding as the demand for global trade increases. However, this expansion has numerous impacts on the surrounding marine ecosystem and the socio-economic livelihoods of local communities. We propose a framework to evaluate the sustainability of port cities in the WIO region and more broadly for cities in the GS. Through an exploratory approach, a systematic literature review (SLR) was undertaken to identify existing themes on port city and marine ecosystem sustainability indicator frameworks. The results revealed a strong bias towards sustainability publications designed for port cities in Global North. The approach developed from this study focuses on the socio-economic and environmental attributes relevant to ports in the WIO region and for GS countries. This draws from the Drivers, Pressures, States, Impacts and Responses (DPSIR) framework and includes 78 indicators. The indicators are designed to identify and report on the complex land and sea interdependencies of port cities. To test the validity of these indicators their interdependencies were examined through a Causal Network (CN) structure which identified 12 priority DPSIR CN. These were also mapped to the UNSDGs enabling the wider applicability and transferability of the framework. The resulting framework enables port cities in emerging economies to establish robust sustainable reporting systems and provides a framework that offers a unique lens for evaluating interactions embedded in the land and sea continuum.

Karafa Bognini, Loyapin Bondé, Sié Sylvestre Da et al.

Private forests have the potential to mitigate biodiversity loss and improve community livelihoods. However, information on the socio-ecological factors that drive their establishment and long-term management are limited. This study aimed to narrow this gap by assessing the potential of privately-owned forests in conserving biodiversity and supporting the livelihoods of communities in northern Burkina Faso. Floristic data were collected within 26 plots (900 m2 each) equally distributed between private Gourga forest, established in 1980) and its adjacent communal areas. Sixty-three (63) private landowners were interviewed in order to underpin their motivations and associated traditional knowledge and a stakeholder’s workshop was conducted to develop conservation models for private forests and participatory implementation roadmap. Findings revealed that species richness was 132 in the Gourga forest and 85 in the communal areas, highlighting the importance of private forest in species conservation. Local communities recognized the provisioning (36.46%), regulating (28.46%) and supporting (22.48%) of ecosystem services provided by the Gourga forest as motivating factors. The main barriers to their establishment and management include lack of financial resources (35%), scarce lands (26%) and human pressures (8%). The implementation of private forests will need to be supported by the enactment of a secure land tenure policy, as well as payment for ecosystem services (PES) policies, incentivizing locals. We suggest decision makers mainstream privately-owned lands into national conservation strategies and design incentives policies to motivate local communities’ engagement.

Longwei Wu, Yulong Zhao, Zhifei Liu et al.

Ocean dynamic processes in the bottom boundary layer (BBL) are crucial for sedimentation, such as deposition and resuspension of marine sediments. In this study, we conducted in-situ tripod observations of the sediment ridge of a contourite drift in the northern South China Sea to understand the main dynamic processes affecting sedimentation on the contourite drifts. It was found that the diurnal tidal current was the strongest current at the study site, thus acting as the main dynamic affecting sedimentation processes. Periodic events of elevated suspended sediment concentration (SSC) were observed, some of which occurred only within 15 m above the seafloor and were termed near-bottom high SSC events, while others covered the entire range of the observed water column and were termed full-depth high SSC events. In-situ sediment resuspension at the sediment ridge is not an important factor affecting the formation of high SSC events. Rather, these high SSC events were mainly caused by lateral transport of sediments from the main body of the contourite drift by the northwestward diurnal tidal currents. The seafloor sediments at the main drift body are resuspened owing to the near-critical reflection of diurnal tidal currents on the slope topography of the drift. During periods when diurnal tidal currents were weak, locally generated internal waves could also induce burst-like full-depth high SSC events. This study highlights the diurnal tidal current as the main dynamic regulating the sedimentary processes of the contourite drifts in regions where the near-critical reflection prone to occur, implying the complexity of sediment dynamics of contourite drifts.

Petra Heil, Petra Heil, Craig Stevens et al.

Our understanding of cross-disciplinary connections for Antarctica’s role in the Earth system remains incomplete, especially around its coastal margins. The focus here is on sea-ice, oceanic, and atmospheric drivers in the joint Ross Sea-far East Antarctic Region (RSfEAR)—one which spans a large longitudinal range and connects a number of ice shelves and polynyas promoting sea-ice growth and underpinning a diverse and rich ecosystem. Here, we present a minireview of recent case studies and how these inform the design for a future integrated ocean–sea ice–atmosphere observing system. The review is built around five themes: i) regional setting, ii) recent studies in the region and current strategies, iii) gap analysis, iv) future observing system design, and v) wider implications for stakeholders.

Linlin Yao, Bin Zhao, Qi Wang et al.

