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Talekar S, Barrow CJ, Nguyen HC, Zolfagharian A, Zare S, Farjana SH, Macreadie PI, Ashraf M, Trevathan-Tackett SM. Using waste biomass to produce 3D-printed artificial biodegradable structures for coastal ecosystem restoration. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 925:171728. [PMID: 38492597 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
The loss of ecosystem functions and services caused by rapidly declining coastal marine ecosystems, including corals and bivalve reefs and wetlands, around the world has sparked significant interest in interdisciplinary methods to restore these ecologically and socially important ecosystems. In recent years, 3D-printed artificial biodegradable structures that mimic natural life stages or habitat have emerged as a promising method for coastal marine restoration. The effectiveness of this method relies on the availability of low-cost biodegradable printing polymers and the development of 3D-printed biomimetic structures that efficiently support the growth of plant and sessile animal species without harming the surrounding ecosystem. In this context, we present the potential and pathway for utilizing low-cost biodegradable biopolymers from waste biomass as printing materials to fabricate 3D-printed biodegradable artificial structures for restoring coastal marine ecosystems. Various waste biomass sources can be used to produce inexpensive biopolymers, particularly those with the higher mechanical rigidity required for 3D-printed artificial structures intended to restore marine ecosystems. Advancements in 3D printing methods, as well as biopolymer modifications and blending to address challenges like biopolymer solubility, rheology, chemical composition, crystallinity, plasticity, and heat stability, have enabled the fabrication of robust structures. The ability of 3D-printed structures to support species colonization and protection was found to be greatly influenced by their biopolymer type, surface topography, structure design, and complexity. Considering limited studies on biodegradability and the effect of biodegradation products on marine ecosystems, we highlight the need for investigating the biodegradability of biopolymers in marine conditions as well as the ecotoxicity of the degraded products. Finally, we present the challenges, considerations, and future perspectives for designing tunable biomimetic 3D-printed artificial biodegradable structures from waste biomass biopolymers for large-scale coastal marine restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachin Talekar
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia; ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Green Chemistry in Manufacturing, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia; Centre for Sustainable Bioproducts, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Colin J Barrow
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia; ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Green Chemistry in Manufacturing, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia; Centre for Sustainable Bioproducts, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia.
| | - Hoang Chinh Nguyen
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia; Centre for Sustainable Bioproducts, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Ali Zolfagharian
- School of Engineering, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Shahab Zare
- School of Engineering, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | | | - Peter I Macreadie
- Deakin Marine Research and Innovation Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
| | - Mahmud Ashraf
- School of Engineering, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Stacey M Trevathan-Tackett
- Deakin Marine Research and Innovation Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
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Chai YJ, Syauqi TA, Sudesh K, Ee TL, Ban CC, Kar Mun AC, Anne Strain EM, Merican F, Rahim MA, Md Salleh K, Yin CS. Effects of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] coating on the bacterial communities of artificial structures. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300929. [PMID: 38635673 PMCID: PMC11025745 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The expanding urbanization of coastal areas has led to increased ocean sprawl, which has had both physical and chemical adverse effects on marine and coastal ecosystems. To maintain the health and functionality of these ecosystems, it is imperative to develop effective solutions. One such solution involves the use of biodegradable polymers as bioactive coatings to enhance the bioreceptivity of marine and coastal infrastructures. Our study aimed to explore two main objectives: (1) investigate PHA-degrading bacteria on polymer-coated surfaces and in surrounding seawater, and (2) comparing biofilm colonization between surfaces with and without the polymer coating. We applied poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)) coatings on concrete surfaces at concentrations of 1% and 6% w/v, with varying numbers of coating cycles (1, 3, and 6). Our findings revealed that the addition of P(3HB) indeed promoted accelerated biofilm growth on the coated surfaces, resulting in an occupied area approximately 50% to 100% larger than that observed in the negative control. This indicates a remarkable enhancement, with the biofilm expanding at a rate roughly 1.5 to 2 times faster than the untreated surfaces. We observed noteworthy distinctions in biofilm growth patterns based on varying concentration and number of coating cycles. Interestingly, treatments with low concentration and high coating cycles exhibited comparable biofilm enhancements to those with high concentrations and low coating cycles. Further investigation into the bacterial communities responsible for the degradation of P(3HB) coatings identified mostly common and widespread strains but found no relation between the concentration and coating cycles. Nevertheless, this microbial degradation process was found to be highly efficient, manifesting noticeable effects within a single month. While these initial findings are promising, it's essential to conduct tests under natural conditions to validate the applicability of this approach. Nonetheless, our study represents a novel and bio-based ecological engineering strategy for enhancing the bioreceptivity of marine and coastal structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yee Jean Chai
