Rhodolith beds are understudied and underfunded: analysis of research lines and priorities

Abstract

Rhodoliths are recognized as foundational species because they host a great diversity of organisms. Rhodoliths seabeds have stood out as vital carbonate factories around the world, covering wide sub-tidal environments. Rhodoliths-dominated seabeds provide a wide variety of niches and ecological resources, due to its three-dimensional structure, hosting numerous associated species. This study compared rhodolith research efforts relative to other coastal habitats, such as seagrass, mangroves, coral reefs and kelp beds, in order to demonstrate whether or not rhodolith science is understudied and underfunded in terms of published papers and funds. I also grouped the number of studies (scientific papers) dealing with rhodolith science according to four major thematic areas: “Basic ecology” (157 scientific articles), “Physiology” (13 scientific articles), “Fauna” (43 scientific articles) and “Effects of stressors” (26 scientific articles), to assess efforts among research lines and, finally, the global distribution of these research efforts. With all the information and research carried out on each of the objectives mentioned above, it can be concluded that rhodolith are the least funded and studied coastal habitat compared to the rest of the habitats studied, despite covering a much larger global area. Aligning with the mission and scientific challenges of the 2030 Agenda, this study encourages to promote rhodolith science to be on par with the rest of the well-studied coastal habitats.