Standardization of Seagrass Biophysical Parameterization for Wave Attenuation in Nature-Based Coastal Protection: A Systematic Review Based on PRISMA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61536/ambidextrous.v5i02.589Keywords:
seagrass beds; wave damping; biophysical characterization; drag coefficient; hydrodynamic-morphodynamic modeling; coastal protectionAbstract
Nature-based coastal protection is increasingly being developed as an alternative to conventional infrastructure, with seagrass meadows playing a crucial role in wave attenuation and sediment stabilization. However, the characterization of seagrass biophysical parameters used in hydrodynamic modeling remains unstandardized. This study aims to synthesize seagrass biophysical characterization methods and their application in wave attenuation modeling to support nature-based coastal protection. The study used a Systematic Literature Review guided by PRISMA. The study population included all relevant scientific publications, while the sample consisted of 30 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The research instrument was a structured data extraction protocol that included study characteristics, biophysical parameters, modeling approaches, and hydrodynamic indicators. These were then analyzed descriptively and comparatively through narrative synthesis. The results showed that stand density, canopy height, leaf dimension and stiffness, and biomass were the main parameters most consistently used to represent wave attenuation, although there were still variations in measurement methods and parameterizations between studies. In conclusion, harmonization of biophysical characterization protocols and the development of multiscale parameterizations are needed to improve modeling accuracy and the implementation of seagrass-based coastal protection solutions.
Downloads
References
AlYousif, A., Abdulrahman, R. H., & Neelamani, S. (2025). Experimental study on the use of artificial meadows that mimic wave-vegetation interactions for coastal protection. Journal of Engineering Research (Kuwait), 13(3), 2117–2135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jer.2024.06.005
Amone-Mabuto, M., Mubai, M., Bandeira, S., Shalli, M. S., Adams, J. B., Lugendo, B. R., & Hollander, J. (2023). Coastal community's perceptions on the role of seagrass ecosystems for coastal protection and implications for management. Ocean and Coastal Management, 244, 106811. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106811
Astudillo, C., Gracia, V., Cáceres, I., Sierra, J. P., & Sánchez-Arcilla, A. (2022). Beach profile changes induced by surrogate Posidonia Oceanica: Laboratory experiments. Coastal Engineering, 175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2022.104144
Astudillo-Gutierrez, C., Gracia, V., Cáceres, I., Sierra, J. P., & Sánchez-Arcilla, A. (2024). Influence of seagrass meadow length on beach morphodynamics: An experimental study. Science of the Total Environment, 921, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170888
Barbier, E. B., Koch, E. W., Silliman, B. R., Hacker, S. D., Wolanski, E., Primavera, J., Granek, E. F., Polasky, S., Aswani, S., Cramer, L. A., Stoms, D. M., Kennedy, C. J., Bael, D., Kappel, C. V., Perillo, G. M. E., & Reed, D. J. (2008). Coastal ecosystem-based management with nonlinear ecological functions and values. Science, 319(5861), 321–323. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1150349
Schaefer, R. B., & Nepf, H. (2022). Wave damping by seagrass meadows in combined wave-current conditions. Limnology and Oceanography, 67(7), 1554–1565. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.12102
Charanachitta, N., & Chukaew, A. (2025). Experimental cultivation and transplantation of seagrass: A case study in Southern of Thailand. Journal of Posthumanism, 5(7), 2035–2046. https://doi.org/10.63332/joph.v5i7.3002
Chen, S. N., Sanford, L. P., Koch, E. W., Shi, F., & North, E. W. (2007). A nearshore model to investigate the effects of seagrass bed geometry on wave attenuation and suspended sediment transport. Estuaries and Coasts, 30(2), 296–310. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02700172
Chen, Z., Luo, F., Zhou, G., Zhu, F., Wu, H., Li, R., & Zhang, C. (2024). Hydrodynamic modeling study of nature-based hybrid coastal defense strategy applied in salt marsh restoration. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 298, 108666. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2024.108666