- Centre for Global Sustainability Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Taufiq Ahmad Syauqi
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Kumar Sudesh
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Tan Leng Ee
- School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Cheah Chee Ban
- School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Amanda Chong Kar Mun
- Centre for Global Sustainability Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Elisabeth Marijke Anne Strain
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Faradina Merican
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | | | | | - Chee Su Yin
- Centre for Global Sustainability Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
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Schaefer N, Bishop MJ, Bugnot AB, Foster-Thorpe C, Herbert B, Hoey AS, Mayer-Pinto M, Nakagawa S, Sherman CDH, Vozzo ML, Dafforn KA. Influence of habitat features on the colonisation of native and non-indigenous species. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 198:106498. [PMID: 38631225 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Marine artificial structures provide substrates on which organisms can settle and grow. These structures facilitate establishment and spread of non-indigenous species, in part due to their distinct physical features (substrate material, movement, orientation) compared to natural habitat analogues such as rocky shores, and because following construction, they have abundant resources (space) for species to colonise. Despite the perceived importance of these habitat features, few studies have directly compared distributions of native and non-indigenous species or considered how functional identity and associated environmental preferences drive associations. We undertook a meta-analysis to investigate whether colonisation of native and non-indigenous species varies between artificial structures with features most closely resembling natural habitats (natural substrates, fixed structures, surfaces oriented upwards) and those least resembling natural habitats (artificial materials, floating structures, downfacing or vertical surfaces), or whether functional identity is the primary driver of differences. Analyses were done at global and more local (SE Australia) scales to investigate if patterns held regardless of scale. Our results suggest that functional group (i.e., algae, ascidians. barnacles, bryozoans, polychaetes) rather than species classification (i.e., native or non-indigenous) are the main drivers of differences in communities between different types of artificial structures. Specifically, there were differences in the abundance of ascidians, barnacles, and polychaetes between (1) upfacing and downfacing/vertical surfaces, and (2) floating and fixed substrates. When differences were detected, taxa were most abundant on features least resembling natural habitats. Results varied between global and SE Australian analyses, potentially due to reduced variability across studies in the SE Australian dataset. Thus, the functional group and associated preferences of the highest threat NIS in the area should be considered in design strategies (e.g., ecological engineering) to limit their establishment on newly built infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Schaefer
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Melanie J Bishop
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Ana B Bugnot
- CSIRO Environment, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | | | - Brett Herbert
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Mariana Mayer-Pinto
- School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Kensington NSW 2033, Australia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Kensington NSW 2033, Australia
| | - Craig D H Sherman
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds VIC 3216, Australia
| | | | - Katherine A Dafforn
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde NSW 2109, Australia
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Schaefer N, Bishop MJ, Bugnot AB, Herbert B, Hoey AS, Mayer-Pinto M, Sherman CDH, Foster-Thorpe C, Vozzo ML, Dafforn KA. Variable effects of substrate colour and microtexture on sessile marine taxa in Australian estuaries. BIOFOULING 2024; 40:223-234. [PMID: 38526167 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2024.2332710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Concrete infrastructure in coastal waters is increasing. While adding complex habitat and manipulating concrete mixtures to enhance biodiversity have been studied, field investigations of sub-millimetre-scale complexity and substrate colour are lacking. Here, the interacting effects of 'colour' (white, grey, black) and 'microtexture' (smooth, 0.5 mm texture) on colonisation were assessed at three sites in Australia. In Townsville, no effects of colour or microtexture were observed. In Sydney, spirorbid polychaetes occupied more space on smooth than textured tiles, but there was no effect of microtexture on serpulid polychaetes, bryozoans and algae. In Melbourne, barnacles were more abundant on black than white tiles, while serpulid polychaetes showed opposite patterns and ascidians did not vary with treatments. These results suggest that microtexture and colour can facilitate colonisation of some taxa. The context-dependency of the results shows that inclusion of these factors into marine infrastructure designs needs to be carefully considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Schaefer
