Pubblicazione scientifica

Seagrass Ecosystem Services and Their Variability across Genera and Geographical Regions

FILONE TECNOLOGICO	TEMA
economia circolare e sostenibilità
produzione e cattura

RIASSUNTO

Threats to and loss of seagrass ecosystems globally, impact not only natural resources but also the lives of people who directly or indirectly depend on these systems. Seagrass ecosystems play a multi-functional role in human well-being, e.g. food through fisheries, control of erosion and protection against floods. Quantifying these services reveals their contributions to human well-being and helps justify seagrass conservation. There has been no comprehensive assessment as to whether seagrass ecosystem services are perceived to vary over the globe or amongst genera. Our study compiles the most complete list of ecosystem services provided by seagrasses so far, including bioregional- and genus-specific information from expert opinion and published studies. Several seagrass ecosystem services vary considerably in their (known) provision across genera and over the globe. Seagrasses genera are clearly not all equal with regard to the ecosystem services they provide. As seagrass genera are not evenly distributed over all bioregions, the presence of an ecosystem service sometimes depends on the genera present. Larger sized seagrass genera (e.g. Posidonia, Enhalus) are perceived to provide more substantial and a wider variety of ecosystem services than smaller species (e.g. Halophila, Lepilaena). Nevertheless, smaller species provide important services. Our findings point out data gaps, provide new insight for more efficient management and recommend caution in economic valuation of seagrass services worldwide.

DATA

Data di pubblicazione: 12/10/2016

AUTORI

MTWANA NORDLUND LINA
KOCH EVAMARIA W
BARBIER EDWARD B
CREED JOEL C

ENTE DI AFFERENZA

Laboratório de Ecologia Marinha Bêntica Departamento de Ecologia Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro – UERJ PHLC Sala 220 Rua São Francisco Xavier 524 CEP 20559-900 Rio de Janeiro RJ Brazil
DEPT ECOLOGY ENVIRONMENT & PLANT SCIENCES STOCKHOLM UNIV SE 106 91 STOCKHOLM SWEDEN
HORN POINT LAB
DEPT ECONOMICS & FINANCE UNIV WYOMING
USDA ARS FORT KEOGH LIVESTOCK & RANGE RSCH LAB US

RIVISTA

PLoS ONE, 11(10), e0163091

IMPACT FACTOR

2,870

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