Mangroves buffer inland ecosystems from hurricane winds and storm surge. However, their ability to withstand harsh cyclone conditions depends on plant resilience traits and geomorphology. Using airborne lidar and satellite imagery collected before and after Hurricane Irma, we estimated that 62% of mangroves in southwest Florida suffered canopy damage, with largest impacts in tall forests (>10 m). Mangroves on well-drained sites (83%) resprouted new leaves within one year after the storm. By contrast, in poorly-drained inland sites, we detected one of the largest mangrove diebacks on record (10,760 ha), triggered by Irma. We found evidence that the combination of low elevation (median = 9.4 cm asl), storm surge water levels (>1.4 m above the ground surface), and hydrologic isolation drove coastal forest vulnerability and were independent of tree height or wind exposure. Our results indicated that storm surge and ponding caused dieback, not wind. Tidal restoration and hydrologic management in these vulnerable, low-lying coastal areas can reduce mangrove mortality and improve resilience to future cyclones. Mangroves are adapted to cope with tropical storms, but might be threatened by rising frequency and intensity of these events. Here the authors document one of the largest mangrove diebacks on record following Hurricane Irma in Florida, and show a greater role of storm surge and ponding rather than wind as a mechanism for mangrove dieback.

/pdf/storm-surge-and-ponding-explain-mangrove-dieback-in-3k7gg1ebid.pdf

Storm surge and ponding explain mangrove dieback in southwest Florida following Hurricane Irma.

A microscopic study of microplankton in two coastal lagoons in the Florida Keys coincidently, and unexpectedly, revealed the widespread presence of high concentrations of polystyrene microplastic particles. The polystyrene particles were first observed in the second year of a 2-year study of phytoplankton communities, with peak densities in the spring/summer of 2019 at all ten sampling sites in the two lagoons. Polystyrene particle densities reached levels up to 76,000 L−1. The particles ranged in size from 33 to 190 µm, similar to the size range of microplanktonic algae (20–200 µm). Over the period of peak polystyrene densities, average particle densities were similar to average densities of microplanktonic algae cells. The latter observation highlights the potential significance of the microplastic particles for the ecology of the pristine waters of the Florida Keys, if they persist.

/pdf/polystyrene-microplastic-contamination-versus-microplankton-y96c2his7r.pdf

Polystyrene microplastic contamination versus microplankton abundances in two lagoons of the Florida Keys.

Potential risks, source apportionment, and health risk assessment of dissolved heavy metals in Zhoushan fishing ground, China.

Cette etude est la premiere du genre portant sur cette vaste aire protegee, a la fois marine et terrestre. Elle a ete realisee par un consortium de consultants et financee par le FFEM, l’AFD et le BaCoMab pour le Parc national du Banc d’Arguin (PNBA).
Selon cette etude, la valeur annuelle des principaux services de regulation et d’approvisionnement est estimee a 8,1 milliards MRU par an soit 198,8 millions €/an. Les deux services les plus importants sont ceux relatifs a la sequestration du carbone fournie par les herbiers (3,3 milliards MRU) et a la contribution du PNBA aux pecheries de la ZEE de la Mauritanie (3 milliards MRU). 
Parmi les autres services de support et de regulation evalues, ceux de nurserie et de bioremediation affichent des valeurs monetaires respectives de 92 et 49 millions MRU/an. Le service de prelevement par la flotte de peche artisanale atteint 52 millions MRU/an. La valeur de non usage du PNBA se situe a 1,6 milliard MRU d’apres la perception de l’importance accordee aux differents services ecosystemiques par les Mauritaniens.
Les services evalues concernent essentiellement la partie maritime du PNBA qui couvre 5400 km2.
L’etude met aussi en avant le role fondamental du PNBA pour la peche operant dans la ZEE de la Mauritanie, pour la sequestration du carbone atmospherique et dissous, pour les populations d’oiseaux et les services qu’ils apportent et pour l’identite Imraguen. 
Outre la valeur economique des principaux services rendus par les ecosystemes du Banc d’Arguin, la preservation des milieux naturels et de la faune associee au PNBA est favorable a l’atteinte des objectifs des differentes conventions et traites internationaux dont la Mauritanie est signataire. La part de CO2 sequestre annuellement par les ecosystemes marins du Parc national du Banc d’Arguin atteint 732 057 tCO2eq soit 11 % des emissions de GES du pays.

