Trends of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa (Magnoliophyta) in the Canary Islands: population changes in the last two decades
Trends of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa (Magnoliophyta) in the Canary Islands: population changes in the last two decades
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Seagrass meadows perform essential ecosystem functions and services.Though the meadows are globally deteriorating, numerous regressions remain unreported as a result of data fragmentation.Cymodocea nodosa is the most important seagrass in shallow coastal waters of the Canary Islands.No study has so far investigated temporal population trends at the entire archipelago scale.
Using data collected in the past 23 years by local companies, public authorities and Application of Visible/Near Infrared Spectrometers to Quickly Detect the Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Content of Chemical Fertilizers research groups, the population trends of Cymodocea nodosa were analysed over the past two decades at the scales of islands, island sectors and meadows.During this period, a prevalence of negative trends was revealed for three seagrass demographic descriptors (seagrass shoot density, coverage and leaf length) Spatial Multi-Criteria Assessment to Select Optimum Route To Improve Transportation Network in Al-Omarah City at the three scales, evidencing an overall deterioration in seagrass meadow integrity.These results suggest the need to develop correct management strategies to guarantee the conservation of this seagrass and the meadows it creates.