Mapping seagrass cost-effectively in the Coral Triangle: Sabah, Malaysia as a case study
Leela Rajamani A C and Helene Marsh B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Borneo Marine Research Institute, Locked Bag 2073, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88999 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Present address: Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia.
B College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: leelarajamani@usm.my
Pacific Conservation Biology 21(2) 113-121 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC14908
Submitted: 1 April 2014 Accepted: 1 December 2014 Published: 12 May 2015
Abstract
Knowledge of the distribution and relative abundance of seagrass communities in the Coral Triangle is limited, despite their global significance and the vital ecosystem services they perform for local human populations, threatened species such as dugongs and green turtles, as well as the role of being a globally significant carbon stock. To address this gap and investigate cost-effective methods in data-poor regions, we conducted seagrass mapping near two islands off the coast of Sabah in Malaysia: Banggi Island (7°15′N, 117°12′E) and Mantanani Island (6°43′N, 116°21′E). We used a staged approach that included: (1) interview surveys, (2) manta tow and spot surveys, and (3) comprehensive transect surveys. Approximately 415 ha and 112 ha of seagrass meadows were mapped off Banggi Island and Mantanani Island respectively. We found 10 species of seagrasses from two families: Halophila ovalis, Halodule uninervis (broad and thin leaf varieties), Thalassia hemprichii, Cymodocea rotundata, Halophila decipiens, Halophila spinulosa, Cymodocea serrulata, Syringodium isoetifolium, Enhalus acoroides and Halophila sp. nov. Our methodology proved cost-effective and the resultant information should be relevant to conservation planners.
Additional keywords: Banggi Island, conservation, Mantanani Island.
References
Aragones, L. (1994). Observations on dugongs at Calauit Island, Busuanga and Palawan, Philippines. Wildlife Research 21, 709–717.| Observations on dugongs at Calauit Island, Busuanga and Palawan, Philippines.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Asian Development Bank (2014). Regional State of the Coral Triangle marine resource: their status, economics and management. Asian Development Bank, Mandaluyong City, Philippines.
Aswani, S., and Hamilton, R. J. (2004). Integrating indigenous ecological knowledge and customary sea tenure with marine and social science for the conservation of bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) in the Roviana Lagoon, Solomon Islands. Environmental Conservation 31, 69–83.
| Integrating indigenous ecological knowledge and customary sea tenure with marine and social science for the conservation of bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) in the Roviana Lagoon, Solomon Islands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Berg, B. L. (1989). ‘Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences.’ (Allyn and Bacon: Boston.)
Berkes, E., Colding, J., and Folke, C. (2000). Rediscovery of traditional ecological knowledge as adaptive management. Ecological Applications 10, 1251–1262.
| Rediscovery of traditional ecological knowledge as adaptive management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Coles, R. G., Lee Long, W. J., Squire, B. A., Squire, L. C., and Bibby, J. M. (1987). Distribution of seagrass and associated juvenile commercial penaeid prawns in north-eastern Queensland waters. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 38, 103–119.
| Distribution of seagrass and associated juvenile commercial penaeid prawns in north-eastern Queensland waters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Coles, R., Grech, A., Rasheed, M., McKenzie, L., Unsworth, R., and Short, F. (2010). Seagrass ecology and threats in the tropical Indo-Pacific Bioregion. In ‘Seagrass: Ecology, Uses and Threats’. (Ed. R. S. Pirog.) Chapter 9, pp. 225–239. (Nova Science Publishers: New York.)
de Iongh, H. H., Wenno, B. J., and Meelis, E. (1995). Seagrass distribution and seasonal biomass changes in relation to dugong grazing in the Moluccas, east Indonesia. Aquatic Botany 50, 1–19.
| Seagrass distribution and seasonal biomass changes in relation to dugong grazing in the Moluccas, east Indonesia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
de la Torre-Castro, M., and Rönnbäck, P. (2004). Links between humans and seagrasses – an example from tropical East Africa. Ocean and Coastal Management 47, 361–387.
| Links between humans and seagrasses – an example from tropical East Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Drew, J. A. (2005). Use of traditional ecological knowledge in marine conservation. Conservation Biology 19, 1286–1293.
| Use of traditional ecological knowledge in marine conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
English, S., Wilkinson, C., and Baker, V. (1997). ‘Survey Manual for Tropical Marine Resources.’ 2nd edn. (ASEAN-Australia Marine Science Project: Living Coastal Resources: Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville.)
