Sylvaine Giakoumi

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• PhD
• Senior Researcher at Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn

Systematic conservation planning (SCP) involves the cost-effective placement and application of management actions to achieve biodiversity conservation objectives. Given the political momentum for greater global nature protection, restoration, and improved management of natural resources articulated in the targets of the Global Biodiversity Framewo...

The increasing global demand for marine resources raises concerns about sustainable resource management and biodiversity conservation. Spatial closures, such as marine protected areas, can be valuable tools for maintaining and restoring exploited populations. When these spatial closures adopt a dynamic nature being adapted to the changing environme...

Worldwide, states are gazetting new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to meet the international commitment of protecting 30% of the seas by 2030. Yet, protection benefits only come into effect when an MPA is implemented with activated regulations and actively managed through continuous monitoring and adaptive management. To assess if actively managed M...

The increasing consideration of gender balance in conservation science and practice has been reflected in the setting of global commitments. Yet, women remain under-represented in science and conservation decision-making. We compiled and analyzed data on the representation of women in hiring, publishing, funding, and leadership positions in Europea...

The process of site selection and spatial planning has received scarce attention in the scientific literature dealing with marine restoration, suggesting the need to better address how spatial planning tools could guide restoration interventions. In this study, for the first time, the consequences of adopting different restoration targets and crite...

This Collective Article compiles information on nineteen (19) species recorded in seven (7) Mediterranean countries (Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Syria, and Türkiye) and across four major sub-basins (Adriatic, Western, Central, and Eastern Med-iterranean). The documented taxa represent eight (8) phyla: Annelida (four species), Arthropod...

Ecosystem-based marine spatial planning is an approach to managing maritime activities while ensuring human well-being and biodiversity conservation as key pillars for sustainable development. Here, we use a comprehensive literature review and a co-development process with experts to build an assessment framework and tool that integrates the fundam...

We developed a six-step decision-support framework to facilitate effective decision making for the conservation of multiple species and habitats, accounting for ecological dynamics across terrestrial – freshwater – marine realms, and the integration of socio-economic activities. The framework provides also guidance on how to address climate change...

Systematic conservation planning (SCP) is an operational and scientific framework that assists in deciding where, how and when to implement conservation intervention, given known constraints and preferential weights. Studies using SCP approaches have proliferated due to their immediate relevance for applied conservation. For example, they can help...

Systematic conservation planning (SCP) is an operational and scientific framework that assists in deciding where, how and when to implement conservation intervention, given known constraints and preferential weights. Studies using SCP approaches have proliferated due to their immediate relevance for applied conservation. For example, they can help...

Global, regional, and national targets have been set to protect and conserve at least 30 % of the ocean by 2030, in recognition of the important benefits of healthy ocean ecosystems, including for human well-being. Many of these targets recognize the importance of the quality, not just quantity, of areas that are included in the 30 %, such as marin...

We aimed to assess the social-ecological roles of marine alien species in the eastern Mediterranean Sea – a global hotspot of bioinvasions and local extinctions – and their potential contribution to reaching Targets 1, 3, 10, and 11 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). We employed a comprehensive methodology, incorporating a...

This scoping review (ScR) protocol aims to establish the methodological approach for identifying and mapping the evidence regarding the actual contribution of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) to spatial conservation targets. Emphasis will be placed on examining the research conducted, including the methodologies applied. OEC...

Here we provide evidence, along an 8-year period time-series based on multifaceted data from a Mediterranean marine protected area (MPA), whether protection can tackle invasive and range expanding herbivore fishes, and their effects on the algal resource availability, taking into account the population trends of predatory fishes, fisheries catches...

This scoping review (ScR) protocol aims to establish the methodological approach for identifying and mapping the evidence regarding the actual contribution of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) to spatial conservation targets. Emphasis will be placed on examining the research conducted, including the methodologies applied. OEC...

The worldwide decline of macroalgal forests is raising major concerns for the potentially negative consequences on biodiversity and ecosystem functions, pushing for the definition of specific conservation and restoration measures. Protecting and restoring these habitats requires detailed information on their distribution, ecological status, and dri...

Background: Systematic Conservation Planning (SCP) involves a series of steps to identify conservation areas and develop management strategies, incorporating feedbacks, revisions, and iterations at any stage. It is a valuable tool in facilitating the effective implementation of Ecosystem-Based Marine Spatial Planning (EB-MSP). However, few efforts...

This scoping review (ScR) protocol aims to establish the methodological approach for identifying and mapping the evidence regarding the actual contribution of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) to spatial conservation targets. Emphasis will be placed on examining the research conducted, including the methodologies applied, and...

Consulting the best available evidence is key to successful conservation decision-making. While much scientific evidence on conservation continues to be published in non-English languages, a poor understanding of how non-English-language science contributes to conservation decision-making is causing global assessments and studies to practically ign...

To enrich spatio-temporal information on the distribution of alien, cryptogenic, and neonative species in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, a collective effort by 173 marine scientists was made to provide unpublished records and make them open access to the scientific community. Through this effort, we collected and harmonized a dataset of 12,64...

Local, regional and global targets have been set to halt marine biodiversity loss. Europe has set its own policy targets to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) of marine ecosystems by implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) across member states. We combined an extensive dataset across five Mediterranean ecoregions including...

Consulting the best available evidence is key to successful conservation decision-making. While much scientific evidence on conservation continues to be published in non-English languages, a poor understanding of how non-English languages science contributes to conservation decision-making is causing global assessments and studies to practically ig...

Micro- and macro-plastics pollution is a growing threat for marine biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and consequently human wellbeing. Numerical models that consider main sources of plastics and simulate their dispersal characteristics are unique tools for exploring plastic pollution in marine protected areas (MPAs). Here, we used a Lagrangian p...

The European Union (EU) has committed to an ambitious biodiversity recovery plan in its Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Green Deal. These policies aim to halt biodiversity loss and move towards sustainable development, focusing on restoring degraded habitats, extending the network of protected areas (PAs), and improving the effectiveness of...

Biological invasions represent one of the main threats to marine biodiversity. From a conservation perspective, especially in the context of increasing sea warming, it is critical to examine the suitability potential of geographical areas for the arrival of Range‐Expanding Introduced and Native Species (REINS), and hence anticipate the risk of such...

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-021-02181-z

• The expansion and intensification of marine uses have severe cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems and human well-being, unless they are properly managed with an ecosystem-based management approach. • A systematic conservation planning approach, using marxan with zones, was applied to generate alternative marine spatial plans for the Aegean Sea...

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) host valuable coastal and marine biodiversity that is subjected to multiple pressures under extreme conditions. To mitigate impacts on marine ecosystems, the UAE protects almost 12% of its Exclusive Economic Zone. This study mapped and validated the distribution of key coastal and marine habitats, species and critical...

Marine ecosystems are undergoing major transformations due to the establishment and spread of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS). Some of these organisms have adverse effects, for example by reducing biodiversity and causing ecosystem shifts. Others have upsides, such as benefits to fisheries or replacing lost ecological functions and strengthening bioge...

Protected areas (PAs) are increasingly being used world‐wide for the conservation and management of wildlife. Systematic conservation planning (SCP) aims at ensuring biodiversity persistence while minimizing the threats faced by the species and/or the economic costs related to protection. To account for spatio‐temporal interactions between species...

Like most ocean regions today, the European and contiguous seas experience cumulative impacts from local human activities and global pressures. They are largely in poor environmental condition with deteriorating trends. Despite several success stories, European policies for marine conservation fall short of being effective. Acknowledging the challe...

The waters of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) host a diversity of marine and coastal habitats that are under increasing pressure from multiple anthropogenic activities related to rapid economic growth. In response, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) currently cover 12% of the UAE’s coastal and marine zones. The UAE National Biodiversity Strategy and Acti...

Shipping is the greatest pathway of non-indigenous species (NIS) introductions, and port areas are considered as alien hotspots. In this study, we analyzed data covering a 112-year period and found that Saronikos Gulf in Greece, hosting one of the largest container port terminals in Europe, is a hotspot of NIS introductions. To date, 89 NIS have be...

There has been progress since 2012. The 1 215 MPAs and OECMs now cover 6.81 % of the Mediterranean through a large variety of conservation designations, with national designations accounting for only 1.27% and no-go, no-take or no-fishing zones for 0.04%. Over 72.77% of the surface covered is located in the Western Mediterranean. Designations cover...

