Status and habitat suitability evaluation: A case study of the typical temperate seagrass beds in the Bohai Sea, China

Abstract

Seagrass beds serve crucial ecological functions, yet they are facing a severe decline necessitating immediate conservation and restoration efforts. Current assessments of seagrass habitat suitability are insufficient, thus hindering the restoration effects. This study used a combination of field surveys and satellite remote sensing to conduct a three-year monitoring of typical temperate seagrass beds in the Caofeidian and Xingcheng areas of the Bohai Sea. The relationships between seagrass community factors and environmental factors were investigated using Spearman correlation analysis, BIOENV analysis, and redundancy analysis (RDA). Subsequently, the weights of each environmental factor were determined using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), leading to the development of the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI). Seagrass habitat suitability maps for Caofeidian and Xingcheng areas were then generated using Geographic Information System (GIS). The results indicate that both seagrass ecosystems degraded during the study period, which coincided with a decreasing trend in habitat suitability shown by the suitability maps. This study provides a methodology for seagrass bed habitat suitability assessment, thereby contributing to the conservation and restoration of these vital ecosystems.