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A broad-scale assessment of the risk to coastal seagrasses from cumulative threats

Author

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  • Grech, A.
  • Coles, R.
  • Marsh, H.

Abstract

Informing the management of coastal marine habitats at broad spatial scales is difficult because of the costs associated with collecting and analyzing ecological data at that scale. Spatially explicit assessments of the risk to coastal marine habitats from cumulative threats provide an alternative approach by identifying sites that are exposed to multiple anthropogenic threats at broad scales. In this study, qualitative measures of vulnerability were combined with geospatial data to evaluate the risk to coastal seagrasses at the scale of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) region (∼26,000km2) of Queensland, Australia. The risk assessment outputs identified agricultural, urban and industrial runoff, and urban and port developments as the major anthropogenic activities threatening coastal seagrasses. ‘Hot spots’ with multiple threat exposure were all in industrial port locations and the southern two-thirds of the GBR. There is a distinct discontinuity in threat exposure along the GBR coast with 98% of seagrass meadows in the northern third exposed to only low levels of anthropogenic risk. The clustering of threat exposure is discussed in terms of coastal management policy. The approach outlined in this study provides management agencies a method of achieving maximum return for minimal investment in data collection at broad spatial scales by identifying sites where management intervention would be best targeted.

Suggested Citation

  • Grech, A. & Coles, R. & Marsh, H., 2011. "A broad-scale assessment of the risk to coastal seagrasses from cumulative threats," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 560-567.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:marpol:v:35:y:2011:i:5:p:560-567
    DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2011.03.003
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    Cited by:

    1. Claudia F. Benham, 2017. "Understanding local community attitudes toward industrial development in the Great Barrier Reef region World Heritage Area: are environmental impacts perceived to overshadow economic benefits?," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(1), pages 42-54, February.
    2. Clarke Murray, Cathryn & Agbayani, Selina & Alidina, Hussein M. & Ban, Natalie C., 2015. "Advancing marine cumulative effects mapping: An update in Canada’s Pacific waters," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 71-77.
    3. Giakoumi, Sylvaine & Brown, Christopher J. & Katsanevakis, Stelios & Saunders, Megan I. & Possingham, Hugh P., 2015. "Using threat maps for cost-effective prioritization of actions to conserve coastal habitats," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 95-102.
    4. Sheaves, Marcus & Brookes, Justin & Coles, Rob & Freckelton, Marnie & Groves, Paul & Johnston, Ross & Winberg, Pia, 2014. "Repair and revitalisation of Australia׳s tropical estuaries and coastal wetlands: Opportunities and constraints for the reinstatement of lost function and productivity," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 23-38.

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