Pigmentation mediated by the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathway is a key trait for understanding environmental adaptability and species stability. In this study, TGFβ signaling pathway members and their expression patterns in different color morphs of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus were evaluated. Using a bioinformatics approach, 22 protein sequences of TGFβ signaling pathway members in A. japonicus were classified, including 14 that were identified for the first time in the species, including 7 ligands, 6 receptors, and 1 R-Smad. We further evaluated mRNA expression data for different color morphs and pigmentation periods. These results support the hypothesis that both subfamilies of the TGFβ superfamily, i.e., the TGFβ/activin/Nodal and BMP/GDF/AMH subfamilies, are involved in the regulation of pigmentation in A. japonicus. The former subfamily was complete and contributes to the different color morphs. The BMP/GDF/AMH subfamily was incomplete. BMP2/4-induced differentiation of white adipocytes was regulated by the BMP2/4–ACVR2A–Smad1 signaling pathway. These findings provide insight into the TGFβ family in early chordate evolution as well as the molecular basis of color variation in an economically valuable species.

Juanjo Rodríguez

Methylmercury (MeHg) formation is a concerning environmental issue described in waters and sediments from multiple aquatic ecosystems. The genetic and metabolic bases of mercury (Hg) methylation have been well described in anoxic environments, but a number of factors seem to point towards alternative pathways potentially occurring in pelagic waters under oxic conditions. Boreal aquatic ecosystems are predicted to undergo increasing concentrations of dissolved organic matter (DOM) as a result of higher terrestrial runoff induced by climate change, which may have important implications in the formation of MeHg in the water column. In this review, different Hg methylation mechanisms postulated in the literature are discussed, with particular focus on potential pathways independent of the hgcAB gene pair and occurring under oxic conditions. Potential effects of DOM on Hg methylation and MeHg bioaccumulation are examined in the context of climate in boreal aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, the implementation of meta-omic technologies and standardized methods into field measurements and incubation experiments is discussed as a valuable tool to determine taxonomic and functional aspects of Hg methylation in oxic waters and under climate change-induced conditions.

Kaibin Wu, Zhaoshou Ran, Shurong Wu et al.

To reveal the biosynthetic pathway of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) in Ruditapes philippinarum, herein, two fatty acid desaturases (Fads, including one Δ5 Fad and one Δ6 Fad-like) and three elongases of very long-chain fatty acids (Elovls, including one Elovl2/5 and two Elovl4-like) genes were firstly cloned from this bivalve and their tissue distributions were examined. Results showed that the newly cloned Fads and Elovls contained the corresponding conserved functional domains and clustered closely with their orthologs, respectively. Meanwhile, they were expressed significantly higher in the digestive glands and intestine. Subsequently, to further understand the LC-PUFA biosynthesis in R. philippinarum, the effects of dietary LC-PUFA on Fad and Elovl expressions and the fatty acid (FA) profile in this bivalve were investigated by feeding with three microalgae varied in LC-PUFA compositions [including Chlorella sp. (rich in 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3), Chaetoceros calcitrans (rich in eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA), and Isochrysis galbana (rich in docosahexaenoic acid, DHA]. Results showed that, throughout the experiment, the expressions of Fad and Elovl were significantly up-regulated in the visceral mass (digestive glands and intestine) of R. philippinarum fed with Chlorella sp., while no significant changes or slightly decreases were observed in those fed with I. galbana. Furthermore, in those fed with C. calcitrans, the expressions of Fad were not significantly changed, whereas the expressions of Elovl were firstly up-regulated but then restored to its initial level at the end of experiment. These results suggested that R. philippinarum could modulate Fad and Elovl expressions to adapt to the dietary LC-PUFA composition. The FA analysis showed that a significantly higher amount of DHA and EPA was found in the R. philippinarum fed with I. galbana and C. calcitrans, respectively, which reflected well of the dietary FA. However, the R. philippinarum fed with Chlorella sp. exhibited a significant decrease of 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3 but with a significant increase of their products such as 20:3n-6 and 22:5n-3, indicating that R. philippinarum had a certain capacity for LC-PUFA biosynthesis. Collectively, this study provided valuable insights into the biosynthesis of LC-PUFA in R. philippinarum.

Editorial Board

P. Hallal, C. Victora

S. Chown, J. Terblanche

GuoWei Fu, Chao Cao, Chao Cao et al.