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Melanie J Bishop
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ana B Bugnot
- CSIRO Environment, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Brett Herbert
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mariana Mayer-Pinto
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Craig D H Sherman
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cian Foster-Thorpe
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | | | - Katherine A Dafforn
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
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Baxter T, Coombes M, Viles H. Intertidal biodiversity and physical habitat complexity on historic masonry walls: A comparison with modern concrete infrastructure and natural rocky cliffs. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 188:114617. [PMID: 36701972 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Maritime built heritage (e.g., historic seawalls) represents an important component of coastal infrastructure around the world. Despite this, the ecological communities supported by these structures are poorly understood. At seven locations across the UK, we compared the biodiversity and physical habitat characteristics of (1) historic (pre-1900s) masonry walls, (2) concrete walls, and (3) natural rocky cliffs. Historic masonry walls were found to support significantly more species than concrete walls, and in some locations, more diverse communities than nearby rocky cliffs. Nevertheless, community composition remained distinct between the three habitat types at each location. We also found that historic masonry walls provided substantially more cryptic space (i.e., crevices) than both concrete walls and rocky cliffs, and this is positively associated with the ecological value of these structures. Overall, our results suggest that the unique physical properties of historic masonry walls make them an important component of habitat diversity along developed coastlines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Baxter
- Oxford Resilient Buildings and Landscapes Lab (OxRBL), School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Martin Coombes
- Oxford Resilient Buildings and Landscapes Lab (OxRBL), School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Heather Viles
- Oxford Resilient Buildings and Landscapes Lab (OxRBL), School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Sempere-Valverde J, Ramalhosa P, Chebaane S, Espinosa F, Monteiro JG, Bernal-Ibáñez A, Cacabelos E, Gestoso I, Guerra-García JM, Canning-Clode J. Location and building material determine fouling assemblages within marinas: A case study in Madeira Island (NE Atlantic, Portugal). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 187:114522. [PMID: 36623468 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Marinas are hubs for non-indigenous species (NIS) and constitute the nodes of a network of highly modified water bodies (HMWB) connected by recreational maritime traffic. Floating structures, such as pontoons, are often the surfaces with higher NIS abundance inside marinas and lead the risk for NIS introduction, establishment and spread. However, there is still little information on how the location within the marina and the substratum type can influence the recruitment of fouling assemblages depending on water parameters and substratum chemical composition. In this study, fouling recruitment was studied using an experimental approach with three materials (basalt, concrete and HDPE plastic) in two sites (close and far to the entrance) in two marinas of Madeira Island (NE Atlantic, Portugal). The structure of benthic assemblages after 6- and 12-months colonization, as well as biotic abundance, NIS abundance, richness, diversity, assemblages' volume, biomass and assemblages' morphology were explored. Differences between marinas were the main source of variation for both 6- and 12-month assemblages, with both marinas having different species composition and biomass. The inner and outer sites of both marinas varied in terms of structure and heterogeneity of assemblages and heterogeneity of morphological traits, but assemblages did not differ among substrata. However, basalt had a higher species richness and diversity while concrete showed a higher bioreceptivity in terms of total biotic coverage than the rest of materials. Overall, differences between and within marinas could be related to their structural morphology. This study can be valuable for management of urban ecosystems, towards an increase in the environmental and ecological status of existing marinas and their HMWB and mitigation coastal ecosystems degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Sempere-Valverde
- Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda Reina Mercedes S/N, 41012 Sevilla, Spain; MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET-Aquatic Research Network, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.