Ethirmannasingam, S., Phang, S. M., and Sasekumar, A. (1996). A study of some phenological events in a Malaysian Enhalus acoroides bed. In ‘Seagrass Biology: Proceedings of an International Workshop, Rottnest Island, WA, 25–29 January 1996’. (Eds J. Kuo, R. Philips, D. I. Walker, and H. Kirkman.) pp. 33–40. (The University of Western Australia, Faculty of Science: Nedlands, WA.)
Fourqurean, J. W., Duarte, C. M., Kennedy, H., Marbà, N., Holmer, M., Mateo, M. A., Apostolaki, E. T., Kendrick, G. A., Krause-Jensen, D., McGlathery, K. J., and Serrano, O. (2012). Seagrass ecosystems as a globally significant carbon stock. Nature Geoscience 5, 505–509.
| Seagrass ecosystems as a globally significant carbon stock.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XntF2msbg%3D&md5=d076c1bc1cf0d170cbcbfd917520bed0CAS |
Gumpil, J. (2002). Status, utilisation and suggested management strategies of seagrass beds in Darvel Bay, Sabah, Malaysia. M.Sc. (Marine Biology) Thesis. University of Malaysia Sabah, School of Science and Technology.
Hughes, R. A., Williams, S. L., Duarte, C. M., Heck, K. L., and Waycott, M. (2009). Associations of concern: declining seagrasses and threatened dependent species. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 7, 242–246.
| Associations of concern: declining seagrasses and threatened dependent species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hyland, S. J., Courtney, A. J., and Butler, C. T. (1989). Distribution of seagrass in the Moreton Region from Coolangatta to Noosa. Queensland Department of Primary Industries Information Series #QI89010. Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.
Ismail, N. (1993). Preliminary study of the seagrass flora of Sabah, Malaysia. Pertanika. Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science 16, 111–118.
Jaaman, S. A., and Lah-Anyi, Y. U. (2003). Dugongs in east Malaysian waters (Dugong dugon Muller 1776). ASEAN Review of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (ARBEC) 2003. Available at http://www.arbec.com.my/dugongs [accessed 20 June 2004].
Kirkman, H., and Kirkman, J. A. (2002). The management of seagrasses in southeast Asia. Bulletin of Marine Science 71, 1379–1390.
Kitzinger, J. (1994). The methodology of focus groups: the importance of interaction between research participants. Sociology of Health & Illness 16, 103–121.
| The methodology of focus groups: the importance of interaction between research participants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kuo, J., and McComb, A. J. (1989). Seagrass taxonomy, structure and development. In ‘Biology of Seagrasses: a Treatise on the Biology of Seagrasses with Special Reference to the Australian Region’. (Eds A. W. D. Larkum, A. J. McComb, and S. A. Shepherd.) Chapter 2, pp. 6–73. (Elsevier: New York.)
Kutser, T., Vahtmäe, E., Roelfsema, C. M., and Metsamaa, L. (2007). Photo-library method for mapping seagrass biomass. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 75, 559–563.
| Photo-library method for mapping seagrass biomass.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lauer, M., and Aswani, S. (2010). Indigenous knowledge and long term ecological change; detection, interpretation, and responses changing ecological conditions in Pacific island communities. Environmental Management 45, 985–997.
| Indigenous knowledge and long term ecological change; detection, interpretation, and responses changing ecological conditions in Pacific island communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20336296PubMed |
Lin, H., and Shao, K. (1998). Temporal changes in the abundance and growth of intertidal Thalassia hemprichii beds in southern Taiwan. Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica 39, 191–198.
McKenzie, J. L., Finkbeiner, M. A., and Kirkman, H. (2001). Methods for mapping seagrass distribution. In ‘Global Seagrass Research Methods’. (Eds F. T. Short, C. A. Short, and R. G. Coles.) Chapter 5, pp. 101–121. (Elsevier: Amsterdam.)
Mellors, J. E. (1991). An evaluation of a rapid visual technique for estimating seagrass biomass. Aquatic Botany 42, 67–73.
| An evaluation of a rapid visual technique for estimating seagrass biomass.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Merton, R. K. (1987). The focused interview and focus groups: continuities and discontinuities. Public Opinion Quarterly 51, 550–566.
| The focused interview and focus groups: continuities and discontinuities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ooi, J. L. S., Kendrick, G. A., van Niel, K. P., and Affendi, Y. A. (2011). Knowledge gaps in tropical southeast Asian seagrass systems. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 92, 118–131.
| Knowledge gaps in tropical southeast Asian seagrass systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rajamani, L. (2009). The conservation biology of the dugong (Dugong dugon) and its seagrass habitat in Sabah, Malaysia: a basis for conservation planning. Ph.D. Thesis. University Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
Roelfsema, C. M., Phinn, S. R., Udy, N., and Maxwell, P. (2009). An integrated field and remote sensing approach for mapping seagrass cover, Moreton Bay, Australia. Journal of Spatial Science 54, 45–62.
| An integrated field and remote sensing approach for mapping seagrass cover, Moreton Bay, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Short, F. T., Coles, R. G., and Pergent-Martini, C. (2001). Global seagrass distribution. In ‘Global Seagrass Research Methods’. (Eds F. T. Short, and R. G. Coles.) pp. 5–30. (Elsevier: London.)
Short, F., Carruthers, T., Dennison, W., and Waycott, M. (2007). Global seagrass distribution and diversity: a bioregional model. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 350, 3–20.
| Global seagrass distribution and diversity: a bioregional model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Short, F., Polidoro, B., Livingstone, S. R., Carpenter, K. E., Bandeira, S., Bujang, J. S., Calumpong, H. P., Carruthers, T. J. B., Coles, R. G., Dennison, W. C., Erfmejier, P. L. A., Fortes, M. D., Freeman, A. S., Jagtap, T. G., Kamal, A. H. M., Kendrick, G. A., Kenworthy, W. J., La Nafie, Y. A., Nasution, I. M., Orth, R. J., Prathep, A., Sanciangco, J. C., van Tussenbroek, B., Vergara, S. G., Waycott, M., and Ziemen, J. C. (2011). Extinction risk assessment of the world’s seagrass species. Biological Conservation 144, 1961–1971.
Stewart, D. W., and Shamdasani, P. N. (1990). ‘Focus Groups: Theory and Practice.’ (Sage: Newbury Park, CA.)
Tolan, J. M., Holt, S. A., and Onuf, C. P. (1997). Distribution and community structure of ichthyoplankton in Laguna Madre seagrass meadows: potential impact of seagrass species change. Estuaries 20, 450–464.
| Distribution and community structure of ichthyoplankton in Laguna Madre seagrass meadows: potential impact of seagrass species change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Unsworth, R. K. F., and Cullen, L. C. (2010). Recognising the necessity for Indo-Pacific seagrass conservation. Conservation Letters 3, 63–73.
| Recognising the necessity for Indo-Pacific seagrass conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Waycott, M., Duarte, C. M., Carruthers, T. J. B., Orth, R. J., Dennison, W. C., Olyarnik, S., Calladine, A., Fourqurean, J. W., Heck, K. L., Hughes, A. R., Kendrick, G. A., Kenworthy, W. J., Short, F. T., and Williams, S. L. (2009). Accelerating loss of seagrasses across the globe threatens coastal ecosystems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 106, 12 377–12 381.
| Accelerating loss of seagrasses across the globe threatens coastal ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXpslGjsbo%3D&md5=b5ea771536484f7e97da0c1fb111af49CAS |
Wilson, D. C., Raakjær, J., and Degnbol, P. (2006). Local ecological knowledge and practical fisheries management in the tropics: a policy brief. Marine Policy 30, 794–801.
| Local ecological knowledge and practical fisheries management in the tropics: a policy brief.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
