Coastal Ecosystem-Based Management with Nonlinear Ecological Functions and Values
University of Wyoming · Oregon State University · +8 more institutions
Abstract
A common assumption is that ecosystem services respond linearly to changes in habitat size. This assumption leads frequently to an "all or none" choice of either preserving coastal habitats or converting them to human use. However, our survey of wave attenuation data from field studies of mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass beds, nearshore coral reefs, and sand dunes reveals that these relationships are rarely linear. By incorporating nonlinear wave attenuation in estimating coastal protection values of mangroves in Thailand, we show that the optimal land use option may instead be the integration of development and conservation consistent with ecosystem-based management goals. This result suggests that…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 38.26
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 16
Authors
16- EBEdward B. BarbierCorresponding
University of Wyoming, Oregon State University, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, University of Florida
- EWEvamaria W. Koch
University of Wyoming, Oregon State University, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, University of Florida
- BRBrian R. Silliman
University of Wyoming, Oregon State University, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, University of Florida
- SDSally D. Hacker
University of Wyoming, Oregon State University, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, University of Florida
- EWEric Wolanski
University of Wyoming, Oregon State University, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, University of Florida
Topics & keywords
- Seagrass
- Salt marsh
- Habitat
- Mangrove
- Coral reef
- Ecosystem
- Marsh
- Mangrove ecosystem
- Life below water