Arabian Gulf Coast Research Articles

Investigating heavy metal concentrations in sea snakes (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae) as an outcome of oil spill exposure

This study reports the concentration of heavy metals in the tissues of stranded sea snakes that died as a result of exposure to an oil spill on the eastern coast of Sharjah, UAE. Given the limited occurrence of stranded sea snakes observed along Sharjah's eastern coast outside this spill incident, we are using strandings collected from the nearby Arabian Gulf coast of Sharjah to compare the levels of heavy metals in sea snakes affected by the oil spill against their non-oiled counterparts. The sample comprised 14 Arabian Gulf Coral Reef Sea Snakes (Hydrophis lapemoides), 6 Yellow-bellied Sea Snakes (Hydrophis platurus), and 4 Yellow Sea Snakes (Hydrophis spiralis). Overall, our results show significantly higher concentrations of Al, Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn in sea snakes that were mired in oil.

Health risk assessment and contamination of lead and cadmium levels in sediments of the northwestern Arabian Gulf coast

This environmental assessment focuses on the coastal sediments of the Al-Khafji area in the Saudi Arabian Gulf, with an analysis of the human health risks posed by lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) contamination. Single and integrated indices were used to detect contamination and evaluate these metals' non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic impacts on adults and children through ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation pathways. Sediment quality guidelines and contamination indices indicated the absence of significant contamination levels. The moderate contamination observed in scattered samples did not imply adverse biological effects due to the presence of these two metals in Al-Khafji sediments. The average values of the chronic daily intake (CDI) for both Pb and Cd were higher in children than adults across all three pathways, with ratios of 9.4, 4.7, and 4.7 folds, respectively. The hazard index (HI) values for Pb and Cd were below 1, confirming that the sediments of Al-Khafji are considered acceptable and safe in terms of these potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The average lifetime cancer risk (LCR) values for Pb and Cd were higher in children compared to adults, with ratios of 9.3 and 9.4 folds, respectively. However, all detected LCR levels do not represent a potential carcinogenic health hazard. Nevertheless, a regular monitoring program aimed at detecting early signals of environmental health depletion is recommended.

Exploitation of mangliculous marine fungi, Amarenographium solium, for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their activity against multiple drug-resistant bacteria

Abstract The green synthesis pathway for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) used in bacterial treatment is regarded as crucial because of its cost-effectiveness, nontoxicity, and eco-friendliness. During the present work, the mangliculous marine fungi Amarenographium solium isolated from the Arabian Gulf Coast of Saudi Arabia were utilized for the synthesis of AgNP, through the bio-reduction of aqueous silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution. The success in AgNP synthesis was visually identified by the development of dark brown color in the cell-free filtrate and was further confirmed by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, which showed a peak at 425 nm. The AgNPs produced were further characterized using X-ray diffraction data analysis that proved the bioreduction of silver to 20 nm, and transmission electron microscopy revealed the formation of well-dispersed spherical nanoparticles with an average mean size of 12 nm. The optimization reaction parameters of temperature, pH, and metal salt concentration were carried out and resulted in a combination of 30°C, 7 and 1.5 mM, respectively, for rapid and maximum yield production. The antibacterial activity of the produced nanoparticles was evaluated using the two-fold microdilution method and showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 9.375 μg/mL of AgNP against multiple drug-resistant bacterial strains.

Environmental assessment of oyster beds in the northern Arabian Gulf Coast of the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab of Emirates (UAE) hosts valuable coastal and marine biodiversity, and oysters are one of the habitants of its marine ecosystem. Oysters play an essential role in the nearshore coasts where they work as an active filter. They filter nutrients, phytoplankton, sediments, heavy metals, and toxins out of the water, which improves the water quality. This is the first study that characterizes oyster bed habitats in the UAE by analyzing water quality parameters, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)and heavy metals in water, sediments and oyster samples collected from five locations along the coasts of Sharjah, Ajman, and Umm al Quwain. Oyster bed areas supported a diverse assemblage of benthic life including oysters, scallops, pen shells, hard corals, and macroalgae. Mobile species in these habitats included groupers, emperors, snappers, sea snakes, among others. The phytoplankton assemblages were dominated by diatoms, dinoflagellates, and small cryptophytes. Harmful diatom Pseudonitzschia was found in all locations. No detectable concentrations of PAHs and OCPs were reported in this study, and water quality parameters were within the acceptable levels for the region. On the other hand, water quality index was reported marginal, mostly due to the presence of higher than acceptable concentrations of chromium and mercury in all sites studied. Bioconcentration factors concluded that oysters were able to bioconcentrate metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and zinc, when compared to water. No detectable concentrations of lead and mercury were reported in oysters, suggesting higher depuration rates for those metals.

