Coastal marine ecosystems are a very important part of the coastal economy as well as the natural ecology. Not only do coastal systems provide socioeconomic benefits such as tourism and aesthetics, but also several ecosystem services. The ecosystem services provided by coast environments include coastal erosion, storm protection, recreational or commercial fishing, carbon sequestration and filtration (Wingard and Lorenz, 2014). Unfortunately, these services have been impacted by pressures such as altered flow of freshwater runoff, sea level rise (which in turn also increases the frequency and intensity of storms) and man-made channels (Wingard and Lorenz, 2014). Another major factor that has impacted and deteriorated many coastal areas is urbanization …show more content…
He develops this by using a five step rule that includes finding, limiting, assessing, common scaling and weighing. During the “finding” step, one must identify all possible elements of a coastal area that would affect it. Then narrow those results down to the most relevant elements in the “limiting” stage. It is then essential to determine how to measure each of those elements and how to conglomerate into a wholesome number in order to compare the outcomes in the “assessing” and “common scaling” steps. The last step involves adding “weight” to different indexes in order to give some elements more significance over the other (Cendrero and Fischer, 1997). Cendrero and Fischer (1997) also call for conducting interviews and questionaries’ to determine both the needs of the coastal scientists and coastal planner; the needs of both are then …show more content…
According to Cendrero and Fischer (1997), each indicator receives a value between 0 and 1 as well as a weighing factor. The weight for each indicator is multiplied to the value of each indicator and then these numbers are combine to get a total score. Cendrero and Fischer (1997) then developed a “conservation-development diagram” that would map the values from the total combination and could determine areas in need of conservation as well as areas that could potentially developed. On the other hand, Barbosa de Araujo and da Costa (2008) developed a system where sixty parameters are taken into consideration where natural parameters where given a values of 1, 2 or 3 and socioeconomic parameters were given qualitative values of either “+” or “-.” These were then added and assed on a A-D grading scale. Alternatively, Marshall et al. (2014) developed a system where each indicators was given a score of 1 (for poor), 2 (for fair) or 3 (for good). These were then added together and compared. A score between 9 and 14 designated poor condition of the beach. Between 15 and 20 designated fair condition and between 21 and 26 designated good condition (Marshall et al.,
2)On the IPad, on the adobe reader app open the document called ‘Beach sediment classification card’
The aim of this report is to investigate Long Reef and Collaroy Beach’s coastal management.
* The group is mostly focused on maintaining the vegetation of the various lagoons in the Terrigal area. As a result, most of their actions relate to the maintenance of the lagoons. The kind of things they do include:
Coastal Management in Hastings is effective economically, socially, environmentally and is sustainable for the future.
The coastal management strategies are not very effective as gathered from the surveys. On average, the participating surveyees gave the strategies a 4 out of a possible 5. This data were gathered from visitors/neighbourhoods who visit on average frequently. The main concern that would need conventional changes are council clean ups for rubbish track paths, washrooms and toilets, increase and improvement in stores and clubs as well as the immediate removal of pet litter.
Scientists and researchers began giving a large volume of effort and look into the extremely complex problems that face the Chesapeake Bay. When research for the improving and saving of the Bay’s overall health began it seemed very simple and there were only a couple of problems. The problems included nutrients from agricultural runoff; these nutrients were phosphorus and nitrogen. The combination of the nutrients in the Bay caused a large volume of algae that choked some of the marine life. While bringing in algae the nutrients also killed grasses on the seafloor. These seafloor bed grasses that once covered more than half of the Chesapeake Bay’s floor now only covered a tenth of their original area. Though the estuary was having problems it did not receive the terrible pollution from industries that many large rivers and lakes do in other urban areas (Brown, p. 397).
