Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science最新文献

{"title":"Land-sea interactions: Nutrient inputs, fishing effort, and predation shape estuarine fisheries harvest","authors":"Anne A. Innes-Gold ,&nbsp;Sophia A. Rahnke ,&nbsp;Lisa C. McManus","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109377","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109377","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Estuarine fish populations, situated at the interface of land and sea, are affected by both land-based and ocean-based anthropogenic activities. Multiple, interactive factors such as nutrient inputs, complex trophic interactions, and fishing pose unique challenges when it comes to the management of estuary fisheries. The objective of our study was to quantify the effects of nutrient inputs, fishing effort, and species interactions on estuary fisheries harvest. Specifically, we developed a food web model that incorporates multiple trophic levels: nutrients, phytoplankton, herbivorous fish (prey), piscivorous fish (predator), with fisheries targeting both fish groups. We parameterized this model using data from Kāneʻohe Bay, an estuary system on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. We tested various nutrient regimes in combination with different fishing efforts and predation types (either generalist or specialist). Predation type was a strong driver of both the reciprocal effects between prey fishing and predator harvest, and the degree to which nutrient inputs impacted predator biomass and harvest. Scenarios with generalist predation exhibited less sensitivity to harvest of the other species. Overall, we found that enhanced nutrient inputs can increase fisheries harvest and sustain greater fishing effort, with herbivorous prey species responding more than predators. Our findings highlight the interconnected roles of nutrient enrichment, fishing, and species interactions in driving estuarine system dynamics and fisheries harvest. These complex relationships emphasize the importance of cohesive management strategies that address both top-down and bottom-up drivers to sustain estuarine ecosystems and the important fisheries they support.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"323 ","pages":"Article 109377"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144195904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Zooplankton ecocline along salinity gradient in the Pearl River estuary (South China Sea)","authors":"Zhen Guo ,&nbsp;Chaofeng Wang ,&nbsp;Haibo Li ,&nbsp;Li Zhao ,&nbsp;Yuan Zhao ,&nbsp;Yi Dong ,&nbsp;Kaizhi Li ,&nbsp;Wuchang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109376","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109376","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Estuarine environment exhibited a marked salinity gradient, with zooplankton species displaying varying salinity tolerances. This led to significant spatial distribution differences and the formation of distinct assemblages across salinity gradient. However, research on the transition of zooplankton assemblages from low to high salinity in the Pearl River estuary was limited. Our study aimed to determine whether the patterns of zooplankton community variation in this region can be classified as ecotone or ecocline. Division of zooplankton community along salinity gradient in the Pearl River Estuary were investigated in spring (1–6 April 2023) and summer (1–9 August 2023). A total of 42 and 34 zooplankton species were identified during spring and summer, respectively. Cluster analysis indicated that the zooplankton can be divided into four assemblages along salinity gradient in both seasons. The spatial distribution of dominant species among different assemblages exhibits significant differences. Additionally, there were different representative species of each assemblage and the representative species of different salinity ranges transitioned gradually. The changes of these four zooplankton assemblages from low-salinity to high-salinity waters exhibited a gradual and alternating transition. This did not align with the abrupt change characteristic of the ecotone model, but it was consistent with the gradual alterations associated with the ecocline concept. Therefore, we concluded that the variation pattern of zooplankton communities in the Pearl River estuary aligned more closely with ecocline.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 109376"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144189649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-decade declines of white shrimp Penaeus setiferus size in open water estuarine habitats of the southeastern US","authors":"Graham A. Wagner ,&nbsp;Robert P. Dunn ,&nbsp;Matthew E. Kimball ,&nbsp;Bruce W. Pfirrmann ,&nbsp;Michael R. Kendrick","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109375","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109375","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Warming temperatures can alter the life histories of marine organisms, including shifting body sizes, the timing of migratory cues, and habitat use. The <span>Atlantic</span> white shrimp <em>Penaeus setiferus</em> (hereafter white shrimp) is an ecologically important species supporting significant fisheries in the southeastern USA. White shrimp move across the estuarine-oceanic continuum, from small shallow estuarine habitats as juveniles to nearshore oceanic waters as adults. Using six separate fisheries-independent datasets spanning estuarine creeks, estuarine sounds, and nearshore habitats, we investigated long-term trends in salinity, water temperature, and shrimp sizes across South Carolina and Georgia, USA, over more than 30 years. Salinity only increased significantly for estuarine sound sampling in South Carolina, but not for other habitats; however, temperature increased significantly in all three habitats. We also documented concurrent changes in the sizes