| | - Patrício Ramalhosa
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET-Aquatic Research Network, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
| | - Sahar Chebaane
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET-Aquatic Research Network, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), Funchal, Madeira, Portugal; Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Free Espinosa
- Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda Reina Mercedes S/N, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - João Gama Monteiro
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET-Aquatic Research Network, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), Funchal, Madeira, Portugal; Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidade da Madeira, Portugal
| | - Alejandro Bernal-Ibáñez
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET-Aquatic Research Network, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), Funchal, Madeira, Portugal; Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Eva Cacabelos
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET-Aquatic Research Network, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
| | - Ignacio Gestoso
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET-Aquatic Research Network, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), Funchal, Madeira, Portugal; Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD 21037, USA; Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences of University of Cádiz, Puerto Real, Spain
| | - José Manuel Guerra-García
- Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda Reina Mercedes S/N, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - João Canning-Clode
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET-Aquatic Research Network, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), Funchal, Madeira, Portugal; Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD 21037, USA
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Schaefer N, Sedano F, Bishop MJ, Dunn K, Haeusler MH, Yu KD, Zavoleas Y, Dafforn KA. Facilitation of non-indigenous ascidian by marine eco-engineering interventions at an urban site. BIOFOULING 2023; 39:80-93. [PMID: 36912169 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2023.2186785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Marine artificial structures often support lower native species diversity and more non-indigenous species (NIS), but adding complex habitat and using bioreceptive materials have the potential to mitigate these impacts. Here, the interacting effects of structural complexity (flat, complex with pits) and concrete mixture (standard, or with oyster shell or vermiculite aggregate) on recruitment were assessed at two intertidal levels at an urban site. Complex tiles had less green algal cover, oyster shell mixtures had less brown (Ralfsia sp.) algal cover. At a low tidal elevation, the non-indigenous ascidian Styela plicata dominated complex tiles. Additionally, mixtures with oyster shell supported higher total cover of sessile species, and a higher cover of S. plicata. There were no effects of complexity or mixture on biofilm communities and native and NIS richness. Overall, these results suggest that habitat complexity and some bioreceptive materials may facilitate colonisation by a dominant invertebrate invader on artificial structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Schaefer
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Francisco Sedano
- Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Sevilla, Facultad de Biología, Sevilla, España
| | - Melanie J Bishop
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kate Dunn
- Computational Design, School of Built Environment, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - M Hank Haeusler
- Computational Design, School of Built Environment, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - K Daniel Yu
- Computational Design, School of Built Environment, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Yannis Zavoleas
- Computational Design, School of Built Environment, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Architecture, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Katherine A Dafforn
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
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Ohayashi NS, Rodrigues ID, Marchetti OC, Dias GM. Seeding artificial habitats with native benthic species can prevent the occurrence of exotic organisms. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 182:105771. [PMID: 36257100 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Seeding native species on pillars and platforms of marinas and harbors has been suggested to reduce space availability and prevent the colonization of exotic nuisance species, which are usually associated with coastal urbanization. The efficacy of seeding, however, has been tested mainly on the intertidal zone. To test how seeding native species in the subtidal zone affects the subsequent colonization and spread of exotic species and the community diversity, we deployed 10 PVC plates seeded with adults of the native sponge Mycale angulosa, 10 with the native ascidian Symplegma rubra, both covering about 6% of the available substrate, and 10 plates free of any intervention in a recreational marina from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. We then assessed the diversity and structure of the sessile community across treatments after eight months. Seeding the substrate with S. rubra resulted in no difference to unseeded communities, which were dominated by the exotic bryozoan Schizoporella errata (>66% of the substrate) and supported on average 16.9 ± 1.3 and 14.2 ± 2.0 morphospecies, respectively. However, seeding the substrate with M. angulosa resulted in a distinct community dominated by the seeded sponge (>97% of the substrate) and supporting only 3.2 ± 0.5 morphospecies. Besides, all 13 registered exotic species were reported from communities seeded with S. rubra, 11 from the unseeded communities, but only three were observed in those seeded with M. angulosa. While the consequences of the low diversity of the community seeded with M. angulosa must be addressed since poor communities are usually associated with low biotic resistance to invasion, seeding resulted in a high dominance of the native sponge, reducing the monopolization of resources by exotic species. These results suggest that seeding the substrate with native species should be implemented along with other interventions for managing artificial habitats in the coastal zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathani S Ohayashi
