Effects of Coastal Development on Eelgrass and Surf Grass Along the Pacific Coast of Northern Baja California, México

T.E. ANGELA L. QUIROS, Kevin Fitzsimmons, Rodrigo Beas, Julio Lorda

Disciplines: Ecology, Marine ecology, Conservation

Region: Baja California

Chapter: Tucson

Seagrasses are coastal marine plants that increase diversity, abundance and productivity of fish and invertebrate species. In Baja California, seagrasses are found along the rocky coast (Phyllospadix sp., surf grass) and inside estuaries (Zostera marina, eelgrass). Resilient ecosystems can withstand environmental change and disturbance, and seagrass systems are indicators of near-shore marine health. However, seagrasses are threatened by coastal development. Research has shown that coastal human development has a strong negative effect on tropical seagrass diversity and abundance. In the arid regions of Baja California, Mexico, where there is less rainfall and potentially less runoff than the tropics, are seagrasses more resilient to impacts from land use along the coastlines?. Collaboration between the University of Arizona and Universidad Autónoma de Baja California will build the capacities on students to train field and lab assistants in estuaries and rocky intertidal sites in Baja California under the mentorship of expertise in the topic. This project will create a monitoring program to enhance our understanding of ecological processes, environmental adaptive capacity (resilience), management, and conservation. This long-term monitoring program will help us understand Phyllospadix sp. and Zostera coastal beds along the coastline of northern Baja California.