125
© The Author(s) 2018
S. Jungblut et al. (eds.), YOUMARES 8 – Oceans Across Boundaries: Learning from each other,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93284-2_9
For a World Without Boundaries:
Connectivity Between Marine Tropical
Ecosystems in Times of Change
Hannah S. Earp, Natalie Prinz, Maha J. Cziesielski,
and Mona Andskog
Abstract
Tropical mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs
are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems on
Earth. Their evolution in dynamic, and ever-changing
environments means they have developed a capacity to
withstand and recover (i.e., are resilient) from disturbances caused by anthropogenic activities and climatic
perturbations. Their resilience can be attributed, in part, to
a range of cross-ecosystem interactions whereby one ecosystem creates favorable conditions for the maintenance
of its neighbors. However, in recent decades, expanding
human populations have augmented anthropogenic activities and driven changes in global climate, resulting in
increased frequencies and intensities of disturbances to
these ecosystems. Many contemporary environments are
failing to regenerate following these disturbances and
consequently, large-scale degradation and losses of ecosystems on the tropical seascape are being observed. This
chapter reviews the wealth of available literature focused
on the tropical marine seascape to investigate the degree
of connectivity between its ecosystems and how crossecosystem interactions may be impacted by everincreasing anthropogenic activities and human-induced
climate change. Furthermore, it investigates how disruption and/or loss of these cross-ecosystem interactions may
impact the success of neighboring ecosystems and consequently, the highly-valued ecosystem services to which
these ecosystems give rise. The findings from this review
highlight the degree of connectivity between mangroves,
seagrasses and coral reefs, and emphasizes the need for a
holistic, seascape-wide research approach to successfully
protect and preserve these critically important ecosystems
and their associated services for future generations.
Introduction
Within the tropical zone, cartographically defined as the area
between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (~23.5 °N and
S) (Gnanadesikan and Stouffer 2006), three ecologically distinct marine ecosystems; mangroves forests, seagrass beds
and coral reefs, can be found (Fig. 1). These ecosystems have
long been known for; their rich biodiversity, with coral reefs
alone hosting 25% of known marine species (McAllister
1995; Plaisance et al. 2011), their high levels of gross productivity (for coral reefs it is estimated at ca. 0.4–5.5 kg C
m
−2
year
−1
(Douglas 2001)), which rival those of terrestrial
ecosystems, and the array of ecosystem goods and services
which they provide (Costanza et al. 1997). Across the landsea boundary, mangroves have an annual economic value of
approximately US$ 200,000–900,000 per square kilometer
(UNEP-WCMC 2006), and their extent is closely correlated
to the success of adjacent fisheries (Manson et al. 2005;
Aburto-Oropeza et al. 2008). A step further into the ocean,
nutrient cycling by seagrasses has been valued at US$
19,000 ha
−1
year
−1
(Costanza et al. 1997). Finally, in the most
H. S. Earp (*)
Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen,
Bremen, Germany
e-mail: hannahsearp@hotmail.com
Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT),
Bremen, Germany
School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University,
Menai Bridge, Wales, UK
N. Prinz · M. Andskog
Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen,
Bremen, Germany
Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT),
Bremen, Germany
e-mail: nprinz@uni-bremen.de; andskog.mona@gmail.com
M. J. Cziesielski
Red Sea Research Centre, King Abdullah University of Science
and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
e-mail: maha.olschowsky@kaust.edu.sa
© The Author(s) 2018
S. Jungblut et al. (eds.), YOUMARES 8 – Oceans Across Boundaries: Learning from each other,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93284-2_9
For a World Without Boundaries:
Connectivity Between Marine Tropical
Ecosystems in Times of Change
Hannah S. Earp, Natalie Prinz, Maha J. Cziesielski,
and Mona Andskog
Abstract
Tropical mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs
are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems on
Earth. Their evolution in dynamic, and ever-changing
environments means they have developed a capacity to
withstand and recover (i.e., are resilient) from disturbances caused by anthropogenic activities and climatic
perturbations. Their resilience can be attributed, in part, to
a range of cross-ecosystem interactions whereby one ecosystem creates favorable conditions for the maintenance
of its neighbors. However, in recent decades, expanding
human populations have augmented anthropogenic activities and driven changes in global climate, resulting in
increased frequencies and intensities of disturbances to
these ecosystems. Many contemporary environments are
failing to regenerate following these disturbances and
consequently, large-scale degradation and losses of ecosystems on the tropical seascape are being observed. This
chapter reviews the wealth of available literature focused
on the tropical marine seascape to investigate the degree
of connectivity between its ecosystems and how crossecosystem interactions may be impacted by everincreasing anthropogenic activities and human-induced
climate change. Furthermore, it investigates how disruption and/or loss of these cross-ecosystem interactions may
impact the success of neighboring ecosystems and consequently, the highly-valued ecosystem services to which
these ecosystems give rise. The findings from this review
highlight the degree of connectivity between mangroves,
seagrasses and coral reefs, and emphasizes the need for a
holistic, seascape-wide research approach to successfully
protect and preserve these critically important ecosystems
and their associated services for future generations.
Introduction
Within the tropical zone, cartographically defined as the area
between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (~23.5 °N and
S) (Gnanadesikan and Stouffer 2006), three ecologically distinct marine ecosystems; mangroves forests, seagrass beds
and coral reefs, can be found (Fig. 1). These ecosystems have
long been known for; their rich biodiversity, with coral reefs
alone hosting 25% of known marine species (McAllister
1995; Plaisance et al. 2011), their high levels of gross productivity (for coral reefs it is estimated at ca. 0.4–5.5 kg C
m
−2
year
−1
(Douglas 2001)), which rival those of terrestrial
ecosystems, and the array of ecosystem goods and services
which they provide (Costanza et al. 1997). Across the landsea boundary, mangroves have an annual economic value of
approximately US$ 200,000–900,000 per square kilometer
(UNEP-WCMC 2006), and their extent is closely correlated
to the success of adjacent fisheries (Manson et al. 2005;
Aburto-Oropeza et al. 2008). A step further into the ocean,
nutrient cycling by seagrasses has been valued at US$
19,000 ha
−1
year
−1
(Costanza et al. 1997). Finally, in the most
H. S. Earp (*)
Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen,
Bremen, Germany
e-mail: hannahsearp@hotmail.com
Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT),
Bremen, Germany
School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University,
Menai Bridge, Wales, UK
N. Prinz · M. Andskog
Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen,
Bremen, Germany
Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT),
Bremen, Germany
e-mail: nprinz@uni-bremen.de; andskog.mona@gmail.com
M. J. Cziesielski
Red Sea Research Centre, King Abdullah University of Science
and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
e-mail: maha.olschowsky@kaust.edu.sa