Coastal erosion vulnerability assessment is widely used to assess the loss degree of coastal zone caused by erosion, and plays an important role in coastal natural resources protection, planning, management and decision-making. Based on the natural and social characteristics of the east coast of Qiongdong and the coastal erosion vulnerability index (CVI) method, this study selected 8 assessment indicators, such as shoreline change rate (U1). The Delphi method and the entropy weight method were used to calculate the comprehensive index weight, combined with CVI method and geographic information system (GIS) technology, to quantitatively evaluate the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of typical coastal erosion vulnerability such as coral reefs in the east of Hainan Island. The study area was divided into 5 grades: very low (31%), low (10%), moderate (28%), high (24%) and high vulnerability (7%), and the overall performance was moderate erosion vulnerability. The research showed that the interannual downward rate erosion of beach (U3) and the rate of change of the isobath (U2) of the beach were the main controlling factors affecting the vulnerability of coastal erosion in the study area, and the coastal dynamic factor had a greater impact than the other two factors. As a natural barrier, the coral reefs in the study area had good wave absorption and energy reduction, and the coral reef coasts showed low coastal erosion vulnerability, due to the complex hydrodynamic characteristics, estuary coasts is the most vulnerable areas. The verification results of the ROC-AUC method showed that the accuracy of erosion vulnerability was 68.9%, which provided an important reference for the ecological restoration of tropical coral reef biological coasts and the development and management of the Hainan Qiongdong coastal zone.

J. Faaborg, Richard T. Holmes, A. Anders et al.

Prima Anugerahanti, Onur Kerimoglu, S. Lan Smith

Chlorophyll (Chl) is widely taken as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass, despite well-known variations in Chl:C:biomass ratios as an acclimative response to changing environmental conditions. For the sake of simplicity and computational efficiency, many large scale biogeochemical models ignore this flexibility, compromising their ability to capture phytoplankton dynamics. Here we evaluate modelling approaches of differing complexity for phytoplankton growth response: fixed stoichiometry, fixed stoichiometry with photoacclimation, classical variable-composition with photoacclimation, and Instantaneous Acclimation with optimal resource allocation. Model performance is evaluated against biogeochemical observations from time-series sites BATS and ALOHA, where phytoplankton composition varies substantially. We analyse the sensitivity of each model variant to the affinity parameters for light and nutrient, respectively. Models with fixed stoichiometry are more sensitive to parameter perturbations, but the inclusion of photoacclimation in the fixed-stoichiometry model generally captures Chl observations better than other variants when individually tuned for each site and when using similar parameter sets for both sites. Compared to the fixed stoichiometry model including photoacclimation, models with variable C:N ratio perform better in cross-validation experiments using model-specific parameter sets tuned for the other site; i.e., they are more portable. Compared to typical variable composition approaches, instantaneous acclimation, which requires fewer state variables, generally yields better performance but somewhat lower portability than the fully dynamic variant. Further assessments using objective optimisation and more contrasting stations are suggested.

Annabell Moser, Iain Pheasant, William N. MacPherson et al.

Sediment profiling imaging (SPI) is a versatile and widely used method to visually assess the quality of seafloor habitats (e.g., around fish farms and oil and gas rigs) and has been developed and used by both academics and consultancy companies over the last 50 years. Previous research has shown that inserting the flat viewport of an SPI camera into the sediment can have an impact on particle displacement pushing oxygenated surface sediments to deeper sediment depths and making anthropogenically-disturbed sediment appear healthier than they may actually be. To investigate the particle displacement that occurs when a flat plate is inserted into seafloor sediments, a testing device, termed the SPI purpose-built sediment chamber (SPI-PUSH) was designed and used in a series of experiments to quantify smearing where luminophores were used to demonstrate the extent of particle displacement caused by a flat plate being pushed into the sediment. Here, we show that the plate of the SPI-PUSH caused significant smearing, which varied with sediment type and the luminophore grain size. The mean particle smearing measured directly behind the inserted plate was 2.9 ± 1.5 cm for mud sediments with sand-like luminophores, 4.3 ± 2.5 cm for fine sand sediments with sand-like luminophores and 1.9 ± 1.1 cm for medium sand sediments with mud-like luminophores. When the mean depth of particle smearing was averaged over a larger sediment volume (11 cm3) next to the inserted plate, substantial differences were seen between the plate-insertion experiments and controls highlighting the potential extent of smearing artefacts that may be produced when a SPI camera penetrates the seafloor. This experimental data shows that future studies using the SPI camera, or any other periscope-like device (e.g., planar optodes) need to acknowledge that smearing may be significant. Furthermore, it highlights that a correction factor may need to be applied to these data (e.g., the depth of apparent redox potential discontinuity layer) to correctly interpret SPI camera images and better determine the effect of anthropogenic impacts on seafloor habitats.

D. Sabadin, S. A. Barbini, D. Figueroa et al.

M. Brock Fenton, D. Streicker, P. Racey et al.