of white shrimp that were especially evident in estuarine sounds during the fall, with shrimp size declining linearly at an average rate of 5 mm decade⁻¹. Concurrently, adult sizes in coastal waters remained unchanged across surveys and seasons. One potential mechanism for these observed changes is that warming water temperatures are altering shrimp growth patterns and shifting the phenology of their offshore migrations, leading to reduced sizes of shrimp sampled in estuarine sounds, but additional research is needed to test this hypothesis. This serves as a case study of the potential impacts of more than three decades of changing climate and highlights the utility of long-term fisheries-independent datasets for conducting integrated ecological assessments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 109375"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144166433","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors influencing the abundance of European green crab Carcinus maenas: combined effects of temperature, habitat and predator release","authors":"Mikkel Steen Nielsen ,&nbsp;Jon C. Svendsen ,&nbsp;Tim Wilms ,&nbsp;Jeannet L. Bertelsen ,&nbsp;Bo Mammen Kruse ,&nbsp;Martin Lindegren","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109374","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109374","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The European green crab (<em>Carcinus maenas</em>) ranks among the top 100 most harmful invasive species worldwide. Due to its destructive impact on coastal habitats, it reduces the resilience of vulnerable fish populations. The Atlantic cod (<em>Gadus morhua</em>) is a relevant case because the species depends on complex habitats like eelgrass meadows, mussel reefs and artificial habitats as juvenile nursery areas. This study investigated factors driving <em>Carcinus maenas</em> abundance across different habitats under varying temperature conditions and local cod abundances. Underwater cameras were deployed across five years in several marine areas. We found that <em>Carcinus maenas</em> preferred restored boulder reefs and sandy seabed, while the abundances were lower at both natural and restored cobble reefs. This pattern was evident across several water temperatures, with peaking abundances between 12.5 °C and 16.6 °C, and plateauing abundances at higher temperatures. Importantly, the highest abundances were observed mainly in the absence of cod, while higher cod abundances were associated with lower <em>Carcinus maenas</em> abundances. This is likely caused by direct and indirect top-down effects of cod on mortality and activity. Given global warming and overexploitation of key predators, such as Atlantic cod, the habitat degrading effects of <em>C. maenas</em> will likely increase in the future, with detrimental effects for many coastal ecosystems. However, this scenario may be mitigated by rebuilding high abundances of key predators and ensuring top-down regulation of <em>C. maenas</em> populations. This requires that fisheries management accounts for interactive ecosystem effects, occurring between fish populations and marine habitats, at several levels of organization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 109374"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144189760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trace metal concentrations in the bulk and non-sinking suspended particulate matter of the Gaoping River plume after heavy rainfall events","authors":"François L.L. Muller","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109370","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109370","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Between May and September, monsoon rains contribute 99.8 % of the water flowing down the Gaoping River annually, and an even greater percentage of the suspended particulate matter (SPM) discharged to the coast. The Gaoping River links vast amounts of highly erodible sedimentary material to the marine environment, creating turbid plumes at the freshwater-marine interface. Climate warming is projected to increase the intensity of flood events and the amount of erosion in the river catchment, yet the export processes delivering this material to the offshore environment are poorly quantified. In this study, particulate organic carbon (POC) and trace metals were measured in the SPM collected in surface waters of the river plume after moderate, strong and very strong pulses of freshwater discharge. Both the bulk and non-sinking portions of the SPM had a terrigenous origin and were not distinguishable from each other based on their trace metal contents. Particulate metal contents primarily depended on SPM concentration and increased continuously with decreasing SPM, i.e. when progressing towards the open sea. A striking result was that the non-sinking SPM discharged to the coast exhibited only a 3-fold increase in response to a 10-fold increase in river discharge and 400-fold increase in total SPM. This may reflect the limited supply of organic compounds responsible for imparting a stabilising surface charge on these mineral particles. Despite representing a very small percentage of the total SPM, the non-sinking SPM was shown to be a potentially important and long-lived transport vehicle for river-derived metals in the surface circulation of the South China Sea.