Climate Change and the European Water Dimension - Agri ...
Climate Change and the European Water Dimension - Agri ...
Climate Change and the European Water Dimension - Agri ...
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esilient to environmental changes <strong>and</strong> can buffer against external stresses.<br />
However, resilience <strong>and</strong> buffering capacities do not follow linear behaviour, but ra<strong>the</strong>r<br />
undergo sudden <strong>and</strong> exponential responses. Therefore, an increasing stress – e.g.,<br />
by physical <strong>and</strong> chemical stressors – can result in rapid <strong>and</strong> irreversible deterioration<br />
of <strong>the</strong> aquatic ecosystems.<br />
Deterioration <strong>and</strong> losses of marginal ecosystems that buffer against perturbations<br />
<strong>and</strong> protect lagoons<br />
Coastal lagoons are not unique <strong>and</strong> homogeneous ecosystems, but ra<strong>the</strong>r made up<br />
of a mosaic of subsystems. The marginal/littoral subunits usually work as a buffering<br />
system. For instance, <strong>the</strong> littoral reed (Phragmites australis) marshes are sinks for<br />
particulate materials <strong>and</strong> traps for dissolved nutrient <strong>and</strong> contaminants. Moreover,<br />
<strong>the</strong>y are suitable habitats for a number of waterfowl species. An increase in flooding<br />
frequencies <strong>and</strong>/or an increase in storms frequency can determine a die-off of <strong>the</strong><br />
reed as well as an erosion of reed marshes with <strong>the</strong> subsequent decrease in<br />
protection for <strong>the</strong> whole lagoon.<br />
Impact derived from hazardous activities<br />
The primary impacts of climate changes in coastal lagoons can trigger o<strong>the</strong>r impacts<br />
such as damage to wastewater works, l<strong>and</strong>fills etc. Where hazardous waste l<strong>and</strong>fills<br />
are close to <strong>the</strong> coastal lagoon, pollutants can migrate from <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>fills to <strong>the</strong><br />
lagoon, because of frequent flooding events <strong>and</strong> water-table changes. As sea-level<br />
rise accelerates, <strong>the</strong>se impacts may become more severe, depending on individual<br />
site characteristics <strong>and</strong> protection strategies.<br />
The impact of climate change in coastal lagoons is difficult to predict in quantitative<br />
terms since several factors have opposing effects. For example, temperature<br />
increase may increase primary production but UVBR may increase mortality. The<br />
outcome of both effects is difficult to assess based on present knowledge. It may not<br />
be, a priori, excluded that some positive consequences arise, e.g. increase of<br />
primary production leading to increase in exploitable resource biomass in lagoon<br />
ecosystems. However, <strong>the</strong> duration of <strong>the</strong>se effects is difficult to assess.<br />
Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, <strong>the</strong> establishment of a new ecological equilibrium in <strong>the</strong>se fragile<br />
ecosystems is uncertain.<br />
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