Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems最新文献

{"title":"Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Along the Coast of Israel: Abundance and Social Structure","authors":"Yaly Mevorach,&nbsp;Ori Galili,&nbsp;Eyal Bigal,&nbsp;Oz Goffman,&nbsp;Mia Roditi-Elasar,&nbsp;Yotam Zuriel,&nbsp;Kim Kobo,&nbsp;Yaron Haitovich,&nbsp;Nir Hadar,&nbsp;Meytal Markovich,&nbsp;Dror Vardimon,&nbsp;Dana Reininger,&nbsp;Shlomi Marco,&nbsp;Danny Morick,&nbsp;Dan Tchernov,&nbsp;Dan Kerem,&nbsp;Aviad Scheinin","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70181","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70181","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The dynamics of cetacean populations profoundly shape the survival and well-being of their members, particularly in nutrient-deficient and anthropogenically impacted regions like the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The common bottlenose dolphin (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>), one of the most extensively studied cetaceans, exhibits complex and diverse social behaviours worldwide. In Israel, common bottlenose dolphins have been observed and studied since 1993, yet no comprehensive analysis has been made of the derived data to unravel their abundance and social structure. Using photographic sightings collected between 2005 and 2020, this study employs mark-recapture models and social network analysis to uncover the population's dynamics. Observations along the entire Israeli coastline revealed an average group size of 5.9 dolphins, 3.8 of which had clearly marked dorsal fins. Abundance estimates indicated a stable population of 68–88 individuals present at any time, forming part of a larger superpopulation of approximately 343 dolphins. Within this, 42 mature individuals presented higher site fidelity to the study area and exhibited a fluid fission-fusion social structure characterized by frequent group changes and short-term associations. Most identified individuals were observed foraging around fishing trawlers, forming significantly smaller groups and exhibiting lower association indices than those observed in the absence of trawlers. These findings emphasize the existence of a small, partially resident population in the easternmost Mediterranean Sea, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated, region-wide conservation efforts to protect this vulnerable population, mitigate the impact of fishing trawlers and preserve their dynamic habitat.</p>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aqc.70181","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144725429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating Local Factors Shaping the Distribution of the Invasive American Bullfrog in a Mountainous Region of Argentina","authors":"Zulma A. Salinas,&nbsp;Favio E. Pollo,&nbsp;Carmen López,&nbsp;Selene Babini,&nbsp;Clarisa L. Bionda,&nbsp;Fernanda A. Olguin,&nbsp;Gabriel Laufer,&nbsp;Adolfo L. Martino","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70194","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70194","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Areas with aquatic ecosystems invaded by the American bullfrog face the challenge of managing its proliferation worldwide. This amphibian is native to eastern North America and is now invasive in several regions. This study reports a new invasive population in the Ctalamochita River basin (Río Tercero, Córdoba Province; Argentinian) and outlines its potential distribution using a species distribution model. Utilizing a MaxEnt model at a small geographic scale allowed us to explore the effects of local land use on the distribution of the species <i>Aquarana catesbeiana</i>. By combining 26 bullfrog records with 10 environmental variables, we identified coverage (coverage natural: pond coverage) as the most influential factor in the model. Our analysis also revealed positive associations between bullfrog presence and average annual precipitation, pH, percentage of sand, percentage of organic matter and distance from the nearest locality. Notably, our results demonstrate the significant role of humans as intentional dispersers of bullfrog. MaxEnt shows four most relevant areas, of which two: Río de Los Sauces to Villa Cañada de Álvarez and Villa Cañada de Sauce, are already colonized by the species. While the areas of Lutti and Cerro Pelado reservoir have a high probability of occurrence of bullfrog. Given the conservation significance of these areas, predicting the probability of bullfrog establishment is critical for risk assessment and conservation planning. Implementing control and monitoring strategies in Córdoba province is crucial to prevent bullfrog spread and mitigate environmental impacts in natural habitats.