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 109370"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144123871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fish are more abundant in salt marsh creeks with a salinity gradient and low drainage capacity","authors":"Hannah Charan-Dixon ,&nbsp;Loreta Cornacchia ,&nbsp;Nino van Hees ,&nbsp;Stella Bos ,&nbsp;Ingrid Tulp ,&nbsp;Britas Klemens Eriksson","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109362","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109362","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salt marsh conditions and morphology influence the ecological function of marsh habitats. However, little is known about how the interplay between these factors impacts fish in the highly modified marshes typical of north-western Europe. We conducted a two-year survey at two salt marsh areas in the Dutch Wadden Sea to test the influence of marsh creek morphology on in-creek abiotic conditions and the abundance of four numerically dominating fish species representing the different life-history strategies of fish in the marshes. We measured fish abundance and several abiotic factors seasonally, and quantified the morphological attributes of each creek (such as volume), and of the creek basin (such as drainage density and bathymetry). Modelling results revealed a salinity gradient and/or a greater capacity for water retention (creek volume or drainage density) were associated with higher abundances of Atlantic herring (<em>Clupea harengus</em>), European eel (<em>Anguilla</em>), gobies (<em>Pomatoschistus</em> sp.) and the three-spined stickleback (<em>Gasterosteus aculeatus</em>) across most seasons. During recruitment months sticklebacks and gobies were more abundant in brackish water conditions with a higher capacity for water retention. Eels were more abundant in creeks with larger volumes and lower salinities. Larval and juvenile herring were more numerous in brackish water than in water with higher salinity, but an effect of creek morphology on herring abundance was not detected. While recruitment processes were important determinants in the seasonal abundance of most species, creek morphology and abiotic conditions affected the use of salt marsh habitat by the fish species studied. Intertidal marsh creeks that retain water during low tide and have a salinity gradient hold more fish than marshes lacking these characteristics. These findings highlight the effects of local salt marsh conditions on fish assemblages. Taking the specific marsh conditions and their effects on fish into account in salt marsh management can improve outcomes for fish.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 109362"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144189647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A quantitative approach to classify the shape of beach profiles","authors":"Md Yousuf Gazi ,&nbsp;Thomas E. Fellowes ,&nbsp;Ratneel Deo ,&nbsp;Ana P. Silva ,&nbsp;Lachlan Perris ,&nbsp;Ana Vila-Concejo","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109373","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109373","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sandy beaches in estuaries and bays (BEBs) are common globally, and their existence relies on the complex interactions of regional and local waves, limited sediment input, tidal dynamics, and human interventions. BEB morphodynamics are poorly defined with only a few studies attempting to qualitatively relate different BEB profile shapes with relevant physical drivers. Here, we propose a novel Profile Morphotype Index (Γ) to quantitatively classify the shape of beach profiles in BEBs into distinct morphotypes to allow an objective analysis of changes in beach morphodynamic states. For this study, beach profiles in three swash-aligned and one drift-aligned BEBs in Gamay–Botany Bay (NSW, Australia) were measured periodically between 2016 and 2023, resulting in a total of 774 beach profile surveys. Based on this dataset, we defined equations that compute the profile shape assigning it to a specific morphotype. Ten unique morphotypes form the new morphometric index (Γ) varying gradually between <em>Concave</em> (Γ = −1.000) <em>and Convex</em> (Γ = 1.000) profile shapes, which indicate more erosive and accretive beach states, respectively. Our results show that those BEBs closest to the estuary entrance favoured the <em>Convex (Γ = 1.000)</em> morphotype, while BEBs farthest from the entrance and under erosive conditions were <em>Mostly Concave</em> (Γ = −0.570 to −0.950) morphotypes. The morphometric index also captured changes in profile shape due to high-energy storm waves propagating into the estuary. This new morphotype index (Γ) provides an objective classification of BEB profile shape allowing us to better predict beach state response to changes in coastal processes and hydrodynamics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 109373"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144147030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial redistribution difference between particle associate and free living bacteria in a micro-tidal influenced estuary","authors":"Chao Guo ,&nbsp;Yanfang Li ,&nbsp;Stefan Bertilsson ,&nbsp;Qinqin Hao ,&nbsp;Lin Liu ,&nbsp;Hao Sun ,&nbsp;Yao Huang ,&nbsp;Jianhui Tang ,&nbsp;Tongxu Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109369","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109369","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microbial community variation in estuaries had been a research hotspot in recent years, but the effects of hydrodynamic forces on bacterial community redistribution remain underexplored. This study presents fixed-point observations of bacterial community redistribution under hydrodynamic influence during both dry and wet seasons. Alpha diversity analysis indicated that the bacterial community in the dry season exhibited higher richness and diversity than in the wet season, likely due to weaker hydrodynamics and lower temperatures. Co-occurrence network analysis showed that particle-associated (PA) communities had lower network diameter, graph density, and average path length than free-living (FL) communities. The FL community was more affected by vertical mixing, while the PA community was more affected by bottom flow. It is speculated that variation in the FL community results from the mixing of seawater and river water bacteria, which are more affected by surface currents, whereas PA community variation is