Taphonomic signatures on the pearl oyster Pinctada from Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia

A total of 886 valves of the pearl oyster Pinctada were collected from 12 sites in Al-Uqair beach along the Saudi Arabian Gulf coast in January 2021 in order to document their taphonomic signatures. Thirteen ichnospecies of 5 ichnogenera were identified and illustrated. These traces were produced by clionid sponges (Entobia cretacea, E. ovula, E. geometrica, E. laquea, E. cateniformis, Entobia isp.), durophagous drillers (Oichnus paraboloides, O. ovalis, O. simplex, and Oichnus isp.), traces of vermetid gastropods (Renichnus isp.) polychaete annelids (Caulostrepsis isp.) and barnacle attachment scars (Anellusichnus circularis). The Pinctada shells act as hard substrate for colonization by serpulid worm, Spirorbis sp., bryozoans, barnacles, and other bivalves. Ichnogenus Oichnus was the most abundant (53.73%), followed by Entobia (44.58%), Anellusichnus (0.51%), Caulostrepsis (0.34%), and Renichnus(0.84%). The thin-shelled and smooth skeletons of Pinctada were preferable for the abundant durophagous drillers (Oichnus traces) and clionid sponges (Entobia traces) during the lifetime of the pinctadas, in contrast to endolithic bivalves (Gastrochaenolites borings) which need thicker seashells for the settlement. Occurrence of different encrusters and bioeroders on the internal surfaces of many pinctadas confirmed the postmortem origin of the signatures. Disarticulation, fragmentation, and abrasion among the collected pinctadas might be attributed to their mode of life as epifaunal byssate, filter-feeder bivalves in the shallow littoral and sublittoral zones of the continental shelf under strong currents conditions.

Assessment of Genetic Diversity among Avicennia Marina Populations on the Arabian Gulf Coast in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using PCR - ISSR

Assessment of Genetic Diversity among Avicennia Marina Populations on the Arabian Gulf Coast in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using PCR - ISSR

Hybrid Modeling of Persistent Shoreline Oil Residues on Abu Ali Island, Saudi Arabia: Extent, Degree, and Remediation Implications

Extensive intertidal asphalt pavements and oiled sediment accumulations extend more than 20 km along the northern shoreline of Abu Ali Island, located north of Jubail on the Arabian (Persian) Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia. This shoreline oiling likely originated from two platforms in the Nowruz oil field, which spilled oil from 1983 to 1985; this was one of the largest marine spills in history, with shoreline impacts that were little known. In this study, we used a novel methodology that combined remote sensing analyses with hybrid machine learning–geostatistical modeling of field-collected data to quantify the distribution, extent, and volume of these contaminated sediments to investigate the mechanisms for their persistence and to support the development of remediation plans. After nearly 40 years, approximately 25,000 m3 of contaminated sediments remain, with nearly 50% of these buried underneath clean sediments. The presence of exposed or subsurface carbonate beach rock platforms or ramps clearly influences the ongoing persistence of these asphalt pavements by protecting them from physical energy and sediment mobilization. These rock platforms complicate potential remediation options, with more than 66% of the modeled volume of asphalt pavement estimated to be directly on top of and in contact with carbonate beach rock. The asphalt pavements present persistent ongoing PAH toxicity and continually shed smaller fragments when exposed to wave energy along with localized sheens and liquid oil, presenting a pathway for ongoing chronic exposure of biota.

