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Takyi R, El Mahrad B, Addo C, Essandoh J, ElHadary M, Adade R, Buadi EJ, Botwe BO, Nunoo FKE. Assessment of coastal and marine ecosystems in West Africa: The case of Ghana. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 197:115735. [PMID: 37924736 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Coastal and marine ecosystems, as integral component of social, ecological, and economic systems, are critical in providing essential ecosystem services that underpin human activities, including fishing and mining. Effective management of these ecosystems is paramount to safeguarding their vital contributions. This study adopts a socio-ecological framework, "Drivers (D) of human activities (A), associated Pressures (P), State change in coastal and marine environments, Impact (I) on human welfare (W) and Response (R) as measures (M) of management, (DAPSI(W)R(M))," to analyse the complexities of coastal and marine ecosystems in the Ghanaian context. The study identifies various drivers of anthropogenic activities, such as fishing, oil and gas production, and waste disposal. These anthropogenic activities create significant pressures, including selective extraction of living and non-living resources, as well as habitat degradation through substratum loss and pollution. Consequently, these pressures have led to changes in fish biomass and habitat quality, among other ecological shifts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Takyi
- Blue Resources Research and Policy Institute, Box L534 Mallam, Greater Accra, Ghana; Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
| | - Badr El Mahrad
- Murray Foundation, Brabners LLP, Horton House, Exchange Street, Liverpool L2 3YL, UK; Laboratory of Geoscience, Water and Environment, (LG2E-CERNE2D), Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Rabat 10000, Morocco; CIMA, FCT-Gambelas Campus, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Cynthia Addo
- Fisheries Committee for the West-Central Gulf of Guinea, Tema, Ghana
| | - John Essandoh
- Department of Conservation Biology and Entomology, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Mohamed ElHadary
- CIMA, FCT-Gambelas Campus, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 48123 Ravenna, Italy; Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza 12578, Egypt
| | - Richard Adade
- Centre for Coastal Management-African Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
| | | | - Benjamin Osei Botwe
- Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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Zhang T, Sun Y, Song K, Du W, Huang W, Gu Z, Feng Z. Microplastics in different tissues of wild crabs at three important fishing grounds in China. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 271:129479. [PMID: 33460905 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Crabs are an indispensable component of the benthic ecosystem and represent a type of seafood that is easily obtained and frequently eaten by humans. However, little is known about microplastic (MP) accumulation in different tissues of crabs in important fishing areas. In this study, the abundances and characteristics of MPs in different tissues of four species of wild crabs (Portunus trituberculatus, Charybdis japonica, Dorippe japonica, and Matuta planipes) were investigated across 9 sites at three important fishing grounds (Haizhou Bay, Lvsi and Yangtze River Estuary fishing grounds) in China. Crabs from all sites were found to contain MPs, with a total detection rate of 89.34%. The MP abundance in crabs from all sites ranged from 2.00 ± 2.00 to 9.81 ± 8.08 items/individual and 0.80 ± 1.09 to 22.71 ± 24.56 items/g wet weight. The abundance of MPs exponentially increased with decreasing MP size. The MPs were dominated by fibers in terms of shape, black-gray and blue-green in terms of color and cellophane in terms of composition. MPs were found in the gills and guts of the crabs, but not in the muscles. The abundance and size of the MPs in the guts were significantly higher than those in the gills, but there was no significant difference in color or shape. In addition, crab eating patterns have a significant impact on the abundance of MPs in different species. The abundance of MPs in the saprophytic crabs was significantly higher than that in the predatory crabs. MP contamination in crabs is worthy of attention for human health and the stability of marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, China; Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, China; Jiangsu Institute of Marine Resources Development, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, China
| | - Yixin Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, China
| | - Kexin Song
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, China
| | - Wengang Du
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem and Biogeochemistry, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, 310012, China
| | - Zhongqin Gu
- Jiangsu Zhongxin Youwell Testing Technology CO., LTD, China
| | - Zhihua Feng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, China; Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, China; Jiangsu Zhongxin Youwell Testing Technology CO., LTD, China; Jiangsu Institute of Marine Resources Development, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, China.