driven by sedimentation and the bottom flow transport of particles. Unlike FL taxa, which correlated with real-time flow, PA taxa showed a stronger correlation with the flow data 1 h in the past, likely due to the greater inertial resistance of particulate matter compared to bacteria. This study highlights the differential behavior of PA and FL communities under hydrodynamic forces, enhancing the understanding of factors influencing bacterial community variation in estuaries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 109369"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144124442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Coastal exposure and artificialization: Drivers of shell shape variation in intertidal limpets","authors":"Olivia Martínez-Ruiz ,&nbsp;Rodrigo Riera ,&nbsp;Víctor M. Tuset ,&nbsp;Joana Vasconcelos","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109344","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109344","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The level of exposure and the degree of coastal urbanization are key environmental and human-related factors that significantly affect the spatial distribution of species in different environments. Intertidal species show morphological adaptations to these influences, but little research has been done on how shell shape varies due to the island effect, including factors like island orientation and substrate type. This study aims to analyze the dorsal shell phenotypic variability of the limpets <em>Patella aspera</em> and <em>Patella crenata</em>, in response to island orientation (North <em>vs.</em> East) and different substrate types (Natural: platform and rocks; Artificial: wave breakers), on the island of Gran Canaria, using geometric morphometric analysis. Our findings support the hypothesis that these limpet species exhibit phenotypic plasticity in response to wave exposure influenced by island orientation and coastal artificialization. Oval shapes with wider and flattened shells, displaying greater shell lengths, on waveswept shores may be explained by the need for a larger foot to ensure attachment to substrate, thereby increasing resistance to dislodgement by wave action. In contrast, more rounded shapes with taller and narrower shells in sheltered environments can accommodate a smaller foot as an adaptation against thermal and desiccation stress. The substrate plays a secondary role in influencing the shell morphology, as slight variations were observed between natural and artificial substrates, particularly in body size, regardless of wave exposure. This phenotypic plasticity may lead to spatial segregation, enabling the species to exploit diverse habitats and reduce intraspecific and interspecific competition. The present study emphasizes the need to conserve intertidal species, particularly along the northern coast of Gran Canaria, by accounting for local responses, implementing targeted monitoring and protection efforts, and preserving the diverse phenotypic traits and plasticity of limpets on both protected and full-access shores amidst coastal sprawl and anthropogenic global change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"322 ","pages":"Article 109344"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144131191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Blue Carbon potential in Germany: Status and future development","authors":"Koplin Julian ,&nbsp;Peter Corina ,&nbsp;Bischof Kai ,&nbsp;Michael Ernst Böttcher ,&nbsp;Kuhn Annegret ,&nbsp;Logemann Ella ,&nbsp;Dolch Tobias ,&nbsp;Henkel Susann ,&nbsp;McCarthy Daniel ,&nbsp;Mueller Peter ,&nbsp;Morys Claudia ,&nbsp;Santiago E.A. Pineda-Metz ,&nbsp;Reents Svenja ,&nbsp;B.H. Reusch Thorsten ,&nbsp;Röschel Lina ,&nbsp;Rupprecht Franziska ,&nbsp;Stevenson Angela ,&nbsp;Wiltshire Karen Helen ,&nbsp;Zimmer Martin ,&nbsp;Pogoda Bernadette","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109354","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109354","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change and biodiversity loss are global challenges that need to be addressed through a combination of measures. However, political and societal action has not yet kept pace with the urgency of these challenges. Marine carbon sequestering habitats (“Blue Carbon habitats”) are globally recognized for their role in climate change mitigation and for their co-benefits and ecosystem functions, e.g., as habitat providers. In Germany, research on the Blue Carbon potential of coastal and marine ecosystems has gained momentum in recent years. However, a synergistic approach with an inclusive decision-making process is crucial to ensure political action. Current challenges are considerable knowledge gaps and the limited accessibility and transferability of existing data. Funding of research projects at different administrative levels impacts coordination, output and visibility. Here, we present a general overview of existing knowledge and identified knowledge gaps in Blue Carbon research and focus on potential Blue Carbon ecosystems (BCEs) of the German coast. Furthermore, we identify windows of opportunity and provide actionable recommendations at the science-policy-society interface by examining the current framework for Blue Carbon in Germany. Based on this, ongoing research can be further prioritized and funded in order to simultaneously strengthen the political decision-making process. The results of this study, supported by the lessons learned from a case study on the German coast, recommend a two-pronged strategy to not only avoid additional release of already stored carbon through ecosystem conservation and sustainable governance and management, but also to increase net carbon storage through (re-)establishing BCEs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"323 ","pages":"Article 109354"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144221307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}