Open AccessAnthropogenic pressures and life history predict trajectories of seagrass meadow extent at a global scale
Author(s) -
Mischa P. Turschwell,
Rod M. Connolly,
Jillian C. Dunic,
Michael Sievers,
Christina Buelow,
Ryan M. Pearson,
Vivitskaia J. D. Tulloch,
Isabelle M. Côté,
Richard K. F. Unsworth,
Catherine Collier,
Christopher J. Brown
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2110802118
Subject(s) - seagrass , threatened species , environmental science , biodiversity , climate change , ecology , fishing , fishery , geography , ecosystem , habitat , biology
Significance Seagrasses are important for ecosystem services, including climate regulation and fisheries production. But they are threatened by multiple pressures including poor water quality and coastal development. Seagrass extent is not monitored in many places, so areas at most risk of decline and the management actions needed in these places are largely unknown. We examine associations between change in seagrass meadow area and key pressures globally, helping predict the trajectory of meadows in unmonitored regions. We find rapidly shrinking seagrass meadows in areas where water quality is poor and destructive fishing occurs. Trajectories of change also vary with seagrass life-history strategy. Finally, we identify several unmonitored locations at risk of decline, highlighting where urgent monitoring and management are required.