Abstract Detail

Physiology

Thorhaug, Anitra [1], Verduin, Jennifer [2], kiswara, wawan [3], Yap, Michael [4], Gallagher, John Barry [5], Prathep, Anchana [6], Calumpong, Hildaconida [7], Huang, Xiaoping [8], Dorward, Susan [9], Schwarz, Arthur [10], Berlyn, Graeme [11].

Tropical and subtropical Southeast Asian Seagrass restoration analysis.

The globally highest regional extent of seagrass (5.5 million ha) is found in the Southeast Asia’s marine region composed of chiefly tropical/subtropical estuaries with shallow shelves. However, Southeast Asian seagrass suffers the highest rate of seagrass degradation. The solutions to this destruction are restoration or preservation. Southeast Asia has 26 species, the greatest number of any region in seagrass species. From these 12 are under cultivation in restoration projects. The dominant food-web genuses, and those for resilience sediment stabilization, including ones which sequester large amounts of carbon for Climate Change solutions are those genuses cultivated in these restorations: Enhalus, Thalassia, Halodule, Halophila, Syringodium, Cymadocea, Amphibolis, Posidonia. Since co-genitors exist in the more-intensively researched Atlantic tropics, much is known methodologically to apply to Southeast Asia, but local seagrass tolerances to ambient pollution are yet to be constructed. Following a global seagrass restoration analysis of 1786 investigations (Van Katwijk, Thorhaug et al 2016) where the Atlantic had the highest number of seagrass restoration trials, we carried out a regional southeast Asian tropical/subtropical analysis. There are 5 nations in which large-scale efforts occurred, with a smaller efforts in 4 others. Western Australia provides an excellent example of large-scale successful restoration of Posidonia australis (Verduin et al 2011, Paling et al 2001). Indonesia has multiple restoration sites of various investigators, as does Thailand and Malaysia. Malaysia now has promising results for Cymodocaea, Thalassia, and Halodule (Yap & Gallagher 2019). Thailand has a series of community efforts of restoration. The Philippines’ inquisitiveness has for 4 decades been at the forefront of seagrass preservation and restoration (Thorhaug Cruz 1986, Campulong 1994, Fortes et al 2019). Tropical China, Viet-nam have multiple efforts of lesser extent and duration. Tropical China has started restoring its dominant species, and preserving centers of population genetics. We find in comparing over 1.5 Million seagrass restoration planting units in 42 efforts in 8 of the 11 nations that technically sufficient information for large-scale gear up and training. Seagrass restoration is poised to begin, but political will for funding appears as the stumbling block for both restoration and preservation in many nations. Concentration on bolstering political will from legislators and citizens needs attention from scientists.

1 - Yale University, 1359 SW 22 Terrace, Miami, FL, 33145.0, United States
2 - Murdoch University, Environmental and Conservation, Murdoch, WA, Australia
3 - Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Research Centre for Oceanography, Jl. Amonia F – 10 Beji Timur, Depok, Indonesia
4 - Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Borneo Marine Research Institute, Malaysia
5 - Universiti Sains Malaysia, Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies, Penang, Malaysia
6 - Center for Biodiversity of Peninsular Thailand, Prince of Songkla Univ, Seaweed and Seagrass Research Unit, Thailand
7 - Silliman University, Institute of Marine Sciences, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines
8 - Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangchow , China
9 - Raritan Valley Community College, Branchburg, NJ, USA
10 - Southwestern Adventist University, Biological Sciences, 100 W Hillcrest, Keene, TX, 76059, United States
11 - Yale University, School Of Foresty & Evironmental Studies, Marsh Hall-360 PROSPECT ST, New Haven, CT, 06511, United States

Keywords:
Tropical Asian seagrass restoration
Asian Seagrass restoration
Indonesian seagrass restoration
Comparative southeast Asian seagrass restoration.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: PHYS1, Physiology
Location: San Pedro 2/Starr Pass
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2019
Time: 9:00 AM
Number: PHYS1005
Abstract ID:273
Candidate for Awards:None