Long-Term Population Trends and Diversity Shifts among Shorebirds: A Predictor of Biodiversity Loss along the Arabian Gulf Coasts

Bahrain is a cluster of islands in the mid-section of the Arabian Gulf that serves as an important wintering and stop-over ground for many migratory shorebirds in the Central Asian Flyway (CAF). However, natural and anthropogenic factors have had a significant impact on these ecosystems over the last few decades. Long-term, systematic studies based on standardized survey observations are needed to understand the population dynamics and diversity changes of shorebirds in these critical sites. We systematically surveyed the shorebird population and community in Bahrain between 2010 January to 2021 December. This is the first comprehensive study from the entire Kingdom of Bahrain, and covered 13 sites over 12 years to establish the results. A total of 39 species were encountered during the study period from all 13 sites in Bahrain, of which 27 species were common and regular migrants to all the study sites; these were selected to analyze the population trend. Five species represented 77% or more of the total wintering shorebird population. All the shorebird species assessed exhibited significant declining trends over the years, and majority of them had over 1% relative abundance. Shorebirds in Bahrain were severely threatened at these sites, indicating that their population trend in the area could be crucially affected. Further conservation efforts are needed, aided by an understanding of the mechanisms driving the decline and diversity changes of shorebirds in the most stressed coastal regions of Bahrain. Further studies organized throughout the country’s coasts may aid in establishing improved conservation measures to protect the shorebirds of the CAF in Bahrain.

Single cell oil of oleaginous marine microbes from Saudi Arabian mangroves as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production

This study aims to explore microbes from mangroves in Saudi Arabia for their abilities to produce high level of lipids. Mangroves are seldom investigated for oleaginous microbes. A total of 961 isolates of yeasts and filamentous fungi were isolated from 144 submerged marine samples include: 68 decaying leaves of Avicennia marina, 33 decaying thalli of Zostera marina, 14 decaying pneumatophores of Avicennia marina, 9 crab shells, 8 sediment, 7 decaying thalli of Turbinaria ornata and 5 decaying thalli of Cystoseira myrica. Samples were collected from four mangrove sites: Al-Leith, Jeddah and Yanbu at the Red Sea coast and the Syhat mangroves at the Arabian Gulf coast. Isolated fungi were grouped into 62 morphological types that include: 21 yeasts and 41 filamentous fungi. Fifty-four isolates of thraustochytrids were cultured from the four mangrove sites and were grouped into 22 strains. Two oleaginous yeasts: Hortaea werneckii and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and four Aurantiochytrium strains produced high dry weight ranged between 32 and 49.3 g/L of which 35.2–62 % lipid and their fatty acid profile were determined using GC/MS. Palmitic acid was the major fatty acid in the lipid of the four thraustochytrid isolates and ranged between 5.71 and 82 % of the total fatty acids, 9-Octadecenamide, (Z)- was the major fatty acid amide in the lipid of the two yeast isolates and two thraustochytrid isolates and ranged between 26.94 and 56.63 %, followed by 13-Docosenamide, (Z)- (20.44–34.99 %) from the same four isolates. Other major lipid compounds were: Hexadecanamide (4.35–7.19 %), Cholestrol (7.24–15.07 %), Butylated Hydroxytoluene (3.46–15.76 %), Octadecanamide (3.95–7.9 %), Phenol, 2-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-5-methyl- (1.78–10.33 %) and Pentadecanoic acid (7.47 %).

Performance of Enhanced Problematic Soils in Roads Pavement Structure: Numerical Simulation and Laboratory Study

The deficiency of high-quality soils in Saudi Arabia’s southern and northern regions, as well as along the Arabian Gulf coasts, is regarded as one of the most common issues with the construction of roads. High compressibility, low shear strength, substantial volume change (particularly in Sabkha), and low bearing capacity are the most typical issues with these problematic soils. In this study, finite element simulations were performed using the Plaxis 3D software v20 to simulate the performance and study the critical responses (fatigue, rutting strains, and damage ratio) of an enhanced pavement structure with a geogrid reinforcement resting on the naturally problematic Sabkha subgrade. A normal asphalt concrete layer, a base layer of Sabkha soil stabilized with Foamed Sulfur Asphalt (FSA), and a sand dune subbase layer comprised the pavement structure. For each layer, the model’s input parameters were a mix of laboratory and literature data. The simulation was performed on a pavement structure without reinforcement and on another section enhanced with a geogrid positioned at various locations to determine the ideal placement for lowering the important responses such as fatigue, rutting stresses, and damage ratio. The nonlinear behavior of an FSA–Sabkha base, sand subbase layer, and Sabkha subgrade was simulated using the hardening soil model, whereas the asphaltic concrete layer and geogrid material were simulated using the linear elastic model. The findings of the simulations demonstrated that placing geogrid reinforcement at the top of the subgrade layer resulted in the greatest reduction in horizontal tensile (fatigue) and vertical compressive (rutting) strains, as well as vertical displacement (32.71%, 13.2%, and 14.2%, respectively). In addition, geogrid reinforcement greatly reduced the fatigue damage ratio (33% to 55%), although the reduction in the rutting damage ratio was slightly lower (14% to 30%). The simulation results were validated using a wheel tracking machine and it was clear that there is a reasonable agreement between the results.