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Gül MR, Griffen BD. Burrowing behavior and burrowing energetics of a bioindicator under human disturbance. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:14205-14216. [PMID: 31938512 PMCID: PMC6953561 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioindicator species are extensively used for rapid assessment of ecological changes. Their use commonly focuses on changes in population abundance and individual sizes in response to environmental change. These numerical and demographic shifts likely have behavioral and physiological mechanistic drivers that, if understood, could provide additional insights into the use of these species as bioindicators of habitat health.The Atlantic ghost crab, Ocypode quadrata, is a global bioindicator species of human disturbance on sandy shores. Individual size and population abundance of O. quadrata decline dramatically at sites with human disturbance, and the causes of this phenomenon remain unclear.Here, we test the hypothesis that individual and population-level changes at disturbed sites reflect changes in burrowing behavior and energetics. Specifically, we examine whether or not the burrowing behavior (e.g., burrow fidelity and longevity) of O. quadrata changes because of human disturbance. We also examine energy required for burrowing by O. quadrata across different levels of human disturbance.We show that O. quadrata have the highest burrow fidelity and longevity at sites with low level of human impact, and weakest burrow fidelity and longevity at pristine sites. O. quadrata reduce the burrowing energy allocation by manipulating the burrow dimension and increasing the burrow longevity even under low levels of human disturbance.Overall, this study shows that human disturbances not only change the behavior of organisms, but also shift energetic balance. Our results support the use of a bioenergetic approach to better understand how human disturbances influence natural populations, and the specific use of this approach with this bioindicator species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa R Gül
- School of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment University of South Carolina Columbia SC USA
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Zielinski S, Botero CM, Yanes A. To clean or not to clean? A critical review of beach cleaning methods and impacts. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 139:390-401. [PMID: 30686442 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Cleaning is a fundamental concern of beach managers in many destinations as well as an important requirement in beach quality awards. However, it has been largely neglected in the literature. This paper provides an overview of empirical studies on beach cleaning and analyzes cleaning-related requirements of 11 beach awards that generate controversy in the literature. This study comments on key aspects of beach cleaning, resolves various misconceptions, and provides new perspectives by integrating related topics drawn from a wide range of literature. The arguments based on both the ecological and tourism managerial perspectives are presented, indicating the gaps and proposing research solutions. The paper calls for empirical studies with regard to the efficiency of different cleaning approaches on beaches with varying levels of use intensity and for methodological designs that separate the impacts of mechanical grooming from those of trampling, dune destruction, shore armoring, artificial lighting, among others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seweryn Zielinski
- Department of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, 151-742 Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Camilo M Botero
- Coastal Systems Research Group, Playas Corporacion, Colombia.
| | - Andrea Yanes
- Department of Civil and Environmental, University of the Coast, Calle 58, #55 - 66, Barranquilla, Colombia.
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Impacts of human disturbance on ghost crab burrow morphology and distribution on sandy shores. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0209977. [PMID: 30596743 PMCID: PMC6312293 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ghost crabs have been widely used as a bio-indicator species of human impacts on sandy beaches to obtain reliable biological data for management and conservation purposes. Ghost crab population densities and individual sizes decline dramatically under human pressure. However, distribution within a beach and the factors that determine this distribution of ghost crabs is still an open question. These factors may provide valuable information for understanding human impacts on sandy beaches. Here we examine ghost crab burrows on 20 sandy beaches of South Carolina, USA under various levels of human impacts to understand the response in terms of spatial distribution of this species to human impacts. We also examine the burrow characteristics and environmental properties of the burrows to determine whether these factors alter burrow characteristics. We show that crabs on heavily impacted beaches altered their spatial distribution to mostly occupy the edges of impacted beaches. Further, this change in spatial distribution was influenced by the size distribution of the population on a beach (i.e. larger individuals occupy upper parts on the beaches). We also found that ghost crabs altered the morphology of their burrows on heavily impacted beaches. Ghost crabs create deeper, steeper and smaller burrows under human impacts. These patterns were also influenced by physical characteristics of the beach. Our results suggest that human impacts can directly influence the spatial distribution of ghost crab populations within a beach and therefore sampling at upper parts of the beaches overestimates the population density and individual sizes. Our results support the use of ghost crabs as indicator species in effective beach management, but suggest that assessments would benefit from examining the morphology and distribution of burrows as opposed to simply using burrow counts to assess the health of sandy shores.
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Stelling-Wood TP, Clark GF, Poore AGB. Responses of ghost crabs to habitat modification of urban sandy beaches. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2016; 116:32-40. [PMID: 26970686 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2016.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Sandy beaches in highly urbanised areas are subject to a wide range of human impacts. Ghost crabs are a commonly used ecological indicator on sandy beaches, as they are key consumers in these systems and counting burrow openings allows for rapid assessment of population size. This study assessed the pressures of urbanisation on sandy beaches in the highly urbanised estuary of Sydney Harbour. Across 38 beaches, we examined which physical beach properties, management practices and human induced habitat modification best predicted ghost crab distributions. Of all variables measured, the frequency of mechanical beach cleaning was the most important predictor of crab abundance, with low burrow densities at the highest cleaning frequency and the highest densities at beaches cleaned at the intermediate frequency (≤3 times per week). These results indicate that ghost crab populations in Sydney Harbour are more robust to the impacts of urbanisation than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talia P Stelling-Wood
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Graeme F Clark
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Alistair G B Poore
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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