articleEnvironmental ConservationJun 1, 2002BRONZE OA

The future of seagrass meadows

CMCarlos M. Duarte

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas · Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies

Indexed incrossref

Abstract

Seagrasses cover about 0.1–0.2% of the global ocean, and develop highly productive ecosystems which fulfil a key role in the coastal ecosystem. Widespread seagrass loss results from direct human impacts, including mechanical damage (by dredging, fishing, and anchoring), eutrophication, aquaculture, siltation, effects of coastal constructions, and food web alterations; and indirect human impacts, including negative effects of climate change (erosion by rising sea level, increased storms, increased ultraviolet irradiance), as well as from natural causes, such as cyclones and floods. The present review summarizes such threats and trends and considers likely changes to the 2025 time horizon. Present losses are…

Citation impact

1,209
total citations
FWCI
16.03
Percentile
100%
References
101
Citations per year

Authors

1

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Seagrass
  • Ecosystem
  • Environmental science
  • Marine ecosystem
  • Disturbance (geology)
  • Coral reef
  • Climate change
  • Environmental resource management
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Life below water
No related works found for this paper.

Funding