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144688056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Improving the Monitoring of the Invasive Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus): Combining Environmental DNA and Citizen Observations","authors":"Erwan Delrieu-Trottin,&nbsp;Mathieu Bianic,&nbsp;Claude Miaud,&nbsp;Manon Garcia,&nbsp;Véronique Arnal,&nbsp;Régis Hocdé,&nbsp;Christophe Cochet,&nbsp;Nathalie Barré,&nbsp;Laetitia Cornil,&nbsp;Stéphanie Manel","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70179","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70179","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Early detection is a crucial tool for identifying the spread of invasive species. In this study, we validated a probe-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for the detection of the invasive Blue Crab, <i>Callinectes sapidus</i>, in the Mediterranean Sea, using 22 initial eDNA environmental samples (eDNA) collected from three coastal lagoons. A subsequent large-scale eDNA sampling campaign (61 samples in 31 sites), conducted in collaboration with local stakeholders, was carried out to map the distribution of <i>C. sapidus</i> along the Occitanie coastline (Western Mediterranean, France). Using eDNA probe-based qPCR, <i>C. sapidus</i> was detected in 32 out of the 61 samples (52%), confirming its presence in 24 out of 31 sites surveyed, including the 13 lagoons where its occurrence had already been reported, as well as two additional lagoons and at sea where no prior records existed. Our results demonstrate the utility of eDNA probe-based qPCR for effective monitoring of the invasive Blue Crab. The integration of eDNA analysis with citizen science observations enhances the monitoring framework, facilitating early detection and contributing to improved management strategies at the very beginning of species colonization when practical actions could be implemented.</p>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aqc.70179","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144681612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating Regulating Ecosystem Services in Marine Conservation Planning","authors":"Louise Forsblom,&nbsp;Susanna Jernberg,&nbsp;Harri Kuosa,&nbsp;Kirsi Kostamo,&nbsp;Camilla Gustafsson,&nbsp;Elina A. Virtanen","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70196","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70196","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Traditionally protected areas are designed to support the conservation of threatened species, habitats, and biodiversity. To also properly safeguard ecosystem functioning and services, protected area siting should consider more dimensions when moving towards the 30% protection targets. All species are not equal in terms of the ecosystem services they deliver, and e.g., carbon sequestration studies have focused on few species and habitats. The present study identifies key areas important for the conservation of regulating ecosystem service supply, by also considering species-specific traits such as size, lifespan, and growth form. We used an extensive data set covering over 170,000 observations of underwater marine diversity including algae, macrophytes and fauna, to produce maps on the spatial distribution of regulating services, including bioremediation and filtration/sequestration/storage/accumulation of wastes and nutrients by algae, macrophytes and fauna, control of erosion and flooding, oxygen production and carbon sequestration and storage. We further identified key ecosystem service areas and optimal areas for increasing the protection of ecosystem services. The current marine protected area network covers only 24% of the service supply of the investigated services on average, but already with one well-targeted percentage point increase the service features covered would almost triple. The identified key ecosystem service areas and expansion candidates highlight the critical role of shallow coastal ecosystems and adjacent reef areas in supporting ecosystem service supply. The identified key areas are likely important for cultural services, with much of the human pressures focused close to shore, highlighting the need for further investigations into trade-offs between services and protected areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aqc.70196","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the Effectiveness of Whale Pingers in Mitigating Large Whale Entanglements in Gillnet Fisheries in Northern Peru","authors":"Chiara Guidino,&nbsp;Alessandra Bielli,&nbsp;Saba Hajek Groenendijk,&nbsp;Elizabeth Campbell,&nbsp;Joanna Alfaro-Shigueto,&nbsp;Jeffrey C. Mangel","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70195","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70195","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Gillnets, widely used in fisheries, are a leading cause of cetacean entanglements. In northern Peru, as the humpback whale population (<i>Megaptera novaeangliae</i>, stock G) actively grows, entanglements are also increasing. Mitigation strategies, e.g., pingers, have been proposed to mitigate entanglements of dolphins and possibly whales. Here, we assess the effectiveness of whale pingers (i.e., low-frequency pingers 3-20 kHz) in northern Peru's small-scale gillnet fishery, focusing on humpback whale entanglements. During the 15-month study period from September 2022 to December 2023, 115 fishing sets were observed across 22 trips by four vessels, with 49 control sets and 66 alarmed sets, resulting in the recording of 34 whale entanglements. A 52.9% reduction in whale entanglements resulted in sets using pingers compared to control sets. Catch rates of the fishery's target catch were unchanged when pingers were used. Our findings highlight the potential of pingers to reduce whale entanglement and suggest the need for continued trials and stakeholder engagement to develop sustainable entanglement mitigation strategies.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unauthorized Translocations of Threatened Fauna in Freshwater Ecosystems: Insights From the Iberian Southeast","authors":"José Manuel Zamora-Marín,&nbsp;Adrián Guerrero-Gómez,&nbsp;Antonio Zamora-López,&nbsp;Mar Torralva,&nbsp;Francisco J. Oliva-Paterna,&nbsp;David Sánchez-Fernández","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70190","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70190","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Unauthorized translocations of native and threatened wildlife are widely conducted for conservation purposes. This illegal practice remains understudied and is poorly considered by wildlife managers despite its important socioecological implications. By focusing on the southeastern Iberian Peninsula as a case study, we combined data from freshwater biodiversity monitoring programs, published records and local expert knowledge to provide a comprehensive assessment of the magnitude of unauthorized translocations in freshwater ecosystems. A total of 14 cases of covertly translocated populations were recorded, involving 10 freshwater vertebrate species (six fish and four amphibians). All these species are classified as threatened taxa (i.e., critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable) at a global, national or regional level, seven of them being Iberian endemisms. At least nine out of these unauthorized translocations have resulted in self-sustaining populations, but their impact on local biodiversity and recipient ecosystems' functioning remains to be assessed. This case study suggests that unauthorized translocations could be an emerging conservation issue in freshwater ecosystems, highlighting the need for implementing integrative management approaches to halt this illegal practice at source. These management approaches should include a more proactive attitude by environmental authorities towards official conservation translocation programs and increased social awareness of the potential impacts of unauthorized translocations.</p>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aqc.70190","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144681198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prioritising Non-Native Crayfish Species for Management in the Rhine-Main Observatory Using the Dispersal-Origin-Status-Impact (DOSI) Scheme","authors":"Phillip J. Haubrock,&nbsp;Ali Serhan Tarkan,&nbsp;Dagmara Błońska,&nbsp;Alexandru Gora,&nbsp;Lucian Pârvulescu,&nbsp;Antonín Kouba,&nbsp;Ismael Soto","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70191","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70191","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Managing non-native species remains a critical challenge in biodiversity conservation, highlighting the need for effective prioritisation frameworks that integrate ecological, economic and policy considerations. Given that biological invasions are a population-level rather than a species-level phenomenon, more nuanced assessment schemes are needed. The Dispersal-Origin-Status-Impact (DOSI) scheme is such an example. Using the Rhine-Main-Observatory (RMO) Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site in Germany as a model system, we applied DOSI to rank the occurring non-native crayfish species to guide conservation actions. Our results classify the signal crayfish <i>Pacifastacus leniusculus</i> as the highest priority for management due to its expanding range, autonomous spread and severe ecological and economic impacts. The spiny-cheek crayfish <i>Faxonius limosus</i> follows as a medium-high priority species, while the red swamp crayfish <i>Procambarus clarkii</i> and the calico crayfish <i>Faxonius immunis</i> are ranked lower due to their shrinking or static populations despite their known potential impacts observed at other places. Our study highlights the utility of DOSI as a practical and scalable tool for invasion risk assessment, offering a targeted, data-driven approach to inform decision-making at the population level. By shifting the focus to population-level management, DOSI enhances conservation planning beyond traditional species-based assessments, providing a structured framework for mitigating the risks posed by invasive species in dynamic freshwater ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aqc.70191","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144672971","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Public Participation in EU Legislation? Recommendations for Involving Citizen Scientists in Anthropogenic Litter Research Within the Water Framework Directive","authors":"Janto Schönberg,&nbsp;Marianne Böhm-Beck,&nbsp;Štefan Trdan,&nbsp;Mateja Grego,&nbsp;Doris Knoblauch,&nbsp;Mandy Hinzmann,&nbsp;Sinja Dittmann,&nbsp;Katrin Knickmeier,&nbsp;Uroš Robič,&nbsp;Martin Thiel,&nbsp;Tim Kiessling","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70192","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70192","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Anthropogenic litter causes significant harm to the environment on a global scale. Achieving international agreements and establishing corresponding national legislation is essential for solving this prevalent environmental problem. Effective monitoring programmes are also critical for evaluating the environmental status in aquatic (marine and freshwater) environments, as required by the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) in Europe. In contrast to the MSFD, the current version of the WFD does not yet include anthropogenic litter pollution as an indicator to evaluate the status of aquatic environments. In order to overcome these shortcomings, we recommend using existing litter data generated by citizen science initiatives as a baseline to establish relevant indicators in the WFD. Further, citizen scientists could contribute to the WFD by taking complimentary samples, for example, at underrepresented smaller streams, adding context and value to data collected at established monitoring stations. The involvement of citizens as actors within an EU Directive would not only help to obtain valuable data on a significant spatial and temporal scale but could potentially also increase the environmental awareness and political engagement of the public. The upcoming revision cycle of the WFD in 2028 presents a unique opportunity to give citizens a voice and opportunity to partake in EU legislative frameworks.</p>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aqc.70192","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144672970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Site Fidelity Patterns of Bottlenose Dolphins in the South-Western Black Sea (Zonguldak, Türkiye)","authors":"Nastassia Uluduz,&nbsp;Elena Gladilina,&nbsp;Karina Vishnyakova,&nbsp;Mustafa Sözen","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70193","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70193","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Limited knowledge about the site fidelity of bottlenose dolphins along the southwestern Black Sea coast presents a gap in understanding their habitat use and movement patterns. To address this, a boat-based surveys (March 2019–November 2024) were conducted in Zonguldak province resulting in 99 sightings, and photo-identification data were collected for the first time in this region. The occurrence, group dynamics and site fidelity patterns were assessed through a capture-recapture statistical method. The 185 identified individuals were grouped into clusters using an agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis. Results showed that dolphins were mostly encountered in shallow waters in depths below 100 m (77% of sightings) and were present year-round. Group sizes varied across the seasons, with the largest sizes observed during winter (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Bottlenose dolphin groups that included calves were larger (median = 5) than those without calves (median = 2). Most of the identified dolphins (149 out of 185) were observed using the area only once over the study period, indicating a low level of site fidelity; only 36 individuals were considered temporary visitors with varying degrees of return to the study area. The year-round presence of dolphins in combination with temporal fluctuations in group size and the occurrence of mother–calf groups emphasizes the need for efficient conservation management. The predominance of transient individuals further suggests that conservation efforts should extend beyond the local scale to investigate migration corridors between neighbouring regions.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144672946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatiotemporal Changes in Ghana's Mangrove Ecosystems and Pathways for Restoration Action","authors":"Samuel A. Ofori,&nbsp;Frederick Asante,&nbsp;Tessia Ama Boatemaa Boateng,&nbsp;Alvin Adu-Asare,&nbsp;Farid Dahdouh-Guebas","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70187","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70187","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The protection and restoration of mangrove ecosystems are recognized as one of the nature-based solutions to a changing climate. They are, however, threatened by anthropogenic and natural stresses. Efforts undertaken in the past years to develop global-scale mangrove extent maps either do not provide up-to-date maps or end up missing mangrove extents at local scales. This study aims to assess the spatiotemporal changes of Ghana's mangrove extent and evaluate the key factors causing these potential changes at the country's regional level. The random forest (RF) classifier was used to develop 2015, 2021 and 2024 mangrove extent maps for Ghana and compared them with each other at the country and regional levels to assess the changes over time. With Kappa coefficients higher than 0.8, the results indicate that Ghana's mangrove extent had declined by 15.4% from 2015 (68.41 km²) to 2024 (57.87 km²), with the country's Western, Central and Greater Accra regions experiencing a decline in their mangrove extents. Only the Volta region experienced an increase in its mangrove extent. These significant mangrove extent changes in Ghana at the three regions, as derived from a comprehensive literature review on Ghana's mangroves, are mainly attributable to urban expansion, indiscriminate waste disposal, wildfires, uncontrolled sand and salt mining, among others. This study highlights the need for countries to have national mangrove extent maps. This will help countries to effectively achieve the Global Mangrove Alliance's goals of halting loss, doubling protection and restoring half of the world's mangroves by 2030.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144647251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}