The Chesapeake Bay is a 200-mile-long estuary extending from Norfolk, VA to Havre de grace Maryland. On average this bay contains about 68 trillion liters of water. This bay is the largest estuary in North America. It inhabits more than 3,000 species of plants, animals, and fish. “Since the early twentieth century, the Chesapeake Bay has experienced serious environmental degradation. Problems include large reductions in sea grass, reduced amounts of finfish and shellfish (especially oysters and crab), seasonal depletions in dissolved oxygen, and increases in sedimentation.” (Atkins & Anderson, 2003) These changes are brought on by pollution (Eutrophication and Toxic Contamination), development, deforestation, and agriculture. And according
The ocean is two-thirds of our planet a vast blue landscape home to many biomes which according to Boyce Thorne-Miller “(ecosystem types) corresponding to sets of environmental conditions that vary with depth, latitude, and longitude” (16). However, the ocean and its biomes is under attack from the changing environment. We can see this through coral reef biomes as they make their home near the shores. Through coral reefs we can view the effects that these changes have on the ocean through how the coral reef biome is affected. Humans are a danger to the coral reefs and the wildlife that resides in the biome. The pollution being released into the environment is poisoning the coral and causes death and malformation to the wildlife. The ocean is changing due to global warming which is causing a change in the temperature and rising water levels leading to a change in the stabile areas coral can survive. The increasing acidification of the ocean is causing the coral reefs to die. I will be looking at the effects these issues cause to coral reefs biomes and the ocean to see the similarities in how they affect both.
The oceans need to be protected because it is where life began and if not taken care of, life as we know it will end. The well-being of the ocean is constantly being threatened and needs to stop. When dangerous substances go into the ocean, ecosystems suffer and become endangered along with the lives of people and marine life. The importance of protecting and preserving the quality and biodiversity of the world 's coasts must be recognized because they are truly irreplaceable. If humans are not educated , and become careless about what is thrown on the ground or sprayed on lawns, disastrous effects follow when it comes to the condition of the ocean’s ecosystems, which can endanger life itself, leading to a problem only we can correct. There is historical evidence of ocean pollution, although the problem still shadows us today.
Some amount of natural erosion is necessary to provide the sediment for beaches in estuaries and coastal bays. However, excessive erosion has occurred in the past due to development. Industrial and private development along the world’s coastlines has increased dramatically since the 1970s (Nepf). Developers and builders completed much of this construction without taking into account the effects of coastal erosion. New buildings were often placed too close to the existing shoreline so that
Coastline changes due to weather and human intervention represent a major concern for coastal planners all over the world. Coastline changes, not only has an effect on citizens who own property by the seaside, it also has a major effect on our business here at McDuff. While beaches may be vacation spots for some, their disappearance through erosion a great
Seagrasses are essential primary producers that provide habitat and refuge to fauna. Anthropogenic influences have caused global loss of seagrasses and a major contributor is eutrophication, which increases phytoplankton and algal populations, reduces light availability, and causes daily hypoxic conditions. Eutrophication is commonly linked to declines in temperate conditions and is more difficult to link to tropical systems since decreases are typically related to physical damage and diminishing light conditions from runoff. Climate change, herbivore declines, disease and overfishing, along with anthropogenic impacts from coastal development, run-off, eutrophication, and aquaculture have caused declines in coral reefs and mangrove systems. These three systems are interconnected and when one system is impacted, secondary impacts are observed in the other systems; coastal ecosystems will be adversely effected and decline. Additional research, conservation, and ways to reduce anthropogenic impacts have been discussed. Restoration is used to reverse habitat loss, although success is varied. Coastal systems and the biological and ecosystem services they provide, may take decades to establish. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are instituted to protect systems from further degradation, restore communities and allow them to flourish naturally. However, local residents are affected by MPAs and may become displaced, have restriction placed on their livelihood, or elimination of their
Consisting of less than 1% of the world oceans, the coral reefs are ancient animals comprising of thin calcium carbonate deposits within the photic layer. Aside from its biologically diverse ecosystems, coral reefs are major source of food for millions and provides habitats and nursery areas for many marine organisms. Coral reefs also act as a physical buffer to protect the coastlines from tropical storms and erosion. In addition, many local communities rely on coral reefs to generate an income through activities such as fishing and diving. However, 75% of the coral reefs are under threat from induced impacts of humans and climate change (Burke, et al., 2011). This essay looks at the human impacts constantly being inflicted on coral reefs.
Human activities along the coastal region have some to a negative effect on the living coral reefs. As indicated in the above
Coastal developments and construction activities put the marine water quality under pressure through the waste production and deposition into the marine. Additionally, dredging could result in the presence of excess sediment in the water column that might activate toxic algal cysts and release sediment pollutants back to the water column. The tightening of the water pathways due to construction also influences the water flow and circulation resulting