Worldwide, the loss of predatory fish due to overexploitation has altered the structure of native communities and caused ecosystem shifts. Ecosystems deprived of high-level predators may be more vulnerable to invasive alien species as the latter are subject to reduced predation control. Marine protected areas (MPAs), and particularly no-take reserv...

Managing invasive alien species is particularly challenging in the ocean mainly because marine ecosystems are highly connected across broad spatial scales. Eradication of marine invasive species has only been achieved when species were detected early, and management responded rapidly. Generalized approaches, transferable across marine regions, for...

The ecological management effectiveness (EME) of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is the degree to which MPAs reach their ecological goals. The significant variability of EME among MPAs has been partly explained by MPA design, management and implementation features (e.g. surface area, enforcement, age of protection). We investigated EME variability by...

Standardized tools are needed to identify and prioritize the most harmful non-native species (NNS). A plethora of assessment protocols have been developed to evaluate the current and potential impacts of non-native species, but consistency among them has received limited attention. To estimate the consistency across impact assessment protocols, 89...

The Mediterranean Sea is the most invaded marine region in the world. Besides their numerous ecological impacts, invasive species also affect the provision of ecosystem services with severe socioeconomic consequences for coastal communities. In this study, we conducted underwater visual census inside and outside two Eastern Mediterranean Marine Pro...

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are an essential tool for marine biodiversity conservation. Yet, their effectiveness in protecting marine ecosystems from global stressors is debated. Biological invasions are a major driver of global change, causing biodiversity loss and altering ecosystem functioning. Here, we explored the relationships between MPAs...

Terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems are connected via multiple biophysical and ecological processes. Identifying and quantifying links among ecosystems is necessary for the uptake of integrated conservation actions across realms. Such actions are particularly important for species using habitats in more than one realm during their daily...

Marine protected areas (MPAs) form the cornerstone of marine conservation. Identifying which factors contribute to their success or failure is crucial considering the international conservation targets for 2020 and the limited funds generally available for marine conservation. We identified common factors of success and/or failure of MPA effectiven...

The effective conservation of marine biodiversity through an integrated ecosystem-based management approach requires a sound knowledge of the spatial distribution of habitats and species. Although costly in terms of time and resources, acquiring such information is essential for the development of rigorous management plans and the meaningful priori...

Cumulative effects assessments (CEAs) are inherently complex and seldom linked to real-world management processes • A risk-based CEA contains risk identification , risk analysis and risk evaluation, revealing the risk of exceeding thresholds • Embedding CEAs in a risk management process reduces complexity, streamlines scientific products, and incre...

Coastal marine ecosystems can be managed by actions undertaken both on the land and in the ocean. Quantifying and comparing the costs and benefits of actions in both realms is therefore necessary for efficient management. Here, we quantify the link between terrestrial sediment runoff and a downstream coastal marine ecosystem and contrast the cost-e...

Data used to generate S4 Fig. (XLS)

Data used to generate S7 Fig. (XLS)

Input parameters for Matlab code. The supplemental Matlab code calls the parameter values entered in this spreadsheet. (XLSX)

Model parameters. Model parameters used to assess the cost effectiveness of conservation actions (restoration or protection) taken on land or sea to maximize extent of marine habitat (seagrass) in Moreton Bay, Southeast Queensland, Australia. Justification for the parameterisation is provided in the supplemental methods. (XLSX)

Summary of sensitivity analyses. Table outlining sensitivity analyses. (XLSX)

Supplementary methods. (DOCX)

Data used to generate S1 Fig. Data used to generate S1 Fig panel B. Data for S1 Fig panel A are found in in S1 Data. (XLS)

Data used to generate S3 Fig. (XLS)

Data used to generate S6 Fig. (XLS)

Sensitivity analysis. Effect of the rate of revegetation of seagrass and riparian habitats following restoration actions on the optimal conservation decision after 30 years. Results are reported for two rates of seagrass expansion: A) 1% yr-1; and B) 5% yr-1. (TIF)

Sensitivity analysis. Effect of the costs of seagrass and riparian restoration on the optimal conservation decision after 30 years. Results are reported for two rates of seagrass expansion: A) 1.13% yr-1; and B) 5% yr-1. (TIF)

Sensitivity analysis. Results obtained using a linear relationship between sediment load and seagrass area, compared to a convex relationship used in Fig 3. Areas of A) habitat suitable for seagrass; B) protected seagrass; C) intact seagrass; and D) tons per year of sediment run-off. Values are standardised to the values achieved with no investment...