- Universidade Federal do ABC, Marine Experimental Ecology Group, Rua Arcturus, 03 - Jardim Antares, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, CEP: 09606-070, Brazil
| | - Isadora D Rodrigues
- Universidade Federal do ABC, Marine Experimental Ecology Group, Rua Arcturus, 03 - Jardim Antares, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, CEP: 09606-070, Brazil
| | - Otávio C Marchetti
- Universidade Federal do ABC, Marine Experimental Ecology Group, Rua Arcturus, 03 - Jardim Antares, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, CEP: 09606-070, Brazil
| | - Gustavo M Dias
- Universidade Federal do ABC, Marine Experimental Ecology Group, Rua Arcturus, 03 - Jardim Antares, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, CEP: 09606-070, Brazil.
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9
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Spake R, O’Dea RE, Nakagawa S, Doncaster CP, Ryo M, Callaghan CT, Bullock JM. Improving quantitative synthesis to achieve generality in ecology. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:1818-1828. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01891-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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10
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Summers S, Pek YS, Vinod DP, McDougald D, Todd PA, Birch WR, Rice SA. Bacterial biofilm colonization and succession in tropical marine waters are similar across different types of stone materials used in seawall construction. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:928877. [PMID: 35958146 PMCID: PMC9358718 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.928877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Seawalls are important in protecting coastlines from currents, erosion, sea-level rise, and flooding. They are, however, associated with reduced biodiversity, due to their steep orientation, lack of microhabitats, and the materials used in their construction. Hence, there is considerable interest in modifying seawalls to enhance the settlement and diversity of marine organisms, as microbial biofilms play a critical role facilitating algal and invertebrate colonization. We assessed how different stone materials, ranging from aluminosilicates to limestone and concrete, affect biofilm formation. Metagenomic assessment of marine microbial communities indicated no significant impact of material on microbial diversity, irrespective of the diverse surface chemistry and topography. Based on KEGG pathway analysis, surface properties appeared to influence the community composition and function during the initial stages of biofilm development, but this effect disappeared by Day 31. We conclude that marine biofilms converged over time to a generic marine biofilm, rather than the underlying stone substrata type playing a significant role in driving community composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Summers
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Y. Shona Pek
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Deepthi P. Vinod
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India
| | - Diane McDougald
- Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection, The University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter A. Todd
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - William R. Birch
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Scott A. Rice
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Agriculture and Food, Microbiomes for One Systems Health, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Komyakova V, Jaffrés JBD, Strain EMA, Cullen-Knox C, Fudge M, Langhamer O, Bender A, Yaakub SM, Wilson E, Allan BJM, Sella I, Haward M. Conceptualisation of multiple impacts interacting in the marine environment using marine infrastructure as an example. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 830:154748. [PMID: 35337877 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The human population is increasingly reliant on the marine environment for food, trade, tourism, transport, communication and other vital ecosystem services. These services require extensive marine infrastructure, all of which have direct or indirect ecological impacts on marine environments. The rise in global marine infrastructure has led to light, noise and chemical pollution, as well as facilitation of biological invasions. As a result, marine systems and associated species are under increased pressure from habitat loss and degradation, formation of ecological traps and increased mortality, all of which can lead to reduced resilience and consequently increased invasive species establishment. Whereas the cumulative bearings of collective human impacts on marine populations have previously been demonstrated, the multiple impacts associated with marine infrastructure have not been well explored. Here, building on ecological literature, we explore the impacts that are associated with marine infrastructure, conceptualising the notion of correlative, interactive and cumulative effects of anthropogenic activities on the marine environment. By reviewing the range of mitigation approaches that are currently available, we consider the role that eco-engineering, marine spatial planning and agent-based modelling plays in complementing the design and placement of marine structures to incorporate the existing connectivity pathways, ecological principles and complexity of the environment. Because the effect of human-induced, rapid environmental change is predicted to increase in response to the growth of the human population, this study demonstrates that the development and implementation of legislative framework, innovative technologies and nature-informed solutions are vital, preventative measures to mitigate the multiple impacts associated with marine infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeriya Komyakova
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia; Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7053, Australia.