Évaluation des services écosystémiques du Banc d'Arguin, Mauritanie : rapport final

Nursery grounds provide conditions favorable for growth and survival of juvenile fish and crustaceans through abundant food resources and refugia, and enhance secondary production of populations. While small-scale studies remain important tools to assess nursery value of structured habitats and environmental factors, targeted applications that unify survey data over large spatial and temporal scales are vital to generalize inference of nursery function, identify highly productive regions, and inform management strategies. Using 21 years of spatio-temporally indexed survey data (i.e., water chemistry, turbidity, blue crab, and predator abundance) and GIS information on potential nursery habitats (i.e., seagrass, salt marsh, and unvegetated shallow bottom), we constructed five Bayesian hierarchical models with varying spatial and temporal dependence structures to infer variation in nursery habitat value for young juveniles (20–40 mm carapace width) of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus within three tributaries (James, York and Rappahannock Rivers) in lower Chesapeake Bay. Out-of-sample predictions of juvenile blue crab counts from a model considering fully nonseparable spatiotemporal dependence outperformed predictions from simpler models. Salt marsh surface area and turbidity were the strongest determinants of crab abundance (positive association in both cases). Highest crab abundances occurred near the turbidity maximum where relative salt marsh area was greatest. Relative seagrass area, which has been emphasized as the most valuable nursery in studies conducted at small spatial scales, was not associated with high crab abundance within the three tributaries. Hence, salt marshes should be considered a key nursery habitat for the blue crab, even where extensive seagrass beds occur. The patterns between juvenile blue crab abundance and environmental variables also indicated that identification of nurseries should be based on investigations at broad spatial and temporal scales incorporating multiple potential nursery habitats, and based on statistical analyses that address spatial and temporal statistical dependence. 

/pdf/spatiotemporal-modeling-of-nursery-habitat-using-bayesian-2gyp0vy7.pdf

Spatiotemporal Modeling of Nursery Habitat Using Bayesian Inference: Environmental Drivers of Juvenile Blue Crab Abundance

Seagrasses, oyster reefs, and salt marshes are critical coastal habitats that support high densities of juvenile fish and invertebrates. Yet which species are enhanced through these nursery habitats, and to what degree, remains largely unquantified. Densities of young-of-year fish and invertebrates in seagrasses, oyster reefs, and salt marsh edges as well as in paired adjacent unstructured habitats of the northern Gulf of Mexico were compiled. Species consistently found at higher densities in the structured habitats were identified, and species-specific growth and mortality models were applied to derive production enhancement estimates arising from this enhanced density. Enhancement levels for fish and invertebrate production were similar for seagrass (1370 [SD 317] g m–2 y–1for 25 enhanced species) and salt marsh edge habitats (1222 [SD 190] g m–2 y–1, 25 spp.), whereas oyster reefs produced ~650 [SD 114] g m–2 y–1(20 spp). This difference was partly due to lower densities of juvenile blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) on oyster reefs, although only oyster reefs enhanced commercially valuable stone crabs (Menippe spp.). The production estimates were applied to Galveston Bay, Texas, and Pensacola Bay, Florida, for species known to recruit consistently in those embayments. These case studies illustrated variability in production enhancement by coastal habitats within the northern Gulf of Mexico. Quantitative estimates of production enhancement within specific embayments can be used to quantify the role of essential fish habitat, inform management decisions, and communicate the value of habitat protection and restoration.

