TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing change in habitat composition, ecosystem functioning and service supply in Latvian protected stony reefs
AU - Armoškaitė, Aurelija
AU - Aigars, Juris
AU - Andersone, Ingrīda
AU - Hansen, Henning Sten
AU - Schrøder, Lise
AU - Strāķe, Solvita
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s)
PY - 2021/11/15
Y1 - 2021/11/15
N2 - Healthy and diverse marine ecosystems are a source of a whole range of ecosystem services (ES) and social, and economic benefits. To preserve and restore biodiversity, and sustain service supply, an international goal was set to protect at least 10 % of the global coastal and marine area by 2020. The goal has been achieved mainly through the designation of marine protected areas (MPAs). Whilst activities within the MPAs can be restricted to manage local pressures, the protected habitats and species are still exposed to stressors that originate outside MPA borders (e.g., non-native species, eutrophication). This study investigates the change in the protected stony reef habitat composition using underwater video observation in the coastal area of the eastern Baltic Sea known to be under the pressure of a non-native fish species. Further, assesses what the observed changes have meant for ecosystem functioning and ES supply adopting a tailor-made, expert judgement-based ES supply assessment method developed during the BONUS BASMATI project. The results suggest that the quality of the protected habitats in the case study sites has deteriorated and the transformation in species composition has altered ecosystem functioning and ES supply. The study highlights the importance of rich and diverse habitats for human wellbeing and livelihoods. Further, emphasises the need for more stringent MPA management plans, as well as a wider ecosystem-based approach to decision making in order to limit the impacts of stressors on marine ecosystems and secure ES supply.
AB - Healthy and diverse marine ecosystems are a source of a whole range of ecosystem services (ES) and social, and economic benefits. To preserve and restore biodiversity, and sustain service supply, an international goal was set to protect at least 10 % of the global coastal and marine area by 2020. The goal has been achieved mainly through the designation of marine protected areas (MPAs). Whilst activities within the MPAs can be restricted to manage local pressures, the protected habitats and species are still exposed to stressors that originate outside MPA borders (e.g., non-native species, eutrophication). This study investigates the change in the protected stony reef habitat composition using underwater video observation in the coastal area of the eastern Baltic Sea known to be under the pressure of a non-native fish species. Further, assesses what the observed changes have meant for ecosystem functioning and ES supply adopting a tailor-made, expert judgement-based ES supply assessment method developed during the BONUS BASMATI project. The results suggest that the quality of the protected habitats in the case study sites has deteriorated and the transformation in species composition has altered ecosystem functioning and ES supply. The study highlights the importance of rich and diverse habitats for human wellbeing and livelihoods. Further, emphasises the need for more stringent MPA management plans, as well as a wider ecosystem-based approach to decision making in order to limit the impacts of stressors on marine ecosystems and secure ES supply.
KW - Ecosystem services
KW - Marine benthic habitats
KW - Marine management and planning
KW - Marine protected areas
KW - Non-native species
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85113713179&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113537
DO - 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113537
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 34426214
AN - SCOPUS:85113713179
SN - 0301-4797
VL - 298
JO - Journal of Environmental Management
JF - Journal of Environmental Management
M1 - 113537
ER -