| | - Jasmine B D Jaffrés
- C&R Consulting, Townsville, Australia; College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Elisabeth M A Strain
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia; Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7053, Australia
| | - Coco Cullen-Knox
- Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7053, Australia
| | - Maree Fudge
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia; Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7053, Australia; College of Business and Economics, University of Tasmania, Australia
| | - Olivia Langhamer
- Division of Electricity, Department of Electrical Engineering, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Anke Bender
- Division of Electricity, Department of Electrical Engineering, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Siti M Yaakub
- Sustainability & Climate Solutions Department, DHI Water & Environment (S), Singapore
| | - Eloise Wilson
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia; Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7053, Australia
| | - Bridie J M Allan
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | | | - Marcus Haward
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia; Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7053, Australia; Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre, PO Box 897, Launceston, Tasmania 7250, Australia
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Checon HH, Shah Esmaeili Y, Corte GN, Malinconico N, Turra A. Locally developed models improve the accuracy of remotely assessed metrics as a rapid tool to classify sandy beach morphodynamics. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13413. [PMID: 35602896 PMCID: PMC9121867 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Classification of beaches into morphodynamic states is a common approach in sandy beach studies, due to the influence of natural variables in ecological patterns and processes. The use of remote sensing for identifying beach type and monitoring changes has been commonly applied through multiple methods, which often involve expensive equipment and software processing of images. A previous study on the South African Coast developed a method to classify beaches using conditional tree inferences, based on beach morphological features estimated from public available satellite images, without the need for remote sensing processing, which allowed for a large-scale characterization. However, since the validation of this method has not been tested in other regions, its potential uses as a trans-scalar tool or dependence from local calibrations has not been evaluated. Here, we tested the validity of this method using a 200-km stretch of the Brazilian coast, encompassing a wide gradient of morphodynamic conditions. We also compared this locally derived model with the results that would be generated using the cut-off values established in the previous study. To this end, 87 beach sites were remotely assessed using an accessible software (i.e., Google Earth) and sampled for an in-situ environmental characterization and beach type classification. These sites were used to derive the predictive model of beach morphodynamics from the remotely assessed metrics, using conditional inference trees. An additional 77 beach sites, with a previously known morphodynamic type, were also remotely evaluated to test the model accuracy. Intertidal width and exposure degree were the only variables selected in the model to classify beach type, with an accuracy higher than 90% through different metrics of model validation. The only limitation was the inability in separating beach types in the reflective end of the morphodynamic continuum. Our results corroborated the usefulness of this method, highlighting the importance of a locally developed model, which substantially increased the accuracy. Although the use of more sophisticated remote sensing approaches should be preferred to assess coastal dynamics or detailed morphodynamic features (e.g., nearshore bars), the method used here provides an accessible and accurate approach to classify beach into major states at large spatial scales. As beach type can be used as a surrogate for biodiversity, environmental sensitivity and touristic preferences, the method may aid management in the identification of priority areas for conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helio Herminio Checon
- Departament of Animal Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil,Oceanographic Institute, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Yasmina Shah Esmaeili
- Departament of Animal Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Guilherme N. Corte
- Oceanographic Institute, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil,Escola do Mar, Ciência e Tecnologia, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Nicole Malinconico
- Oceanographic Institute, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexander Turra
- Oceanographic Institute, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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