Model dynamics. Dynamics of the land- and sea-scape model of seagrass meadows (ocean) and riparian habitats (land) over 30 years based on the actions of restoration or protection in both systems. (TIF)

Seagrass expansion rates. Studies from which estimates of areal expansion of seagrass beds were obtained. *: study measured gap size. (XLSX)

Sensitivity analysis. Intact seagrass area obtained using a cap of (A) 0.1% and (B) 1% of the existing seagrass meadows which may be in “restoring” condition in a given year. (TIF)

Sensitivity analysis. Effect of seagrass expansion and decline rates on the (A,B) optimal action, and (C,D) relative area of seagrass habitat, compared to a no investment strategy, after 30 years. Two functional relationships between sediment load and habitat area were used: (A,C) linear relationship; and (B,D) convex relationship. The convex relat...

Sensitivity analysis. Effect of seagrass decline and expansion rates on the optimal conservation strategy if the objective is to maximise the value of ecosystem services returned by both seagrass and riparian habitats over a 30 year investment period. (TIF)

Data used to generate Fig 3. (XLS)

Data used to generate Fig 4. (XLS)

Data used to generate S2 Fig. (XLS)

Data used to generate S5 Fig. (XLS)

Total suspended sediment (TSS) data output from the Source model of Southeast Queensland, Australia. (XLSX)

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a cornerstone of marine conservation. Globally, the number and coverage of MPAs are increasing, but MPA implementation lags in many human-dominated regions. In areas with intense competition for space and resources, evaluation of the effects of MPAs is crucial to inform decisions. In the human-dominated Mediterrane...

The Natura 2000 network forms the cornerstone of the biodiversity conservation strategy of the European Union and is the largest coordinated network of protected areas (PAs) in the world. Here, we demonstrated that the network fails to adequately cover the marine environment and meet the conservation target of 10% set by the Convention on Biologica...

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are an essential tool for reversing the global degradation of ocean life. Hence, it is important to know which types of MPAs are more effective, and under which conditions. No-take marine reserves – the MPAs with stronger protection – are very effective in restoring and preserving biodiversity, and in enhancing ecosyst...

Marine protected areas (MPAs) have proven to be an effective tool to conserve marine biodiversity and restore ecosystem functioning. Yet, the role of MPAs in providing resilience to global threats, such as biological invasions, is poorly understood. Assessing the effects of MPAs on invasive species is crucial for effective MPA planning and manageme...

Cumulative human impacts have led to the degradation of marine ecosystems and the decline of biodiversity in the European and contiguous seas. Effective conservation measures are urgently needed to reverse these trends. Conservation must entail societal choices, underpinned by human values and worldviews that differ between the countries bordering...

The socioeconomic implications of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and perceptions of stakeholders on MPA impacts are important to consider when designing, implementing, and managing MPAs. However, the currently available knowledge about these areas and especially of stakeholder perceptions is scarce and limited to restricted geographic areas. The pre...

Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been established around the world, including throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Scientific research shows that MPAs consistently produce ecological, economic, and social benefits when they include fully protected areas and are well-designed and well-managed. This booklet summarizes the scientific evidence that sho...

Since 2010, a bottom-up initiative has been launched in Santorini Island (Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean) for the establishment of the first fully protected marine protected area in the Cyclades, aiming at improving fisheries and enhancing responsible recreational uses at sea. Following discussions with local small-scale fishermen and divers, tw...

Aim Biological invasions are major contributors to global change and native biodiversity decline. However, they are overlooked in marine conservation plans. Here, we examine for the first time the extent to which marine conservation planning research has addressed (or ignored) biological invasions. Furthermore, we explore the change of spatial prio...

According to the Aichi Biodiverity Target 11 set by the Convention on Biological Diversity, states are committed to protect 10% of marine coastal areas by 2020. In line with this, the ultimate goal of the MARISCA project is to propose a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for the conservation of all important and vulnerable habitats and specie...