Protection, Management and Restoration of Coastal Ecosystems

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (17 May 2023) | Viewed by 15666

Special Issue Editors

1. Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
2. Biology Department, Tor Vergata University, Via Cracovia 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
Interests: coastal, transitional and freshwater habitats; influence of environmental gradients on species distribution; long-term biodiversity monitoring; planning and management of protected areas; psammophilous vegetation; management plans for eel fisheries in the Mediterranean
1. Envix Lab, Department of Bioscience and Territory, University of Molise, 86090 Pesche (IS), Italy
2. Ecomodel Società Cooperativa, Via Tiberina 149, 00188 Rome, Italy
Interests: expert in vertebrates, especially bats; application of species distribution models to conservation and invasion biology; landscape ecology and connectivity analysis in inland and coastal ecosystems
Envix-Lab, Department of Bioscience and Territory, University of Molise, 86090 Pesche (IS), Italy
Interests: remote sensing and spatial ecology; coastal dune mapping; coastal dune vegetation; invasive alien species; UAV photogrammetry; coastal ecology; remote sensing applied to biodiversity and vegetation monitoring

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Coastal ecosystems are a place of tension, dynamism, and unique biodiversity, currently exposed to several pressures and particularly threatened at a global scale. These valuable environments continually change in response to sea level rise, natural erosion, climate change, fire, spread of invasive species, land transformations, and increase in human pressure worldwide.

In this changing world, we need to know how to face challenges that come from the frequent conflicts between socioeconomic interests and conservation measures to protect these vulnerable ecosystems. It is therefore necessary to integrate spatial planning, multiple stakeholders’ interests, and the conservation of ecosystems processes for human wellbeing through a multidisciplinary approach.

The availability of biological and ecological information at a detailed spatial scale coupled with the exponential increase of geographic technologies (LiDAR, remote sensing by satellite, airplane or UAV, etc.) open up many opportunities for a landscape-scale evaluation of coastal ecosystems and for the planning of targeted conservation, restoration, and management actions.

The adoption of sustainable management is crucial, not only to maintain the integrity and functioning of coastal ecosystems and of the associated transitional waters (estuaries, wetlands, and coastal lagoons), but also to ensure their ability to support important ecosystem services, such as protection of inland from flood and wind storms, stabilization of substrate against erosion, balancing of fluvial sediments’ accumulation, maintenance of fish stocks, and preservation of habitats and wildlife.

Within this framework, for the Special Issue on “Protection, Management, and Restoration of Coastal Ecosystems”, we encourage authors to submit a wide range of contributions, case studies, and methodological and applied research related to the following topics:

  • Restoration of coastal habitats;
  • Long-term rehabilitation studies;
  • Spatial planning, environmental modeling;
  • Landscape analysis, connectivity analysis;
  • Integrated management between nature conservation and economic interests;
  • Sustainable management of coastal and transitional habitats;
  • Coastal protected areas;
  • Ecosystem services;
  • Soil–sediment–water systems;
  • Handling of coastal erosion.

Dr. Irene Prisco
Dr. Federica Roscioni
Dr. Flavio Marzialetti
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • coastal integrated management
  • restoration of coastal ecosystems
  • ecological connectivity
  • biodiversity conservation
  • ecosystem services
  • spatial planning
  • landscape management
  • transitional habitats

Published Papers (7 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

21 pages, 6205 KiB  
Article
Deterioration of Coastal Ecosystem: A Case Study of the Banana Bay Ecological Reserve in Taiwan
by Shu-Chen Tsai, Satoquo Seino and Su-Hsin Lee
Land 2022, 11(9), 1571; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11091571 - 14 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1643
Abstract
Due to the increasing pressure on the environment from human activities, there is a growing need to understand the relationship between species and the environment. Therefore, this study constructs life cycle and niche from a geographic perspective, aiming to explain how existing spatial [...] Read more.
Due to the increasing pressure on the environment from human activities, there is a growing need to understand the relationship between species and the environment. Therefore, this study constructs life cycle and niche from a geographic perspective, aiming to explain how existing spatial configurations affect the deterioration of coastal ecosystems. This research mainly adopts the method of literature analysis and field investigation, and then carries out four steps of reading, sorting, integration and analysis. In this study, the road kill data and living environment data of land crabs were integrated, and two results were obtained on the relationship between spatial conflict areas and land crab populations. The first is that the life cycle of land crabs is disturbed by TPH 26, thus confirming the spatial conflict hypothesis; the peak period of traffic flow at TPH 26 overlapped with the peak period of land crab larvae release, indicating that the spatial configuration of the reserve is not only a spatial conflict, but also a spatial-temporal conflict. Second, the land crab is an important indicator of coastal forests, and its niche also reflects geographic diversity, especially in features such as topographic structure, geological stability, and environmental humidity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protection, Management and Restoration of Coastal Ecosystems)
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1176 KiB  
Article
Estimating the Effect of Tidal Marsh Restoration on Housing Prices: A Hedonic Analysis in the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, USA
by Anthony Good and Emily Pindilli
Land 2022, 11(9), 1432; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11091432 - 30 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1263
Abstract
This study employs the hedonic pricing method and a rich spatial and temporal dataset from two counties in Washington, USA to determine the effect of the 2009 Nisqually Restoration project (NRP) on housing prices in adjacent communities. The NRP restored 308 hectares of [...] Read more.
This study employs the hedonic pricing method and a rich spatial and temporal dataset from two counties in Washington, USA to determine the effect of the 2009 Nisqually Restoration project (NRP) on housing prices in adjacent communities. The NRP restored 308 hectares of wetlands via dike removal in the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge (NNWR), leading to improvements in salmon and bird abundance and recreational opportunities. We find that the ecological improvements made by the NRP increased the value of homes within 0.5 mile of the refuge by $37,631; homes 0.5 to 1 mile by $10,489; and homes 1 to 1.5 miles by $31,186. Our findings are consistent with previous wetland hedonic price analyses and may be useful inputs in natural resource management and policy decision-making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protection, Management and Restoration of Coastal Ecosystems)
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 2964 KiB  
Article
Long-Time-Series Evolution and Ecological Effects of Coastline Length in Coastal Zone: A Case Study of the Circum-Bohai Coastal Zone, China
by Shisi Tang, Laixi Song, Shiqi Wan, Yafei Wang, Yazhen Jiang and Jinfeng Liao
Land 2022, 11(8), 1291; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11081291 - 11 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1992
Abstract
Under the joint influence of climate change and human production and living activities on land and sea, the morphology and use function of the coastline have undergone notable changes, triggering more significant environmental and ecological effects. In this paper, we quantified the evolution [...] Read more.
Under the joint influence of climate change and human production and living activities on land and sea, the morphology and use function of the coastline have undergone notable changes, triggering more significant environmental and ecological effects. In this paper, we quantified the evolution characteristics of the coastline over the past 30 years and measured the possible environmental pollution and ecological degradation by means of spatiotemporal coupling analysis in terms of spatial form and land-use function. The Chinese Bohai Rim region was taken as an example, and the Google Earth Engine was applied to achieve a long time series of interannually continuous land use function classification of the coastal zone. The study shows that: (1) from 1987–2020, the coastline of Bohai Rim showed an overall trend of seaward expansion, with the length of the coastline increasing by 15.6%, most significantly from 2003 to 2011; (2) the proportion of construction function coastline increased from 14.66% to 42.8%, while the proportion of cropland coastline decreased from 52.01% to 18.16% during 2000–2020, with the natural ecological coastline decreasing in the early stage and recovering in the later stage, thus becoming more stable overall; (3) 82.73% of coastal districts and counties showed a linear correlation between changes in coastline function and water quality level, and 77.8% showed a consistent degree of change of coastline function and loss of ecological land, indicating that changes in the coastline have triggered significant problems in terms of environmental pollution and ecological degradation. With the exception of localized areas such as the Yellow River Delta, where coastline change is somewhat more significantly influenced by environmental climate change, most other coastline changes are primarily due to human land-based development; therefore, coastal policy constraints bring obvious mitigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protection, Management and Restoration of Coastal Ecosystems)
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 6566 KiB  
Article
Coastal Dynamics Initiate, Relocate and Terminate Short-Lived Wetlands of Dune Slacks, Manawatū, New Zealand
by Sylvia P. Villacís Lozada and Gillian L. Rapson
Land 2022, 11(7), 980; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11070980 - 28 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1549
Abstract
Dunelands are one of the most dynamic environments on Earth, which greatly hinders their conservation and management. In the dune slacks along the Manawatū coast, New Zealand, lies a zone of small, temporary, freshwater wetlands that host early seral communities of rare turf [...] Read more.
Dunelands are one of the most dynamic environments on Earth, which greatly hinders their conservation and management. In the dune slacks along the Manawatū coast, New Zealand, lies a zone of small, temporary, freshwater wetlands that host early seral communities of rare turf plants. Analysis of historical aerial photos allowed determination of coastline movement, distance of the wetlands from the coast, and wetland movements through time. Study sites were around the coastal settlements of Tangimoana and Foxton Beach, both having major rivers debouching nearby, and Himatangi, amongst stabilising exotic pine plantations. The coastline is prograding (with seaward movement) generally by 0.7–1 m yr−1, but is more variable closer to river mouths, with episodes of movement of up to 15 m yr−1. Wetlands occur 200–400 m behind the strandline, are closer to the coast at Foxton Beach, and furthest away at Himatangi. Wetlands wobble in their position at 5.2 m yr−1 but migrate inland at an average of 2.7 m yr−1. Wetland size appears unrelated to rainfall, but may be related positively to coastal progradation rate, to which wetland movement is negatively related. Near the major rivers, dunes are less stable, and wetlands can be impacted both positively and negatively. Wetland existence and movement is balanced between stability and dynamism on the coast, and management will need to be proactive to maintain environments for early successional turfs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protection, Management and Restoration of Coastal Ecosystems)
Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 2147 KiB  
Article
Ecosystem Stability Assessment of Yancheng Coastal Wetlands, a World Natural Heritage Site
by Peng Tian, Luodan Cao, Jialin Li, Ruiliang Pu, Yongchao Liu, Haitao Zhang and Caiyi Wang
Land 2022, 11(4), 564; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11040564 - 11 Apr 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2072
Abstract
By evaluating the stability of coastal wetland ecosystems, health conditions of regional ecosystems can be revealed and the sustainable development of coastal wetlands can be promoted. Coastal wetlands have been scarcely involved in present ecosystem stability evaluation studies, these being performed with relatively [...] Read more.
By evaluating the stability of coastal wetland ecosystems, health conditions of regional ecosystems can be revealed and the sustainable development of coastal wetlands can be promoted. Coastal wetlands have been scarcely involved in present ecosystem stability evaluation studies, these being performed with relatively simple evaluation data sources. Therefore, in this research, a comprehensive and representative ecosystem stability evaluation index system was constructed by using the pressure-state-response model and multi-source datasets from perspectives of internal and external environmental changes of the Yancheng coastal wetlands, Jiangsu, China. The analysis results indicated that: (1) The ecosystem stability of the Yancheng coastal wetlands was at an early warning stage, and all segments except the Binhai segment (relatively stable) were in an early warning state. (2) In the criterion layer, the Dafeng District and the whole Yancheng District were faced with the highest pressure, followed by the Dongtai, Xiangshui and Binhai segments, successively. The Sheyang segment reached the highest state level, followed by the Binhai, Xiangshui and Dafeng segments in succession. (3) In the factor layer, the whole Yancheng District was faced with high resource and socioeconomic double pressures, with a poor water quality state and relatively low environmental pressure; favorable soil, biological and landscape states; and positive response to wetland protection. Various factors varied from county to county. (4) In the index layer, the ecosystem stability of the Yancheng coastal wetlands was significantly influenced by the invasion of alien species, change rate of natural wetland area (D32), change rate of artificial wetland area, increment of aquafarm area, intensity of fertilizer application and coverage of dominant vegetations. The novel significance of this research lies in enriching global coastal wetlands ecosystem stability evaluation investigations by providing a typical case study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protection, Management and Restoration of Coastal Ecosystems)
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 5387 KiB  
Article
Assessing Susceptibility to Soil Liquefaction Using the Standard Penetration Test (SPT)—A Case Study from the City of Portoviejo, Coastal Ecuador
by Eduardo Ortiz-Hernández, Kervin Chunga, José Luis Pastor and Theofilos Toulkeridis
Land 2022, 11(4), 463; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11040463 - 24 Mar 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3548
Abstract
The city of Portoviejo in coastal Ecuador was severely affected during the 16 April 2016, Pedernales earthquake (Mw 7.8). Various coseismic liquefaction phenomena occurred, inducing lateral spreading, sand boils, ground subsidence, and sinkholes in soils with poor geotechnical quality in the alluvial and [...] Read more.
The city of Portoviejo in coastal Ecuador was severely affected during the 16 April 2016, Pedernales earthquake (Mw 7.8). Various coseismic liquefaction phenomena occurred, inducing lateral spreading, sand boils, ground subsidence, and sinkholes in soils with poor geotechnical quality in the alluvial and alluvial–colluvial sedimentary environment. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to collect data from standard penetration tests (SPT) and shear velocity and exploratory trenches and to calculate the liquefaction potential index (LPI) by considering a corresponding seismic hazard scenario with an amax = 0.5 g. From these data, a liquefaction hazard map was constructed for the city of Portoviejo, wherein an Fs of 1.169 was obtained. It was determined that strata at a depth of between 8 and 12 m are potentially liquefiable. Our quantitative results demonstrate that the city of Portoviejo’s urban area has a high probability of liquefaction, whereas the area to the southeast of the city is less sensitive to liquefaction phenomena, due to the presence of older sediments. Our results are in accordance with the environmental effects reported in the aftermath of the 2016 earthquake. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protection, Management and Restoration of Coastal Ecosystems)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

16 pages, 3759 KiB  
Review
Remote Sensing and Invasive Plants in Coastal Ecosystems: What We Know So Far and Future Prospects
by Priscila Villalobos Perna, Mirko Di Febbraro, Maria Laura Carranza, Flavio Marzialetti and Michele Innangi
Land 2023, 12(2), 341; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land12020341 - 27 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1786
Abstract
Coastal environments are highly threatened by invasive alien plants (IAP), and Remote Sensing (RS) may offer a sound support for IAP detection and mapping. There is still a need for an overview of the progress and extent of RS applications on invaded coasts [...] Read more.
Coastal environments are highly threatened by invasive alien plants (IAP), and Remote Sensing (RS) may offer a sound support for IAP detection and mapping. There is still a need for an overview of the progress and extent of RS applications on invaded coasts that can help the development of better RS procedures to support IAP management. We conducted a systematic literature review of 68 research papers implementing, recommending, or discussing RS tools for IAP mapping in coastal environments, published from 2000 to 2021. According to this review, most research was done in China and USA, with Sporobolus (17.3%) being the better studied genus. The number of studies increased at an accelerated rate from 2015 onwards, coinciding with the transition from RS for IAP detection to RS for invasion modeling. The most used platforms in the 2000s were aircraft, with satellites that increased from 2005 and unmanned aerial vehicles after 2014. Frequentist inference was the most adopted classification approach in the 2000s, as machine learning increased after 2009. RS applications vary with coastal ecosystem types and across countries. RS has a huge potential to further improve IAP monitoring. The extension of RS to all coasts of the world requires advanced applications that bring together current and future Earth observation data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protection, Management and Restoration of Coastal Ecosystems)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop