Utility of sea snakes as bio-indicators for diverse marine environments including coral reefs: Implications for research, management and conservation

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Abstract

Abstract Shallow tropical marine ecosystems are under great anthropogenic pressure due to overfishing, habitat destruction, shrimping, climate change and tourism. This is an issue of global concern, as this environment holds a tremendous biodiversity, much of which remains to be described. The present situation urgently calls for methods to find shortcuts in classifying and identifying the most valuable remaining areas, and to set up priorities for their management and conservation. Just like in management and conservation in forest and agricultural ecosystems, indicator species can be a valuable tool to accomplish this goal. Recent research shows that a group of sea snakes (the sea kraits Laticauda spp.) specialised on eels as prey, bears the promise of being useful bio-indicators for surveying the Anguilliform fish (eel like fish) in coral reefs(Brischoux, Bonnet, & Legagneux, 2009; Ineich et al., 2007; Reed, Shine, & Shetty, 2002; Seret, Brischoux, Bonnet, & Shine, 2008). These results show that the sea kraits and possible most or all viviparous sea snakes, can give unique information on other species in order to evaluate the conservation status of a wide variety of ecosystems including coral reefs. Choosing sea snakes as bio-indicators in a broader sense is not possible with the present knowledge on the group today. It is therefore most needed to get more knowledge on sea snake biology to make it possible to use them as marine indicator species to measure e.g. biodiversity and decline in biodiversity in selected areas.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication1st International Seminar on Tropical Aquatic Resources Management : Enhancing Sustainable Environmental Resources Management: Poverty Alleviation and Climate Adaption Strategies in Indonesia
Number of pages1
Place of PublicationIndonesia
Publication date28 Sept 2016
Publication statusPublished - 28 Sept 2016
Event1st International Seminar on Tropical Aquatic Resources Science and Management: Enhancing sustainable environmental resources management - Sam Ratulangi University/Indonesia Aquatic Resources Management Association, Manado, Indonesia
Duration: 28 Sept 201629 Sept 2016

Conference

Conference1st International Seminar on Tropical Aquatic Resources Science and Management
LocationSam Ratulangi University/Indonesia Aquatic Resources Management Association
Country/TerritoryIndonesia
CityManado
Period28/09/201629/09/2016

Artistic research

  • No

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