Christianen, M. J. A., van Belzen, J., Herman, P. M. J., van Katwijk, M. M., Lamers, L. P. M., van Leent, P. J. M., & Bouma, T. J. (2013). Low-canopy seagrass beds still provide important coastal protection services. PLoS ONE, 8(5). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0062413
Contti Neto, N., Lowe, R. J., Ghisalberti, M., Pomeroy, A., Reidenbach, M., Conde-Frias, M., & da Silva, R. F. (2025). Spectral wave energy dissipation by a seagrass meadow. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 130(3), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JC020938
Contti Neto, N., Pomeroy, A., Lowe, R., & Ghisalberti, M. (2022). Seagrass meadows reduce wind-wave driven sediment resuspension in a sheltered environment. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.733542
Dahl, M., Björk, M., & Gullström, M. (2021). Effects of seagrass overgrazing on sediment erosion and carbon sink capacity: Current understanding and future priorities. Limnology and Oceanography Letters, 6(6), 309–319. https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10211
Dewi, C. S. U., Yona, D., Samuel, P. D., Maulidiyah, R. A., Syahrir, A., Putri, Y. E., Rakhmawan, H., & Fikri, M. (2020). Distribution and healthy status of seagrass bed in Lamongan coastal area. E3S Web of Conferences, 153. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202015301003
Dinu, I., Monclus i Bori, A., Gràcia, V., García-León, M., Lin-Ye, J., Stănică, A., & Sánchez-Arcilla, A. (2023). Assessing the coastal protection role of seagrass meadows along a barrier beach, southern Romanian coast. Journal of Sea Research, 191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2022.102329
Donatelli, C., Ganju, N. K., Kalra, T. S., Fagherazzi, S., & Leonardi, N. (2019). Changes in hydrodynamics and wave energy as a result of seagrass decline along the shoreline of a microtidal back-barrier estuary. Advances in Water Resources, 128, 183–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2019.04.017
El Rahi, J., Stratigaki, V., De Troch, M., & Troch, P. (2024). Numerical modelling of wave–vegetation interaction: Embracing a cross-disciplinary approach for bridging ecology and engineering for nature-inclusive coastal defence systems. Water (Switzerland), 16(14). https://doi.org/10.3390/w16141977
Familkhalili, R., & Tahvildari, N. (2021). Effects of spatially variable drag coefficient of submerged aquatic vegetation on surface wave dissipation. https://doi.org/10.1002/essoar.10506133.1
Fonseca, M. S., Fourqurean, J. W., & Koehl, M. A. R. (2019). Effect of seagrass on current speed: Importance of flexibility vs. shoot density. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6(JUL), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00376
Forrester, J., Leonardi, N., Cooper, J. R., & Kumar, P. (2024). Seagrass as a nature-based solution for coastal protection. Ecological Engineering, 206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107316
Gong, S., Xu, S., Li, M., Wang, Y., Yin, K., Chen, Y., & Chen, J. (2024). Experimental study on wave attenuation and beach profile evolution under the protection of submerged flexible vegetation. Journal of Hydrology, 638, 131478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131478
Hejnowicz, A. P., Kennedy, H., Rudd, M. A., & Huxham, M. R. (2015). Harnessing the climate mitigation, conservation and poverty alleviation potential of seagrasses: Prospects for developing blue carbon initiatives and payment for ecosystem service programmes. Frontiers in Marine Science, 2, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2015.00032
Hendriks, I. E., Sintes, T., Bouma, T. J., & Duarte, C. M. (2008). Experimental assessment and modeling evaluation of the effects of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica on flow and particle trapping. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 356, 163–173. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07316
Huynh, L. T. M., Su, J., Wang, Q., Stringer, L. C., Switzer, A. D., & Gasparatos, A. (2024). Meta-analysis indicates better climate adaptation and mitigation performance of hybrid engineering-natural coastal defence measures. Nature Communications, 15(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46970-w
Infantes, E., Hoeks, S., Adams, M. P., van der Heide, T., van Katwijk, M. M., & Bouma, T. J. (2022). Seagrass roots strongly reduce cliff erosion rates in sandy sediments. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 700, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14196
Infantes, E., Orfila, A., Simarro, G., Terrados, J., Luhar, M., & Nepf, H. (2012). Effect of a seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) meadow on wave propagation. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 456, 63–72. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09754
