Seagrass ecosystem services – What's next?

What is it about?

Seagrass provides many benefits to humans (ecosystem services), such as fishing grounds and coastal protection, and research on these ecosystem services are growing. In this paper, we investigate key areas where research on seagrass ecosystem services should be done. based on expert opinions we identify three areas that need special attention. First, there is a lack of information on the variability of ecosystem services within and among seagrass meadows, particularly given the variability in seagrass life histories and in the seagrass seascape. This is a complex task but to increase our understanding of seagrasses and their provision of ecosystem services we need to explore this further. Secondly, there is very limited knowledge of the variability of ecosystem services among different habitats, and how variations in ecosystem services among the habitats will affect ecosystem service provision in other habitats. This is likely to require collaboration of researchers from different research fields and may become rather large studies. Third, it is clear that more research regarding the communication of seagrass ecosystem services will provide insight as to which messages and mechanisms may lead to most effective target based communication, with a clear lack of knowledge regarding emerging social media communication platforms. Seagrass researchers working together with communicators could probably make a big difference for improved and increased communication.

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Why is it important?

Future research on seagrass ecology and communication which fill knowledge gaps will promote conservation and restoration of seagrass beds around the world. More comprehensive understanding of the variability in seagrass ecosystem services among species and sites, as well as on the interrelationship of its services with those of adjacent mangroves and coral reefs will help designate conservation areas and determine restoration programs. Continuous communication between scientists and stakeholders in an established, systematic manner will enhance the goals of conservation/restoration.