/PROJECTS
The NEOM region (NW Saudi Arabia) is characterized by areas of ecological significance, globally important heritage sites, and vulnerable marine ecosystems. With the region undergoing rapid coastal development, achieving a biodiversity net-positive status requires the conservation and protection of these critical resources. Baseline data on the biodiversity associated with NEOM's coral reefs is essential to assess potential impacts from coastal development and climate change. However, such data is limited. Thus in 2023 we initiated a research project to evaluate the environmental quality and status of 15 coral reefs in NEOM, creating an inventory of the reef-associated biodiversity spanning from bacteria to fish. This biodiversity assessment combined traditional taxonomy (visual surveys and morphology-based identifications) with molecular techniques (DNA barcoding and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding) in an effort to set the biodiversity baseline for the region
OBJECTIVES
This project includes four main components: i) baseline surveys of benthic and fish biodiversity using visual and molecular-based methods; ii) assessments of non-indigenous marine species present; iii) the creation of a curated species collection with photographic records and DNA barcodes; and iv) assessment of reef calcification patterns using the deployment and retrieval of Calcifying Accretion Units (CAUS).
FUTURE STEPS AND OUTCOMES
The outcomes of this project will be instrumental for NEOM managers to evaluate the impacts of coastal development and the effectiveness of conservation measures, such as marine protected areas. Beyond NEOM, the curated reference collection will enhance the accuracy of molecular tools in environmental quality assessments across Saudi waters, serving as a legacy record of Red Sea biodiversity during an era of significant global biodiversity loss.