Forensic Analysis of Residual Oil along Abu Ali Island, Saudi Arabia

Extensive asphalt pavements have persisted along >25 km (km) of shoreline on Abu Ali Island, on the Arabian (Persian) Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia, reportedly stranding as a result of the 1983–1985 Nowruz oil spills. A study was conducted in October 2020 to support development of a remediation plan. Cross-shore transects were surveyed at 100 m intervals and 1434 shovel test pits were dug to determine oil type, thickness, and depth of burial. Oiling of any description was observed at 76% of the pits. Using 15 diagnostic biomarker ratios, only 5 of the 94 oiled samples from Abu Ali Island in 2020 likely contain other oils. Data on historical spills were identified from the literature. Based on chemical biomarker data for potential source oils in the northern Arabian (Persian) Gulf, the diagnostic ratio for the biomarkers 18a-22,29,30-Trisnorneohopane (Ts) and 17a(H)-22,29,30-Trisnorhopane (Tm) for the 94 samples only matched one Iraq crude oil. No large individual spills of Iraq crude oil were identified in the literature or spill databases, although releases of both Kuwait and Iraq crudes were reported for the 1991 Gulf War oil spills. However, oil residues from Abu Ali did not match most prior samples of Saudi shoreline oiling from the Gulf War oil spills, which largely consisted of spilled Kuwait crude. Though we cannot definitely conclude that the majority of the residual oil on Abu Ali Island delineated during the 2020 survey is oil from the Nowruz oil spills, because there is no source oil from these spills, we use a weight of evidence approach to say that it is highly likely that the majority of the residual oiling is from the Nowruz spills.

Marine fungi showing multifunctional activity against human pathogenic microbes and cancer.

Multifunctional drugs have shown great promise in biomedicine. Organisms with antimicrobial and anticancer activity in combination with antioxidant activity need further research. The Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf coasts were randomly sampled to find fungi with multifunctional activity. One hundred strains (98 fungi and 2 lichenized forms) were isolated from 15 locations. One-third of the isolates inhibited clinical bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhi, S. paratyphi) and fungal pathogens (Talaromycets marneffei, Malassezia globose, Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus) and four cancer cell lines (Hep G2 liver, A-549 lung, A-431skin, MCF 7 breast cancer). Bacterial and cancer inhibition was often accompanied by a high antioxidant activity, as indicated by the principal component analysis (PCA). PCA also indicated that fungal and bacterial pathogens appeared to be inhibited mostly by different marine fungal isolates. Strains with multifunctional activity were found more from the Rea Sea than from the Arabian Gulf coasts. The highest potential for multifunctional drugs were observed for Acremonium sp., Acrocalymma sp., Acrocalymma africana, Acrocalymma medicaginis (activity reported for the first time), Aspergillus sp. Cladosporium oxysporum, Emericellopsis alkaline, Microdochium sp., and Phomopsis glabrae. Lung, skin, and breast cancers were inhibited 85%-97% by Acremonium sp, while most of the isolates showed low inhibition (ca 20%). The highest antifungal activity was observed for Acremonium sp., Diaporthe hubeiensis, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, and Nannizia gypsea. One Acremonium sp. is of particular interest to offer a multifunctional drug; it displayed both antifungal and antibacterial activity combined with high antioxidant activity (DPPH scavenging 97%). A. medicaginis displayed combined antibacterial, anticancer, and antioxidant activity being of high interest. Several genera and some species included strains with both high and low biological activities pointing out the need to study several isolates to find the most efficient strains for biomedical applications.

An insightful overview of the distribution pattern of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in the marine sediments of the Red Sea

AbstractPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are produced during the combustion of coal and oil, and they can cause sediment contamination. Marine sediments are an important source of information regarding human activities in coastal regions and the long-term fate of xenobiotics. PAHs are a serious environmental problem for marine ecosystems because of their detrimental health impacts on species, including endocrine-disrupting activities. The type of organic contaminants in marine sediments is determined by their origin, with PAHs classed as either petrogenic or pyrogenic. Accidental or deliberate discharges and spills of oil from ships, particularly tankers, offshore platforms, and pipelines, especially in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, are the most obvious and visible sources of oil pollution in the marine environment. The current review study will be extremely important and beneficial as a desk review as a result of the growing human population and rapid development in the area. The distribution pattern of PAHs along the Red Sea coastal sediments was limited. The majority of research along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast demonstrates pyrogenic and petrogenic origins of PAHs, as well as in other parts of the world. Industrial activity, municipal waste runoff, petroleum spills, and sewage runoff have a significant impact on PAH distribution throughout the Red Sea’s coastal estuaries. However, after the Gulf war in 1992, much of the attention was occurred especially in the Arabian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia. This study portrayed a comparison of distribution pattern of PAHs with the other parts of the world as well.

Combining Sea Level Rise Inundation Impacts, Tidal Flooding and Extreme Wind Events along the Abu Dhabi Coastline

This paper describes the development of a two-dimensional, basin-scale tidal model with waves and wave run-up to determine the inundation impacts on the Abu Dhabi coastline due to the combined effect of sea level rise, tidal flooding, storm surge and waves. The model combines a hydrodynamics model (DELFT3D), a spectral wave model (SWAN) and wave run-up. A high horizontal resolution (down to about 30 m) is employed in the vicinity of Abu Dhabi—a city built on a system of mangrove islands along the Arabian Gulf coast—to enable prediction of impact at the scale of the local infrastructure, such as individual highway links. The model confirms that, with a rise in sea level of 0.5 m, the islands along the outer coast of Abu Dhabi will experience inundation due to tidal flooding, wind, and high Shamal-induced waves. The incorporation of the wind and waves results in a prediction of more than double the area found underwater within the study area (from 82 to 188 km2). The inner water channel regions of Abu Dhabi, while mostly unaffected by wind-driven wave events, are still vulnerable to tidal flooding. Finally, the paper demonstrates the use of the model to predict whether protection of one segment of the city’s coastline will adversely affect the inundation potential of nearby unprotected segments.

The Vegetation of the United Arab Emirates Gulf Coast: Description and Analysis

Leandro, P.; Knuteson, S.L., and Bartholomew, A., 2022. The vegetation of the United Arab Emirates Gulf coast: Description and analysis. Journal of Coastal Research, 38(5), 951–967. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. This geobotanical study describes the United Arab Emirates (UAE) mangrove and coastal halophyte plant communities in the intertidal areas and coastal salt flats along part of the UAE Arabian Gulf coast. Nine coastal vegetation association/community groups have been identified with TWINSPAN: Association 1, Avicennietum marinae Chapman, J. 1970.; Association 2, Salicornietum fruticosi Br. Bl. 1928; Association 3, Arthrocnemo macrostachi–Halocnemetum strobiliaci assoc. nova; Association 4, Suaedetum verae (fruticosae) Br. Bl. ex O. Bolós and Molinier 1958; Association 5, Tetraenetum qatarensis assoc. nova; Community 6, Calotropis procera; Community 7, Heliotropium bacciferum and Cornulaca monacantha; Community 8, Prosopis cineraria, and two new communities associated with anthropogenic disturbance; Community 9a, Avicennia marina with Sesuvium portulacastrum; and Community 9b, Avicennia marina with Salicornia fruticosa. Vegetation profiles of each community are presented. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that the A. marina communities are associated with: higher salinity of the soil, higher soil CaCO3 content, and higher soil ion concentrations (K+, Mg++, Na+, Cl–). Coastal development has modified the UAE Gulf coast extensively in recent years, and this study describes the coastal plant association/communities, which will be useful for botanists, ecologists, and managers involved in coastal restoration efforts.

