Gradients of marine biodiversity and linkages with eDNA across the Wallacea Region
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Sch of Biology
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Planned Impact
Indonesia is highly dependent on marine resources and as such, the maintenance of marine ecosystem services is crucial for the country. This project will directly facilitate the maintenance and sustainability of Indonesian fisheries by a) assessing biodiversity differentials between areas with different threats; b) benchmarking sustainable fisheries on coral reefs and c) developing a novel monitoring approach.
1.Who will benefit from this work?
Within Indonesia marine management agencies who will benefit include:KKP (Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan - Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of Indonesia) and LIPI (Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia - Indonesian Institute of Sciences), Indonesian Academy of Science (AIPI), University Forum for Marine Science and Fisheries, Local Marine Affair and Fisheries and Department of Provincial Governments in the Wallacea Region. There are a number of NGOS working with our research team within Wallacea and across Indonesia who will be direct beneficiaries. These include: The Coral Triangle Center, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Sustainable Ecosystems Advanced (SEA) Project, and RARE.Citizen Science Programmes will also benefit from our work. These include: Reef Check, CoralWatch and more specifically within Indonesia the Indonesian Coral Reef Foundation (TERANGI), and Nusa Dua Reef Foundation (NDRF) Considering broader global impact, the management and monitoring of marine biodiversity applies to governmental and non-governmental agencies. Within the UK these include: The Environment Agency (EA), Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Natural England (NE), and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
2. How will these organisations benefit from our research?
Currently, management decisions and spatial plans in these areas are largely based on surrogates, lacking detailed information about how biodiversity patterns and relationships vary for different threat regimes. Our research will provide an avenue for these organisations to enhance their capacity and environmental management strategies. Research outcomes will enable more effective evaluation of the key stressors impacting ecological integrity and service provision and therefore which sites are priority for different interventions. Fundamentally we will test the use of eDNA for monitoring marine biodiversity, providing an opportunity for future cheap biodiversity assessments and possibly leading to commercial innovation to provide field sampling kits and services. More globally International organisations will be able to utilise research outcomes to refine their own assessment tools thereby further increasing the potential for commercial development of field sampling kits.
3.Mechanisms of Impact Delivery?
The Indonesia PI, Prof Jompa (JJ) is perfectly placed to facilitate the exchange of information between our research team and Indonesia authorities. The Project PI (DJS) and CO-PI (MB) are also well established within Indonesia and will assist JJ in delivering workshops and documentation that can best disseminate project findings and impacted orientated outcomes. The key dissemination tool however will be the final workshop (in the last 6 months of the project) which will be attended by Indonesian authorities, NGOS and other actors. The workshop will focus on best ways to utilise the data generated and the new assessment tools developed. Opportunities to further the impact of the research including possible commercialisation of sampling kits will also be discussed at this workshop. More global the PI and CO-I at UoE sit on numerous advisory boards that span the sector (which include EA, NE, CEFAS, DEFRA, MMO members) and will disseminate the research findings and contextualize for wider marine application.
1.Who will benefit from this work?
Within Indonesia marine management agencies who will benefit include:KKP (Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan - Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of Indonesia) and LIPI (Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia - Indonesian Institute of Sciences), Indonesian Academy of Science (AIPI), University Forum for Marine Science and Fisheries, Local Marine Affair and Fisheries and Department of Provincial Governments in the Wallacea Region. There are a number of NGOS working with our research team within Wallacea and across Indonesia who will be direct beneficiaries. These include: The Coral Triangle Center, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Sustainable Ecosystems Advanced (SEA) Project, and RARE.Citizen Science Programmes will also benefit from our work. These include: Reef Check, CoralWatch and more specifically within Indonesia the Indonesian Coral Reef Foundation (TERANGI), and Nusa Dua Reef Foundation (NDRF) Considering broader global impact, the management and monitoring of marine biodiversity applies to governmental and non-governmental agencies. Within the UK these include: The Environment Agency (EA), Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Natural England (NE), and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
2. How will these organisations benefit from our research?
Currently, management decisions and spatial plans in these areas are largely based on surrogates, lacking detailed information about how biodiversity patterns and relationships vary for different threat regimes. Our research will provide an avenue for these organisations to enhance their capacity and environmental management strategies. Research outcomes will enable more effective evaluation of the key stressors impacting ecological integrity and service provision and therefore which sites are priority for different interventions. Fundamentally we will test the use of eDNA for monitoring marine biodiversity, providing an opportunity for future cheap biodiversity assessments and possibly leading to commercial innovation to provide field sampling kits and services. More globally International organisations will be able to utilise research outcomes to refine their own assessment tools thereby further increasing the potential for commercial development of field sampling kits.