/pdf/estimating-and-applying-fish-and-invertebrate-density-and-h8jdfyn5zb.pdf

Estimating and Applying Fish and Invertebrate Density and Production Enhancement from Seagrass, Salt Marsh Edge, and Oyster Reef Nursery Habitats in the Gulf of Mexico

...................................................................................................................................................... 10 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 10 Background ................................................................................................................................................. 11 Seagrasses .............................................................................................................................................. 11 Dredging ................................................................................................................................................... 11 Faunal Monitoring in Response to Harbor Dredging ................................................................................ 12 Methods ....................................................................................................................................................... 12 Sampling Locations .................................................................................................................................. 12 Experimental Design ................................................................................................................................ 12 Physical and Environmental Field Measurements .................................................................................... 13 Braun-Blanquet Method ........................................................................................................................... 14 Animal Collection Method ......................................................................................................................... 15 Statistical Analysis.................................................................................................................................... 15 Results ......................................................................................................................................................... 16 Turbidity ................................................................................................................................................... 16 Seagrass Density ..................................................................................................................................... 18 Animal Totals ........................................................................................................................................... 21 Turbidity, Seagrass Density, and Animal Totals ....................................................................................... 26 BACI ......................................................................................................................................................... 28 Discussion ................................................................................................................................................... 31 Turbidity ................................................................................................................................................... 31 Seagrass Density ..................................................................................................................................... 31 Animal Totals ........................................................................................................................................... 35 Selected References ................................................................................................................................... 36

/pdf/faunal-and-vegetation-monitoring-in-response-to-harbor-3ejkzry7zr.pdf

Faunal and vegetation monitoring in response to harbor dredging in the Port of Miami

Hurricane Irma made landfall in south Florida, USA, on September 10, 2017 as a category 4 storm. In January 2018, fieldwork was conducted on four previously (2014) sampled islands in Florida Bay, Everglades National Park to examine changes between 2014 and 2018. The objectives were to determine if the net impact of the storm was gain or loss of island landmass and/or elevation; observe and quantify impacts to mangroves; and identify distinctive sedimentary, biochemical, and/or geochemical signatures of the storm. Storm overwash deposits were measured in the field and, in general, interior island mudflats appeared to experience deposition ranging from ~ 0.5 to ~ 6.5 cm. Elevation changes were measured using real-time kinematic positioning and satellite receivers. Comparison of 2014 to 2018 elevation measurements indicates mangrove berms and transitional areas between mudflats and berms experienced erosion and loss of elevation, whereas interior mudflats gained elevation, possibly due to Hurricane Irma. Geographic information system analysis of pre- and post-storm satellite imagery indicates the western-most island, closest to the eye of the storm, lost 32 to 42% (~ 11 to 13 m) of the width of the eastern berm, and vegetated coverage was reduced 9.3% or ~ 9700 m2. Vegetated coverage on the eastern-most island was reduced by 1.9% or ~ 9200 m2. These results are compared to previous accounts of hurricane impacts and provide a baseline for examining long-term constructive and destructive aspects of hurricanes on the islands and the role of storms in resiliency of Florida Bay islands.

Impacts of Hurricane Irma on Florida Bay Islands, Everglades National Park, USA

Seagrass beds are among the most ecologically important systems in the marine environment and comprise a large component of the diets of many marine organisms, which provides a pathway for contaminants in the seagrasses to enter the marine food web. In this study, three species of seagrasses, Thalassia testudinum, Halodule wrightii, and Syringodium filiforme, were collected monthly, for one year, in three regional locations in South Florida - Port of Miami, Card Sound region of Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, and Florida Bay. These were analyzed for ten heavy metals using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The metal concentrations varied significantly between the three locations, though each location had similar dominant metals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn). Significantly higher concentrations of heavy metals were found during the wet season, with the exception of Zn. Metals such as Fe, Mn, and Zn were found to be significantly higher in leaves with epiphytes.

/pdf/heavy-metal-accumulation-in-seagrasses-in-southeastern-4pgrychkij.pdf

Heavy Metal Accumulation in Seagrasses in Southeastern Florida

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Estimating and Applying Fish and Invertebrate Density and Production Enhancement from Seagrass, Salt Marsh Edge, and Oyster Reef Nursery Habitats in the Gulf of Mexico

Faunal and vegetation monitoring in response to harbor dredging in the Port of Miami

Impacts of Hurricane Irma on Florida Bay Islands, Everglades National Park, USA

Heavy Metal Accumulation in Seagrasses in Southeastern Florida