James, R. K., Christianen, M. J. A., van Katwijk, M. M., de Smit, J. C., Bakker, E. S., Herman, P. M. J., & Bouma, T. J. (2020). Seagrass coastal protection services reduced by invasive species expansion and megaherbivore grazing. Journal of Ecology, 108(5), 2025–2037. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13411
James, R. K., Silva, R., Van Tussenbroek, B. I., Escudero-Castillo, M., Mariño-Tapia, I., Dijkstra, H. A., Van Westen, R. M., Pietrzak, J. D., Candy, A. S., Katsman, C. A., Van Der Boog, C. G., Riva, R. E. M., Slobbe, C., Klees, R., Stapel, J., Van Der Heide, T., Van Katwijk, M. M., Herman, P. M. J., & Bouma, T. J. (2019). Maintaining tropical beaches with seagrass and algae: A promising alternative to engineering solutions. BioScience, 69(2), 136–142. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biy154
John, B. M., Shirlal, K. G., & Rao, S. (2015a). Effect of artificial vegetation on wave attenuation – An experimental investigation. Procedia Engineering, 116(1), 600–606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2015.08.331
John, B. M., Shirlal, K. G., & Rao, S. (2015b). Effect of artificial vegetation on wave attenuation – An experimental investigation. Procedia Engineering, 116(1), 600–606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2015.08.331
Kamperdicks, L., Lattuada, M., O Corcora, T., Schlurmann, T., & Paul, M. (2025). Enhancing seagrass restoration success: Detecting and quantifying mechanisms of wave-induced dislodgement. Science of the Total Environment, 959, 178055. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178055
Koch, E. W., Barbier, E. B., Silliman, B. R., Reed, D. J., Perillo, G. M. E., Hacker, S. D., Granek, E. F., Primavera, J. H., Muthiga, N., Polasky, S., Halpern, B. S., Kennedy, C. J., Kappel, C. V., & Wolanski, E. (2009). Non-linearity in ecosystem services: Temporal and spatial variability in coastal protection. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 7(1), 29–37. https://doi.org/10.1890/080126
Le Pevedic, A., Bayle, P., Nicolae Lerma, A., Sottolichio, A., & Ganthy, F. (2025). Numerical investigation of seasonal wind-wave responses to severe seagrass decline in a coastal lagoon. Coastal Engineering, 201, 104796. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2025.104796
Lee, I. H. (2023). Nature based solutions for coastal defense: Wave attenuation and economic analysis of marsh-fronted seawalls [Tesis/disertasi tidak dipublikasikan].
Manousakas, N., Salauddin, M., Pearson, J., Denissenko, P., Williams, H., & Abolfathi, S. (2022). Effects of seagrass vegetation on wave runup reduction – A laboratory study. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1072(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1072/1/012004
Markov, A., & Stolle, J. (2023). Nature-based solutions for coastal protection: A multi-scale investigation of wave-vegetation interactions [Tesis/disertasi tidak dipublikasikan].
Muna, L. R. (2020). Evaluating the influence of seagrass on wave attenuation in coastal environments in Fiji [Tesis, tidak dipublikasikan]. (102 hlm.)
O'Hogain, S., & McCarton, L. (2018). Nature-based solutions. Dalam A technology portfolio of nature based solutions (hlm. 1–9). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73281-7_1
Pillai, U. P. A., Pinardi, N., Alessandri, J., Federico, I., Causio, S., Unguendoli, S., Valentini, A., & Staneva, J. (2022). A digital twin modelling framework for the assessment of seagrass nature based solutions against storm surges. Science of the Total Environment, 847, 157603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157603
Pinsky, M. L., Guannel, G., & Arkema, K. K. (2013). Quantifying wave attenuation to inform coastal habitat conservation. Ecosphere, 4(8). https://doi.org/10.1890/ES13-00080.1
Reidenbach, M. A., & Thomas, E. L. (2018). Influence of the seagrass, Zostera marina, on wave attenuation and bed shear stress within a shallow coastal bay. Frontiers in Marine Science, 5, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2018.00397
Schaefer, R. B., & Nepf, H. M. (2022). Flow structure in an artificial seagrass meadow in combined wave-current conditions. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.836901
Serra, T., Gracias, N., & Hendriks, I. E. (2020). Fragmentation in seagrass canopies can alter hydrodynamics and sediment deposition rates. Water (Switzerland), 12(12), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12123473