3.Mechanisms of Impact Delivery?
The Indonesia PI, Prof Jompa (JJ) is perfectly placed to facilitate the exchange of information between our research team and Indonesia authorities. The Project PI (DJS) and CO-PI (MB) are also well established within Indonesia and will assist JJ in delivering workshops and documentation that can best disseminate project findings and impacted orientated outcomes. The key dissemination tool however will be the final workshop (in the last 6 months of the project) which will be attended by Indonesian authorities, NGOS and other actors. The workshop will focus on best ways to utilise the data generated and the new assessment tools developed. Opportunities to further the impact of the research including possible commercialisation of sampling kits will also be discussed at this workshop. More global the PI and CO-I at UoE sit on numerous advisory boards that span the sector (which include EA, NE, CEFAS, DEFRA, MMO members) and will disseminate the research findings and contextualize for wider marine application.
People |
ORCID iD |
Maria Beger (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Tries B Razak
(2021)
Large scale study of benthic communities in Eastern Indonesia's reef systems
in Regional Studies in Marine Science
YUSUF S
(2021)
Cross shelf gradients of scleractinian corals in the Spermonde Islands, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
in Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity
Yusuf S
(2021)
Cross shelf gradients of scleractinian corals in the Spermonde Islands, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
in Biodiversitas
Description | We developed a first output towards incorporating environmental DNA derived biodiversity data into marine spatial planning. This initial perspective piece is now being developed with data and a case study. We developed a case study for spatial planning to be submitted to a special issue on Indonesia in PNAS in June23. |
Exploitation Route | eDNA is an increasingly used tool to monitor biodiversity and determine biodiversity patterns. With spatial planning efforts that determines conservation areas in general, and for coral reefs in our specific sense, eDNA tools provide a huge opportunity to advance spatial planning specificity with accurate and higher resolution (taxonomically) biodiversity data. Our work paves the way for eDNA to be incorporated into planning - as such all spatial planning around the world can benefit from this work. |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Energy,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Description | Redefining the functioning of Indonesia's remote coral reefs using cutting edge molecular methods, Maarten De Brauwer |
Amount | $9,620 (USD) |
Organisation | National Geographic |
Sector | Private |
Country | United States |
Start | 04/2020 |
End | 03/2021 |
Description | Spatial planning with connectivity - Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia |
Amount | $31,758 (USD) |
Organisation | Rare |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United States |
Start | 03/2019 |
End | 12/2021 |
Description | eDNA fragment lengths across different biomes |
Amount | £4,780 (GBP) |
Funding ID | SR20/1510 |
Organisation | British Ecological Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2021 |
End | 05/2022 |
Description | Adjunct Professorship |
Organisation | Hasanuddin University |
Country | Indonesia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I have run workshops to Hasanuddin professors on research design and project implementation (through the Indonesian Worlds Professors program B initiative). I provide advice and support to University researchers, especially to PhD students. I co-supervise PhD students registered at Hasanuddin and reciprocally at the University of Essex. |
Collaborator Contribution | Hasanuddin provide access to facilities and resources. They have a great deal of expertise and experience with working with international scientists undertaking research within Indonesia so play an extremely important role in assisting with the administration of research permits. They have dedicated administrative and research staff time to aid with permit processing. They have also been key in driving research project logistics throughout Indonesia. This project requires research across many different areas of Indonesia and access to the University of Hasanuddin country-wide network has been invaluable. |
Impact | The collaobartion to date has resulted in one publication specific to the project but has also stimulated other research publications that are tangential to the project but in line with the theme of Wallaceas Marine Biodiversity. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Adjunct Professorship of Dr Maria Beger at Hasanuddin University, Indonesia |
Organisation | Hasanuddin University |
Country | Indonesia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I support Hasanuddin University researchers, co-supervise students and post-graduates, run training courses. |
Collaborator Contribution | Hasanuddin University provides access to resources, e.g. research centre, and the ability to build future student exchange. They support my research in-coutnry with local administration tasks. |
Impact | Adjunct Professorship association of Dr Maria Beger at Hasanuddin University Planned trip of Hasanuddin University to University of Leeds |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Adjunct Professorship, Maria Beger, Pattimura University |
Organisation | University of Pattimura |
Country | Indonesia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I have given lectures, and co-supervise selected UnPatti students. My students at Leeds are collaborating with UnPatti students and contributing to research. We have written three (unsuccessful) grants together. |
