Temporal Change of Seagrass Meadows: Estimating Species Composition, Coverage and Carbon Stock Trends Over 16 Years in NIOF Studied Area, Hurghada, Egypt
Essa, B., Geneid, Y. (2025). Temporal Change of Seagrass Meadows: Estimating Species Composition, Coverage and Carbon Stock Trends Over 16 Years in NIOF Studied Area, Hurghada, Egypt. EKB Journal Management System, 29(2), 1361-1381. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.419983
Basma Essa; Yasser Geneid. "Temporal Change of Seagrass Meadows: Estimating Species Composition, Coverage and Carbon Stock Trends Over 16 Years in NIOF Studied Area, Hurghada, Egypt". EKB Journal Management System, 29, 2, 2025, 1361-1381. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.419983
Essa, B., Geneid, Y. (2025). 'Temporal Change of Seagrass Meadows: Estimating Species Composition, Coverage and Carbon Stock Trends Over 16 Years in NIOF Studied Area, Hurghada, Egypt', EKB Journal Management System, 29(2), pp. 1361-1381. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.419983
Essa, B., Geneid, Y. Temporal Change of Seagrass Meadows: Estimating Species Composition, Coverage and Carbon Stock Trends Over 16 Years in NIOF Studied Area, Hurghada, Egypt. EKB Journal Management System, 2025; 29(2): 1361-1381. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.419983

Temporal Change of Seagrass Meadows: Estimating Species Composition, Coverage and Carbon Stock Trends Over 16 Years in NIOF Studied Area, Hurghada, Egypt

Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries
Article 97, Volume 29, Issue 2, March and April 2025, Pages 1361-1381    PDF (558.44 K)
DOI: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.419983
Authors
Basma Essa; Yasser Geneid
Abstract
        Seagrass ecosystems are essential coastal habitats, providing refuge for marine biodiversity and acting as significant carbon sinks. This study examined the temporal dynamics of seagrass coverage, species composition, and carbon stock at the NIOF station in Hurghada, Egypt, from 2007 to 2023, integrating field surveys with remote sensing. Field assessments quantified shoot density, biomass, and carbon stock per ground area (CAGA) with historical records data contextualized observed trends in species composition. Five seagrass species were identified, including the dominant Halophila stipulacea, Halophila ovalis, Halodule uninervis, Thalassodendron ciliatum, and the newly recorded Thalassia hemprichii. H. uninervis exhibited the highest shoot density (808 shoots/m²) and carbon stock (CAGA: 129.12g/ m²), underscoring its pivotal role in carbon sequestration. Seagrass coverage declined from 160.91 ha (59.8%) in 2007 to 115.16 ha (42.8%) in 2014, marking a 28.43% reduction. However, subsequent recovery was evident, reaching 171.13 ha (63.6%) in 2019 and 175.97 ha (65.4%) in 2023, indicative of successful conservation or improving environmental conditions. Concurrently, carbon stock increased from 203.57 to 222.63 tons. These findings emphasize the ecological significance of seagrass meadows in climate change mitigation and advocate for strategic conservation, restoration, and policy interventions to enhance ecosystem resilience, biodiversity, and long-term carbon sequestration.
Keywords
Seagrasses; Predictive temporal change; Composition; Coverage; Carbon stock trends
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