Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
2483544 
Journal Article 
Spatial patterns of benthic megahabitats and conservation planning in the Abrolhos Bank 
Moura, RL; Secchin, NA; Amado-Filho, GM; Francini-Filho, RB; Freitas, MO; Minte-Vera, CV; Teixeira, JB; Thompson, FL; Dutra, GF; Gomes Sumida, PY; Guth, AZ; Lopes, RM; Bastos, AC 
2013 
Yes 
Continental Shelf Research
ISSN: 0278-4343 
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD 
OXFORD 
70 
109-117 
WOS:000329005900011 
Application of sidescan sonar at the regional scale of the Abrolhos Bank, with ground-truthing by remotely operated vehicles and mixed-gas diving operations, revealed a much more complex habitat mosaic than previously recognized. The regional benthic habitat map indicates 8844 km(2) of reefs (earlier estimates from remote sensing were around 500 km(2)) and 20,904 km(2) of rhodolith habitat-the world's largest continuous bed. Integration of the regional megahabitat map with spatially explicit data on the distribution of marine protected areas (< 0.2% of each benthic megahabitat area) and economic activities with the highest potential of environmental impact (fishing, mining, oil and gas exploitation and dredging) reveals the need of a regional scale spatial planning process engaging conflicting sectors. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 
South Atlantic; Spatial planning; Marine protected areas; Benthic communities; Habitat