Integrative approaches to monitor biodiversity changes for the conservation of urbanized areas along the South-Central Vietnam coasts
The project will develop and apply innovative and integrative ecological technologies to conserve and restore the natural heritage of coral reefs off the coasts of South-Central Vietnam coasts.
Vietnam's coastal habitats present different levels of urbanization and anthropic impact, and sensitivity toward climate change. Specifically, shallow coral reefs in Nha Trang Bay and Nui Chua Park, case studies chosen for this project, provide a wide range of conditions of urbanization and anthropic stressors, as well as still well-preserved areas, and hotspots of marine benthic biodiversity. Tracking the impacts of these stressors on marine benthic organisms requires appropriate sampling designs and timely investigation methods due to the dynamic nature of coastal environments. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a promising, non-invasive, and quick technique to monitor community changes. Likewise, innovative methods of video recording, photogrammetry, and remote sensing can allow a rapid three-dimensional digital reconstruction of coral reefs, providing an understanding of the complexity, diversity, and richness of these habitats that goes far beyond traditional methods of study and monitoring.Here, traditional methods to monitor the health status of coral reefs will be combined with more innovative approaches such as environmental DNA, remote sensing, and habitat mapping.
The integrated combination of multidisciplinary and ecological data will be adapted and specifically developed together with the University of Bologna (UNIBO) in Italy and the Vietnamese partner, the Vietnam Institute of Oceanography (VNIO), to provide a monitoring protocol to be used over time to evaluate the biodiversity changes of these important ecosystems and to increase their knowledge, and finally lead to a better management of the South-Central Vietnam coasts.