Collaborator Contribution | Pattimura University appointed MBeger to an Adjunct Professorship. Their contribution is student education, field access, and collaboration. The intention was to conduct a student exchange where my students are supervised at UnPatti when doing fieldwork, however Covid19 has foiled that plan so far. UnPatti students are contributing to research, collaborating with my Leeds students. We have written three (unsuccessful) grants together. |
Impact | Conference presentation at The International Conference on Biodiversity Conservation, Ambon, 14 Nov 2020. Plenary Invited Speaker. Biodiversity and conservation of Indonesia's coral reefs. Beger M Conference presentation at the World Conference of Marine Biodiversity, Auckland, Dec 2020 (online). What do species interaction networks tell us about disturbance gradients? Beger M, De Brauwer M, Bani A, Miller M, Limmon G, Jompa J, Dumbrell A. De Brauwer M., Bani A., Limmon G., Jompa J., Dumbrell A.J., Beger M. Comparing eDNA and visual survey based species interaction networks in Indonesia's coral reefs. World Congress for Marine Biology, Auckland December 2020 Bani et al 2020 Razak et al 2021 in press 3 grant submissions |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Research collaboration |
Organisation | University of Essex |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Team provides ecological expertise and context |
Collaborator Contribution | Team provides expertise in environmental DNA analysis |
Impact | joint papers, ongoing joint data analysis |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Research collaboration in marine ecology |
Organisation | IPB University |
Country | Indonesia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Contextualising and contributing to joint papers |
Collaborator Contribution | Contextualising and contributing to joint papers |
Impact | Razak et al 2021 in press 1 grant proposal (International Linkages Fund) - unfunded |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Data analysis workshop UnHas |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Data analysis workshop in R with students from Unhas, for about 20 participants. Data analysis was related to fieldwork and used participants' own data where appropriate. Students reported interest and began to apply R in their analyses. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Invited presentation on species interaction networks |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Invited presentation in a mini-symposium on analytical approaches at the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity in Auckland, NZ, 2020 (online) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.wcmb2020.org/ |
Description | Lecture at UnPatti |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Lecture and training given to about 60 undergraduate students and a small number of government and NGO employees about marine conservation, lively discussion and interest indicated huge interest, and some pride in hosting the project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Participation and presentation at the World Congress for Marine Biodiversity |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation and a poster at the World Congress of Marine Biodiversity, with an international audience of scientists, policy makers, students. Interest was raised as indicated by multiple enquiries about the project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Poster at Marine Biodiversity conference, Auckland, 2020 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Poster presentation at the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity in Auckland, Dec 2020. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.wcmb2020.org/ |
Description | Summary document at COP26 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | The Wallacea programme provided a digital information brochure about all 5 projects for display at the NERC booth at COP 26 in Nov 2021. Our project provided a 2 page summary in this brochure and highlighted information about a) coral reef biodiversity, b) species co-occurence networks, and c) the impacts of climate change on coral reefs. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Twitter presence of the project |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Twitter channel @WallaceaReefs. currently has 105 followers, broadcasting project related news and findings, plus areas of related interest. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
Description | Workshop for Wallacea programme in Bogor |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Programme level workshop where this project contributed presentations and discussions. Audience included senior decision makers for research funding, biodiversity management, and a wide range of project participants. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | eDNA and field workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Field workshop at the UnHas field station, training ca 20 students in eDNA sampling and analysis, sample treatment, and lab work. The students attended dedicated training sessions and then deepened and applied their skills in research. They obtained an increased skill set that has likely influenced their work/ aspirations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | poster: Assessing Coral Reef Restoration using eDNA - are Perceived Diversity Patterns Dependent on Filter Size? |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Poster presentation at the International Coral Reef Symposium 2021 (online), Alessia Bani |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | http://coralreefs.org/conferences-and-meetings/icrs-2021/ |