Transition process of seagrass-seaweed meadows driven by water and material transport from watersheds: Toward quantification and utilization of the ecosystem services

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H03650
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 64040:Social-ecological systems-related
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University (2022-2023); Okayama University (2021)
• Principal Investigator: Saito Mitsuyo 広島大学, 先進理工系科学研究科(総), 准教授 (20512718)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小野寺 真一 広島大学, 先進理工系科学研究科(総), 教授 (50304366) ; 作野 裕司 広島大学, 先進理工系科学研究科(工), 准教授 (20332801) ; 濱田 麻友子 岡山大学, 環境生命自然科学学域, 准教授 (40378584) ; 兵藤 不二夫 岡山大学, 環境生命自然科学学域, 教授 (70435535)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 藻場変遷過程 / 流域水・物質輸送 / 海底湧水 / 生物多様性 / 生態系サービス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aims to clarify the transition process of distribution and diversity of coastal seagrass and seaweed beds (SSBs) and related ecosystems, focusing on the effects of water and material transport in the watershed. To achieve this goal, (1) material transport by river and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) were quantitatively evaluated by field observations and watershed modeling, (2) the spatial distribution and temporal changes of SSBs and their constituent species were observed by remote sensing approach and tidal flat survey, (3) nutrient cycling in SSBs was examined by nutrients, carbon, nitrogen, and stable isotope analysis, and (4) the effects of water and material transport in the watershed on the biodiversity of coastal areas were evaluated by environmental DNA analysis.

Free Research Field

環境学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で得られた成果は，沿岸藻場の分布や変遷過程に及ぼす流域の水・物質輸送の影響に関する学術的に重要な知見となり，今後，気候変動や人間活動の影響を考慮した藻場生態系サービス機能の定量的評価に加え，藻場の効果的な保全や活用対策にも貢献することが期待できる．