First records of Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus (Bloch, 1790), Whitespotted Grouper, (Teleostei, Epinephelidae) in the southern Arabian Gulf

Two individuals of Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus (Bloch, 1790), Whitespotted Grouper, were recorded in an offshore marine protected area of the United Arab Emirates on the Arabian Gulf coast at depths of 5 m and 10 m. These are the first records of the species in the southern Arabian Gulf, and they add this species to the few groupers that inhabit one of the most extreme environmental waters of the world.

Rapid cooling performance of zirconium rods quenched in natural seawater

The viability of using natural seawater as an effective working coolant to ensure safe and efficient cooling mechanism is a significant study in the Arabian Gulf region. This study investigates transient pool boiling characteristics of natural seawater collected from different locations in the Arabian Gulf coast of Kuwait, compared to the baseline case of distilled water. Seawater samples are collected from prime locations (Shuwaikh, Al Zour, and Doha ports), which are highly capable of accommodating upcoming power plants and nuclear reactors. Extremely heated vertical zirconium rods are quenched in saturated pools at atmospheric pressure. A detailed study of the seawater samples is carried out through semi-quantitative calculation (SQX) results to evaluate the elemental composition, and water quality comparisons are made based on pH, total dissolved solids, and conductivity. The cooling performance is monitored by plotting the quenching and cooling rate curves, and evaluated based on the minimum film boiling temperature (Tmin) and maximum cooling rate. The results demonstrate an excellent improvement in Tmin and maximum cooling rate by employing natural seawater collected from Al Zour, which is located in the southern part of Kuwait. A minimum of 10% increase in Tmin is depicted by Al Zour seawater. The enhancement is attributed to the salt deposition activity caused by sudden evaporation of seawater on the surface. The salt deposits destabilize the vapor film to promote early vapor film breakage and act as an additional nucleation site to initiate early nucleate boiling, leading to an efficient cooling performance. Seawater collected from Shuwaikh port demonstrates a negative influence on the effective change in Tmin. A detailed examination is carried out on the surface of zirconium samples with the help of wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence analysis and SQX analysis, to identify and evaluate the prime elements responsible for the enhanced cooling performance. This study proves that even though the seawater is collected along the same coast, its characteristics differ when utilizing it in cooling systems.

Radiological monitoring in some coastal regions of the Saudi Arabian Gulf close to the Iranian Bushehr nuclear plant

We studied the concentrations of terrestrial and anthropogenic radionuclides in seawater and shore sediment/sand of three selected regions; Khafji, Safaniyah and Menifah along the Saudi Arabian Gulf coast. The mean activity concentrations of the 228Ra, 226Ra, and 40K in the analyzed sand samples are 5.9, 3.5 and 113.5 Bq/kg, and the respective values in seawater samples are 1.6, 0.8 and 10.4 Bq/L. All data show lower than the corresponding UNSCEAR (2000) reported world average values of 35, 30 and 400 Bq/kg for soil matrix. A few relevant radiological hazards were quantified by the estimation of the absorbed dose rate, and the results are compared with the prescribed limits set by international regulatory bodies. Measured data indicates that the studied coastal regions pose a negligible radiological hazards to the public, and show an insignificant radioactive loading to this coastal region by the Busher nuclear power plant.

Iran, Arabian Gulf Coast

Iran, Arabian Gulf Coast

An integrative and participatory coastal habitat mapping framework for sustainable development actions in the United Arab Emirates

Coastal habitat mapping is a potentially powerful enabling tool to inform the design of strategies and actions in coastal zone planning and management, biodiversity conservation and more recently for blue carbon accounting. Habitat mapping is typically carried out by experts in remote sensing and geographical information systems, and rarely integrates stakeholders’ local ecological knowledge. To address a key knowledge gap in a previously unmapped coastal region of the Arabian Gulf, we applied a mixed-methods habitat mapping framework that integrates conventional remote sensing methods with shared knowledge from participatory mapping with local stakeholders. Using methodological pluralism, an accurate and cost-effective coastal habitat map was produced that had local relevance, facilitated knowledge exchange, considered socio-ecological factors, and incorporated spatial details that would have been absent or under-represented with conventional remote sensing methods. We demonstrate the relevance of the coastal habitat map as an enabler of actions that address multiple local and global sustainable development and biodiversity conservation policy targets for the Arabian Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates.