A Systematic Review of Marine Habitat Mapping in the Central-Eastern Atlantic Archipelagos: Methodologies, Current Trends, and Knowledge Gaps
Mapping marine habitats is fundamental for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem-based management in oceanic regions under increasing anthropogenic and climatic pressures. In the context of global initiatives—such as marine protected area expansion and international agreements—habitat mapping has...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/13/2331 |
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| author | Marcial Cosme De Esteban Fernando Tuya Ricardo Haroun Francisco Otero-Ferrer |
| author_facet | Marcial Cosme De Esteban Fernando Tuya Ricardo Haroun Francisco Otero-Ferrer |
| author_sort | Marcial Cosme De Esteban |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mapping marine habitats is fundamental for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem-based management in oceanic regions under increasing anthropogenic and climatic pressures. In the context of global initiatives—such as marine protected area expansion and international agreements—habitat mapping has become mandatory for regional and global conservation policies. It provides spatial data to delineate essential habitats, support connectivity analyses, and assess pressures, enabling ecosystem-based marine spatial planning aligned with EU directives (2008/56/EC; 2014/89/EU). Beyond biodiversity, macrophytes, rhodolith beds, and coral reefs deliver key ecosystem services—carbon sequestration, coastal protection, nursery functions, and fisheries support—essential to local socioeconomies. This systematic review (PRISMA guidelines) examined 69 peer-reviewed studies across Central-Eastern Atlantic archipelagos (Macaronesia: the Azores, Madeira, the Canaries, and Cabo Verde) and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. We identified knowledge gaps, methodological trends, and key challenges, emphasizing the integration of cartographic, ecological, and technological approaches. Although methodologies diversified over time, the lack of survey standardization, limited ground truthing, and heterogeneous datasets constrained the production of high-resolution bionomic maps. Regional disparities persist in technology access and habitat coverage. The Azores showed the highest species richness (393), dominated by acoustic mapping in corals. Madeira was most advanced in the remote mapping of rhodoliths; the Canaries focused on shallow macrophytes with direct mapping; and Cabo Verde remains underrepresented. Harmonized protocols and regional cooperation are needed to improve data interoperability and predictive modeling. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fb9bc0c70cea4505b7ad62e23b405f25 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj-art-fb9bc0c70cea4505b7ad62e23b405f252025-08-20T03:50:21ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-07-011713233110.3390/rs17132331A Systematic Review of Marine Habitat Mapping in the Central-Eastern Atlantic Archipelagos: Methodologies, Current Trends, and Knowledge GapsMarcial Cosme De Esteban0Fernando Tuya1Ricardo Haroun2Francisco Otero-Ferrer3Biodiversity & Conservation Research Group, University Institute of Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (IU-ECOAQUA), Scientific & Technological Marine Park, 8 Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Crta. Taliarte s/n, 35214 Telde, SpainBiodiversity & Conservation Research Group, University Institute of Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (IU-ECOAQUA), Scientific & Technological Marine Park, 8 Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Crta. Taliarte s/n, 35214 Telde, SpainBiodiversity & Conservation Research Group, University Institute of Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (IU-ECOAQUA), Scientific & Technological Marine Park, 8 Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Crta. Taliarte s/n, 35214 Telde, SpainBiodiversity & Conservation Research Group, University Institute of Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (IU-ECOAQUA), Scientific & Technological Marine Park, 8 Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Crta. Taliarte s/n, 35214 Telde, SpainMapping marine habitats is fundamental for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem-based management in oceanic regions under increasing anthropogenic and climatic pressures. In the context of global initiatives—such as marine protected area expansion and international agreements—habitat mapping has become mandatory for regional and global conservation policies. It provides spatial data to delineate essential habitats, support connectivity analyses, and assess pressures, enabling ecosystem-based marine spatial planning aligned with EU directives (2008/56/EC; 2014/89/EU). Beyond biodiversity, macrophytes, rhodolith beds, and coral reefs deliver key ecosystem services—carbon sequestration, coastal protection, nursery functions, and fisheries support—essential to local socioeconomies. This systematic review (PRISMA guidelines) examined 69 peer-reviewed studies across Central-Eastern Atlantic archipelagos (Macaronesia: the Azores, Madeira, the Canaries, and Cabo Verde) and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. We identified knowledge gaps, methodological trends, and key challenges, emphasizing the integration of cartographic, ecological, and technological approaches. Although methodologies diversified over time, the lack of survey standardization, limited ground truthing, and heterogeneous datasets constrained the production of high-resolution bionomic maps. Regional disparities persist in technology access and habitat coverage. The Azores showed the highest species richness (393), dominated by acoustic mapping in corals. Madeira was most advanced in the remote mapping of rhodoliths; the Canaries focused on shallow macrophytes with direct mapping; and Cabo Verde remains underrepresented. Harmonized protocols and regional cooperation are needed to improve data interoperability and predictive modeling.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/13/2331habitat mappingcoastal ecosystemsremote sensingrhodolith bedsmacrophyte bedscorals |
| spellingShingle | Marcial Cosme De Esteban Fernando Tuya Ricardo Haroun Francisco Otero-Ferrer A Systematic Review of Marine Habitat Mapping in the Central-Eastern Atlantic Archipelagos: Methodologies, Current Trends, and Knowledge Gaps Remote Sensing habitat mapping coastal ecosystems remote sensing rhodolith beds macrophyte beds corals |
| title | A Systematic Review of Marine Habitat Mapping in the Central-Eastern Atlantic Archipelagos: Methodologies, Current Trends, and Knowledge Gaps |
| title_full | A Systematic Review of Marine Habitat Mapping in the Central-Eastern Atlantic Archipelagos: Methodologies, Current Trends, and Knowledge Gaps |
| title_fullStr | A Systematic Review of Marine Habitat Mapping in the Central-Eastern Atlantic Archipelagos: Methodologies, Current Trends, and Knowledge Gaps |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Systematic Review of Marine Habitat Mapping in the Central-Eastern Atlantic Archipelagos: Methodologies, Current Trends, and Knowledge Gaps |
| title_short | A Systematic Review of Marine Habitat Mapping in the Central-Eastern Atlantic Archipelagos: Methodologies, Current Trends, and Knowledge Gaps |
| title_sort | systematic review of marine habitat mapping in the central eastern atlantic archipelagos methodologies current trends and knowledge gaps |
| topic | habitat mapping coastal ecosystems remote sensing rhodolith beds macrophyte beds corals |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/13/2331 |
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