Impacts of Tsunami events on ecosystem services provided by benthic macro-invertebrate assemblages of marine coastal zones

Abstract

Significant environmental and societal impacts have ensued from the tsunami events during the last decade particularly those of the Indian Ocean (2004) and Pacific Coast of Japan (2011). Ecosystem services provided by marine inter- and subtidal benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages are tied to the changes in physical, chemical, and hydrological short and long term alterations to their habitats. Globally, benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages can be categorized to examine ecosystems services provided by these highly productive coastal areas. In addition to ongoing coastal human activity related threats to these areas, the disturbances to these assemblages immediately after a Tsunami event are currently a focus of research. Quantifying the impacts across the subunit of macroinvertebrate benthos is a necessary function for proper assessment of impacts to ecosystem services provided by coastal zones. The current knowledge base and predicted recovery timeframes, in addition to the need for further investigation of long term environmental societal factors are important globally.