Impact of aquaculture on mangrove areas in the northern Pernambuco Coast (Brazil) using remote sensing and geographic information system |
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| Authors: | Ariana Silva Guimarães Paulo Travassos Pedro Walfir Martins E Souza Filho Fabrício Dias Gonçalves Francisco Costa |
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| Institution: | 1. Laboratório de Ecologia Marinha, Departamento de Pesca e Aqüicultura, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, CEP 52171‐900, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil;2. Laboratório de Análise de Imagens do Trópico úmido, Faculdade de Oceanografia, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Pará, CEP 66075‐110, Belém, Pará, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | The conversion of mangrove areas into shrimp farming ponds has been indicated as the main activity responsible for the reduction in the area of this ecosystem along the northeastern coast of Brazil. The present study was conducted using remote sensing methods and a geographical information system with the aim of quantifying the participation of this activity in the reduction of the mangrove areas along the northern coast of the State of Pernambuco (northeast, Brazil), where shrimp farming has been implanted in last recent years. From 1973 to 2005, there was reduction of about 2.052 ha of mangrove, 197 ha of which were converted into shrimp ponds. Thus, the real contribution of shrimp farming to this reduction was just 9.6% of the total area. Other anthropogenic activities, such as agriculture, urban expansion and tourism, contributed greatly to the reduction in the mangrove areas along the northern coast of the State of Pernambuco. |
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| Keywords: | aquaculture mangrove remote sensing GIS Brazil |
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