Shirinov, S., Federico, I., Bonamano, S., Causio, S., Biocca, N., Piermattei, V., Piazzolla, D., Alessandri, J., Mentaschi, L., Coppini, G., Marcelli, M., & Pinardi, N. (2025). Modelling vegetation-induced wave attenuation: The impact of seagrass seasonal variability and biomechanical flexibility. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 25(10), 3737–3758. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-3737-2025
Sierra, J. P., Gracia, V., Castell, X., García-León, M., Mösso, C., & Lin-Ye, J. (2023). Potential of transplanted seagrass meadows on wave attenuation in a fetch-limited environment. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 11(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11061186
Sudo, K., Quiros, T. E. A. L., Prathep, A., Luong, C. Van, Lin, H. J., Bujang, J. S., Ooi, J. L. S., Fortes, M. D., Zakaria, M. H., Yaakub, S. M., Tan, Y. M., Huang, X., & Nakaoka, M. (2021). Distribution, temporal change, and conservation status of tropical seagrass beds in Southeast Asia: 2000–2020. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.637722
Tanaya, T., Watanabe, K., Yamamoto, S., Hongo, C., Kayanne, H., & Kuwae, T. (2018). Contributions of the direct supply of belowground seagrass detritus and trapping of suspended organic matter to the sedimentary organic carbon stock in seagrass meadows. Biogeosciences, 15(13), 4033–4045. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-4033-2018
Twomey, A. J. (2021). Seagrass and coastal protection: Separating myths from facts [Tesis Honours, tidak dipublikasikan]. (hlm. 1–131)
Twomey, A. J., Callaghan, D. P., O'Brien, K. R., & Saunders, M. I. (2022). Contextualising shoreline protection by seagrass using lessons from submerged breakwaters. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 276, 108011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2022.108011
Twomey, A. J., O'Brien, K. R., Callaghan, D. P., & Saunders, M. I. (2020). Synthesising wave attenuation for seagrass: Drag coefficient as a unifying indicator. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 160, 111661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111661
Unguendoli, S., Biolchi, L. G., Aguzzi, M., Pillai, U. P. A., Alessandri, J., & Valentini, A. (2023). A modeling application of integrated nature based solutions (NBS) for coastal erosion and flooding mitigation in the Emilia-Romagna coastline (Northeast Italy). Science of the Total Environment, 867, 161357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161357
United Nations Environment Programme. (2020). Opportunities and challenges for community-based seagrass conservation. UNEP. http://www.unep.org/publications/
van de Vijsel, R. C., Hernández-García, E., Orfila, A., & Gomila, D. (2023). Optimal wave reflection as a mechanism for seagrass self-organization. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-46788-4
van Veelen, T. J., Karunarathna, H., & Reeve, D. E. (2021). Modelling wave attenuation by quasi-flexible coastal vegetation. Coastal Engineering, 164, 103820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2020.103820
Vieira, V. M. N. C. S., Lopes, I. E., & Creed, J. C. (2019). A model for the biomass-density dynamics of seagrasses developed and calibrated on global data. BMC Ecology, 19(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-019-0221-4
Windira, W. A. (2022). Komposisi jenis ikan padang lamun berdasarkan periode pasang surut di Pulau Sabutung, Kabupaten Pangkajene Kepulauan [Skripsi, tidak dipublikasikan].
Wissler, L., Dattolo, E., Moore, A. D., Reusch, T. B. H., Olsen, J. L., Migliaccio, M., Bornberg-Bauer, E., & Procaccini, G. (2009). Dr. Zompo: An online data repository for Zostera marina and Posidonia oceanica ESTs. Database, 2009, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/database/bap009
Xu, X., & Salauddin, M. (2025). Quantifying wave attenuation by seagrass: A comprehensive review of assessment techniques. Frontiers in Marine Science, 12, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1620592
Yin, K., Xu, S., Huang, W., Liu, S., & Li, M. (2021). Numerical investigation of wave attenuation by coupled flexible vegetation dynamic model and XBeach wave model. Ocean Engineering, 235, 109357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.109357
Zhu, Q., Wiberg, P. L., & Reidenbach, M. A. (2021). Quantifying seasonal seagrass effects on flow and sediment dynamics in a back-barrier bay. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 126(2), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JC016547
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Fathimah Az-Zahro Mahmud, Nizam, Benazir
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
