Human use and modification of beaches and dunes are linked to ghost crab (Ocypode spp) population decline in Ghana
Human use and modification of beaches and dunes are linked to ghost crab (Ocypode spp) population decline in Ghana
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Date
2015-08
Authors
Boateng, Isaac
Jonah, F.E.
Aheto, D.W.
Adjei-Boateng, D
Agbo, N.W.
Shimba, M.J.
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Department of Natural sciences,
Abstract
The increasing urbanization of much of the world’s coasts threatens irreversible damages to beach
ecosystems, if unchecked. Unfortunately, beach monitoring programmes for remediation actions are
uncommon, especially for less developed nations where infrastructural development and socio-economic
goals are regarded more important than environmental goals. This study aimed at obtaining information
about the effects of the modification and use of beaches and dunes on beach biota using ghost crab burrow
density and size as variables. The study tested a hypothesis that the mean densities and sizes of ghost crab
burrows on six beaches under three categories of human use in the Central Region of Ghana are different.
Results indicated that low use beaches had significantly higher numbers of burrows and larger burrow
sizes compared to medium use and high use beaches. Since physical and environmental parameters were
consistently the same amongst the six surveyed beaches, the paper concluded that the differences in the
observed beach use and dune modifications were responsible for the observed differences in ghost crab
abundance and sizes. Major beach use such as intense trampling levels and clearing of dune vegetation
for infrastructural developments are most likely responsible for the observed differences. On account of
ecological considerations, it is recommended that beach land use reforms by coastal municipal authorities
in Ghana should ensure that infrastructure development along undeveloped sections of the coast is limited
to a safe distance from the shoreline. There should also be consideration of natural vegetation barriers
between development and the beach to enhance natural beach–dune ecosystem interaction.
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Citation
Jonah, F. E., Aheto, D. W., Adjei-Boateng, D., Agbo, N. W., Boateng, I., & Shimba, M. J. (2015). Human use and modification of beaches and dunes are linked to ghost crab (Ocypode spp) population decline in Ghana. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 2, 87-94.