Development of a conceptual framework for the management of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Mexican Caribbean

Author(s)

Sanchez-Quinto, Andres ^[1] ; da Costa, Julliet Correa ^[2] ; Zamboni, Nadia S. ^[3] ; Sanches, Fabio H. C. ^[4] ; Principe, Silas C. ^[5] ; Viotto, Evangelina V. ^[6] ; Casagranda, Elvira ^[7] ; da Veiga-Lima, Francisco A. ^[8] ; Possamai, Bianca ^[9] ; Faroni-Perez, Larisse ^[10]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Posgrad Ciencias Mar & Limnol, Ciudad De Mexico - Mexico

^[2] Univ Fed Santa Catarina, Dept Geociencias, Lab Gestao Costeira Integrada, Florianopolis, SC - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Norte, Dept Ecol, Av Salgado Filho S-N, BR-59078970 Natal, RN - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Mar, Lab Ecol & Gestao Costeira, BR-11070100 Santos, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Oceanog, Lab Biol Recifal, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[6] Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn, Ctr Invest Cient & Transferencia Tecnol Prod, Espana 149, Diamante, Entre Rios - Argentina

^[7] Univ Nacl Tucuman, Inst Ecol Reg, CONICET, CC 34, RA-4107 Yerba Buena, Tucuman - Argentina

^[8] Univ Fed Santa Catarina, Lab Gestao Costeira Integrada, Programa Posgrad Oceanog, Florianopolis, SC - Brazil

^[9] Univ Fed Rio Grande, Inst Oceanog, Av Italia Km 8, BR-96203900 Rio Grande, RS - Brazil

^[10] Univ Fed Juiz de Fora, Inst Ciencias Biol, Dept Biol, BR-36036900 Juiz De Fora, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Biota Neotropica; v. 20, n. 1 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Coral reefs and mangroves support rich biodiversity and provide ecosystem services that range from food, recreational benefits and coastal protection services, among others. They are one of the most threatened ecosystems by urbanization processes. In this context, we developed a conceptual framework for the management of biodiversity and ecosystem services for these coastal environments. We based our workflow on two sections: ``Information base{''} and ``Governance{''} and use the Puerto Morelos Coastal region as a case study for coastal protection. Puerto Morelos is between two of the most touristic destinations of Mexico (Playa del Carmen and Cancun) that has experienced an increase of population in the past four decades resulting in an intensification of multiple threats to its ecosystems. We characterized the two ecosystems with a ``Management Units{''} strategy. An expert-based ecosystem services matrix was also described in order to connect mangroves and coral reef ecosystems with the multiple beneficiaries. Then an ecosystem model (conceptual model and Global Biodiversity model) was developed. The conceptual model was useful in understanding the interplay processes between systems regarding the ecosystem service of ``Coastal Protection{''}. The Global Biodiversity model evidenced the human-induced shifts in the biodiversity for mangrove and coral reefs ecosystems. Also, a projection for 2035 of ``best{''} and ``worst{''} scenarios was applied using GLOBIO3. A DPSIR conceptual framework was used to analyze environmental problems regarding ecosystem services maintenance. Finally, we evaluated a set of policies associated with these ecosystems that favor coastal protection integrity. This framework facilitates the identification of the most relevant processes and controls about the provision of coastal protection service. It can also be useful to better target management actions and as a tool to identify future management needs to tackle the challenges preventing more effective conservation of coastal environments. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/17337-9 - Extreme climate events and their effects on the physiological and ecological aspects of rocky shores benthic organisms
• Grantee: Fabio Henrique Carretero Sanches
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral