Defeo et al, 2009

TREATS TO SANDY BEACH ECOSYSTEMS:

A REVIEW

Paper discussion

By

Mervin E. Pérez

GOAL

• Provide physical and ecological attributes of sandy

beach ecosystems and their main antropogenic

pressures.

ecological features

• Dissipative beach

• Has a wide, low gradient swash zone

http://www.ozcoasts.gov.au/conceptual_mods/beaches/wdb.jsp

• Reflective beach

• Steeper, narrow beach and swash zone

http://www.ozcoasts.gov.au/conceptual_mods/beaches/wdb.jsp

SAND DYNAMIC

SANDY ECOSYSTEM FAUNA

Birds

Turtles

Sandy Ecosystems

Services

Mitigate erosion

Recycle system

Biodiversity

Nursery areas

Nesting areas

Food Chain

Transition area

Human recreation

Buffering zone

Sandy Ecosystems

Stressor

Recreation

Nourishment (restoration)

Pollution

Exotic species

Climate change

Mining

Urban expansion

Exploitation

Cleaning

Sandy Ecosystems

Stressor

Recreation

Nourishment (restoration)

Pollution

Exotic species

Climate change

Mining

Urban expansion

Exploitation

Cleaning or grooming

TO DISCUSS

• How big is the problem?

• Can we mitigate threats in sandy ecosystems?

• Do we have tools to mitigate the stressors?

• How can we deal with paradigm issues?

• What are the best methods to mitigate negative factors on sandy ecosystems?

EXERCISE

THE CASE OF THE MONTERRICO MARINE

PROTECTED AREA IN GUATEMALA

HOW CAN WE RESOLVE THE PROBLEM?

AUDIENCE OPINION

WHAT WE NEED TO RESOLVE

• Climate change in sandy ecosystems (long-term and large-scale stressor)

• The effect of cleaning frequency on sandy ecosystems

• Off-road vehicles could affect ecological organization

• Ecological features long-term data are necessary

• Physical disturbance frequency, intensity and exotic species

• Protected areas and multi-disciplinary analysis (paradigm shifts)