Environmental and human factors drive the subtropical marine forests of Gongolaria abies-marina to extinction. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martín García, Laura; Rancel-Rodríguez, Nereida M.; Sangil, Carlos; Reyes, Javier; Benito, Blas; Orellana, Sharay; Sansón, Marta
• Is Part Of: Marine environmental research. Volume 181(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Algae -- Gongolaria abies-Marina -- Sargassaceae -- Distribution model -- Temporal variability -- Drivers of decline -- Multivariate analysis -- Geographically weighted regression -- Canary islands; Marine pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Marine ecology -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Écologie marine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 577.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105759
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0141-1136

Abstract

Abstract: Large brown macroalgae are foundational threatened species in coastal ecosystems from the subtropical northeastern Atlantic, where they have exhibited a drastic decline in recent years. This study describes the potential habitat of Gongolaria abies-marina, its current distribution and conservation status, and the major drivers of population decline. The results show a strong reduction of more than 97% of G. abies-marina populations in the last thirty years and highlight the effects of drivers vary in terms of spatial heterogeneity. A decrease in the frequency of high waves and high human footprint are the principal factors accounting for the long-term decline in G. abies-marina populations. UV radiation and sea surface temperature have an important correlation only in certain locations. Both the methodology and the large amount of data analyzed in this study provide a valuable tool for the conservation and restoration of threatened macroalgae. Highlights: Gongolaria abies-marina is one of the few Atlantic species of Cystoseira s.l. Its populations present a strong decline greater than 97% in the last thirty years. The potential habitat of the species is comparable to historical mapping. A lower proportion of high waves and human footprint are the main drivers. UV radiation and sea surface temperature are important only in certain locations.