Provision of refugia and seeding with native bivalves can enhance biodiversity on vertical seawalls

Thea E. Bradford; Juan C. Astudillo; Edward T.C. Lau; Matthew J. Perkins; Chi C. Lo; Tom C.H. Li; Chung S. Lam; Terence P.T. Ng; Elisabeth M.A. Strain; Peter D. Steinberg; Kenneth M.Y. Leung

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111578

Provision of refugia and seeding with native bivalves can enhance biodiversity on vertical seawalls

Thea E. Bradford, Juan C. Astudillo, Edward T.C. Lau, Matthew J. Perkins, Chi C. Lo, Tom C.H. Li, Chung S. Lam, Terence P.T. Ng, Elisabeth M.A. Strain, Peter D. Steinberg, Kenneth M.Y. Leung

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recent studies have suggested that increasing habitat complexity of artificial seawalls by modifying surface heterogeneity could enhance exploitable habitat and therefore species richness and abundance. We tested the effects of adding complex tiles (with crevices/ledges) of different heterogeneity (i.e., flat tiles resembling the seawall vs. tiles with crevices of 2.5 cm or 5.0 cm depth) and seeding with native rock oysters, Saccostrea cuccullata (unseeded vs. seeded) on species richness and abundances of intertidal marine organisms on two vertical seawalls in Hong Kong. Tiles were affixed to the mid-intertidal zone of the seawalls for 12 months. The results showed that the tiles with crevices had greater species richness and cover of sessile epifauna than flat tiles. Seeding tiles with S. cuccullata also facilitated natural recruitment of the same species. Our results support the hypothesis that using eco-engineering to increase habitat complexity can enhance the biodiversity of intertidal marine organisms on seawalls.

Original language	English
Article number	111578
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	160
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111578
Publication status	Published - Nov 2020
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Biodiversity conservation
Eco-engineering
Ecological restoration
Micro-habitat
Reclamation
Sustainable development

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10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111578

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Bradford, T. E., Astudillo, J. C., Lau, E. T. C., Perkins, M. J., Lo, C. C., Li, T. C. H., Lam, C. S., Ng, T. P. T., Strain, E. M. A., Steinberg, P. D., & Leung, K. M. Y. (2020). Provision of refugia and seeding with native bivalves can enhance biodiversity on vertical seawalls. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 160, Article 111578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111578

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title = "Provision of refugia and seeding with native bivalves can enhance biodiversity on vertical seawalls",

abstract = "Recent studies have suggested that increasing habitat complexity of artificial seawalls by modifying surface heterogeneity could enhance exploitable habitat and therefore species richness and abundance. We tested the effects of adding complex tiles (with crevices/ledges) of different heterogeneity (i.e., flat tiles resembling the seawall vs. tiles with crevices of 2.5 cm or 5.0 cm depth) and seeding with native rock oysters, Saccostrea cuccullata (unseeded vs. seeded) on species richness and abundances of intertidal marine organisms on two vertical seawalls in Hong Kong. Tiles were affixed to the mid-intertidal zone of the seawalls for 12 months. The results showed that the tiles with crevices had greater species richness and cover of sessile epifauna than flat tiles. Seeding tiles with S. cuccullata also facilitated natural recruitment of the same species. Our results support the hypothesis that using eco-engineering to increase habitat complexity can enhance the biodiversity of intertidal marine organisms on seawalls.",

keywords = "Biodiversity conservation, Eco-engineering, Ecological restoration, Micro-habitat, Reclamation, Sustainable development",

author = "Bradford, {Thea E.} and Astudillo, {Juan C.} and Lau, {Edward T.C.} and Perkins, {Matthew J.} and Lo, {Chi C.} and Li, {Tom C.H.} and Lam, {Chung S.} and Ng, {Terence P.T.} and Strain, {Elisabeth M.A.} and Steinberg, {Peter D.} and Leung, {Kenneth M.Y.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2020",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111578",

language = "English",

volume = "160",

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AU - Bradford, Thea E.

AU - Astudillo, Juan C.

AU - Lau, Edward T.C.

AU - Perkins, Matthew J.

AU - Lo, Chi C.

AU - Li, Tom C.H.

AU - Lam, Chung S.

AU - Ng, Terence P.T.

AU - Strain, Elisabeth M.A.

AU - Steinberg, Peter D.

AU - Leung, Kenneth M.Y.

PY - 2020/11

Y1 - 2020/11

N2 - Recent studies have suggested that increasing habitat complexity of artificial seawalls by modifying surface heterogeneity could enhance exploitable habitat and therefore species richness and abundance. We tested the effects of adding complex tiles (with crevices/ledges) of different heterogeneity (i.e., flat tiles resembling the seawall vs. tiles with crevices of 2.5 cm or 5.0 cm depth) and seeding with native rock oysters, Saccostrea cuccullata (unseeded vs. seeded) on species richness and abundances of intertidal marine organisms on two vertical seawalls in Hong Kong. Tiles were affixed to the mid-intertidal zone of the seawalls for 12 months. The results showed that the tiles with crevices had greater species richness and cover of sessile epifauna than flat tiles. Seeding tiles with S. cuccullata also facilitated natural recruitment of the same species. Our results support the hypothesis that using eco-engineering to increase habitat complexity can enhance the biodiversity of intertidal marine organisms on seawalls.

AB - Recent studies have suggested that increasing habitat complexity of artificial seawalls by modifying surface heterogeneity could enhance exploitable habitat and therefore species richness and abundance. We tested the effects of adding complex tiles (with crevices/ledges) of different heterogeneity (i.e., flat tiles resembling the seawall vs. tiles with crevices of 2.5 cm or 5.0 cm depth) and seeding with native rock oysters, Saccostrea cuccullata (unseeded vs. seeded) on species richness and abundances of intertidal marine organisms on two vertical seawalls in Hong Kong. Tiles were affixed to the mid-intertidal zone of the seawalls for 12 months. The results showed that the tiles with crevices had greater species richness and cover of sessile epifauna than flat tiles. Seeding tiles with S. cuccullata also facilitated natural recruitment of the same species. Our results support the hypothesis that using eco-engineering to increase habitat complexity can enhance the biodiversity of intertidal marine organisms on seawalls.

KW - Biodiversity conservation

KW - Eco-engineering

KW - Ecological restoration

KW - Micro-habitat

KW - Reclamation

KW - Sustainable development

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SN - 0025-326X

VL - 160

JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin

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ER -

Provision of refugia and seeding with native bivalves can enhance biodiversity on vertical seawalls

Abstract

Keywords

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