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Coleman DJ, Gittman RK, Landry CE, Byers JE, Alexander CR, Coughlin GP, Woodson CB. Quantifying the impacts of future shoreline modification on biodiversity in a case study of coastal Georgia, United States. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024:e14301. [PMID: 38801276 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
People often modify the shoreline to mitigate erosion and protect property from storm impacts. The 2 main approaches to modification are gray infrastructure (e.g., bulkheads and seawalls) and natural or green infrastructure (NI) (e.g., living shorelines). Gray infrastructure is still more often used for coastal protection than NI, despite having more detrimental effects on ecosystem parameters, such as biodiversity. We assessed the impact of gray infrastructure on biodiversity and whether the adoption of NI can mitigate its loss. We examined the literature to quantify the relationship of gray infrastructure and NI to biodiversity and developed a model with temporal geospatial data on ecosystem distribution and shoreline modification to project future shoreline modification for our study location, coastal Georgia (United States). We applied the literature-derived empirical relationships of infrastructure effects on biodiversity to the shoreline modification projections to predict change in biodiversity under different NI versus gray infrastructure scenarios. For our study area, which is dominated by marshes and use of gray infrastructure, when just under half of all new coastal infrastructure was to be NI, previous losses of biodiversity from gray infrastructure could be mitigated by 2100 (net change of biodiversity of +0.14%, 95% confidence interval -0.10% to +0.39%). As biodiversity continues to decline from human impacts, it is increasingly imperative to minimize negative impacts when possible. We therefore suggest policy and the permitting process be changed to promote the adoption of NI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Coleman
- Institute of Resilient Infrastructure Systems, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Rachel K Gittman
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Craig E Landry
- Institute of Resilient Infrastructure Systems, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - James E Byers
- Institute of Resilient Infrastructure Systems, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Clark R Alexander
- Institute of Resilient Infrastructure Systems, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, University of Georgia, Savannah, Georgia, USA
| | - G Paul Coughlin
- Institute of Resilient Infrastructure Systems, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - C Brock Woodson
- Institute of Resilient Infrastructure Systems, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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2
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Liu Z, Fagherazzi S, He Q, Gourgue O, Bai J, Liu X, Miao C, Hu Z, Cui B. A global meta-analysis on the drivers of salt marsh planting success and implications for ecosystem services. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3643. [PMID: 38684646 PMCID: PMC11059165 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47769-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Planting has been widely adopted to battle the loss of salt marshes and to establish living shorelines. However, the drivers of success in salt marsh planting and their ecological effects are poorly understood at the global scale. Here, we assemble a global database, encompassing 22,074 observations reported in 210 studies, to examine the drivers and impacts of salt marsh planting. We show that, on average, 53% of plantings survived globally, and plant survival and growth can be enhanced by careful design of sites, species selection, and novel planted technologies. Planting enhances shoreline protection, primary productivity, soil carbon storage, biodiversity conservation and fishery production (effect sizes = 0.61, 1.55, 0.21, 0.10 and 1.01, respectively), compared with degraded wetlands. However, the ecosystem services of planted marshes, except for shoreline protection, have not yet fully recovered compared with natural wetlands (effect size = -0.25, 95% CI -0.29, -0.22). Fortunately, the levels of most ecological functions related to climate change mitigation and biodiversity increase with plantation age when compared with natural wetlands, and achieve equivalence to natural wetlands after 5-25 years. Overall, our results suggest that salt marsh planting could be used as a strategy to enhance shoreline protection, biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zezheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Sergio Fagherazzi
- Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, Massachusetts, 02215, USA
| | - Qiang He
- Coastal Ecology Lab, MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Olivier Gourgue
- Operational Directorate Natural Environment, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Junhong Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- Yellow River Estuary Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education, Shandong, 257500, China
| | - Xinhui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- Research and Development Center for Watershed Environmental Eco-Engineering, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai, 519087, China
| | - Chiyuan Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Zhan Hu
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519000, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
- Pearl River Estuary Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Ministry of Education, Zhuhai, 519000, China.
| | - Baoshan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environmental Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
- Yellow River Estuary Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education, Shandong, 257500, China.
- Research and Development Center for Watershed Environmental Eco-Engineering, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai, 519087, China.
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3
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Verutes GM, Yang PF, Eastman SF, Doughty CL, Adgie TE, Dietz K, Dix NG, North A, Guannel G, Chapman SK. Using vulnerability assessment to characterize coastal protection benefits provided by estuarine habitats of a dynamic intracoastal waterway. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16738. [PMID: 38390391 PMCID: PMC10883153 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The existence of coastal ecosystems depends on their ability to gain sediment and keep pace with sea level rise. Similar to other coastal areas, Northeast Florida (United States) is experiencing rapid population growth, climate change, and shifting wetland communities. Rising seas and more severe storms, coupled with the intensification of human activities, can modify the biophysical environment, thereby increasing coastal exposure to storm-induced erosion and inundation. Using the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve as a case study, we analyzed the distribution of coastal protection services-expressly, wave attenuation and sediment control-provided by estuarine habitats inside a dynamic Intracoastal waterway. We explored six coastal variables that contribute to coastal flooding and erosion-(a) relief, (b) geomorphology, (c) estuarine habitats, (d) wind exposure, (e) boat wake energy, and (f) storm surge potential-to assess physical exposure to coastal hazards. The highest levels of coastal exposure were found in the north and south sections of the Reserve (9% and 14%, respectively) compared to only 4% in the central, with exposure in the south driven by low wetland elevation, high surge potential, and shorelines composed of less stable sandy and muddy substrate. The most vulnerable areas of the central Reserve and main channel of the Intracoastal waterway were exposed to boat wakes from larger vessels frequently traveling at medium speeds (10-20 knots) and had shoreline segments oriented towards the prevailing winds (north-northeast). To guide management for the recently expanded Reserve into vulnerable areas near the City of Saint Augustine, we evaluated six sites of concern where the current distribution of estuarine habitats (mangroves, salt marshes, and oyster beds) likely play the greatest role in natural protection. Spatially explicit outputs also identified potential elevation maintenance strategies such as living shorelines, landform modification, and mangrove establishment for providing coastal risk-reduction and other ecosystem-service co-benefits. Salt marshes and mangroves in two sites of the central section (N-312 and S-312) were found to protect more than a one-quarter of their cross-shore length (27% and 73%, respectively) from transitioning to the highest exposure category. Proposed interventions for mangrove establishment and living shorelines could help maintain elevation in these sites of concern. This work sets the stage for additional research, education, and outreach about where mangroves, salt marshes, and oyster beds are most likely to reduce risk to wetland communities in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Philip F. Yang
- Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship and Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, United States
| | - Scott F. Eastman
- Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, United States
| | - Cheryl L. Doughty
- Department of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Therese E. Adgie
- Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship and Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, United States
| | - Kaitlyn Dietz
- Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, United States
| | - Nicole G. Dix
- Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, United States
| | - Allix North
- Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, United States
| | - Gregory Guannel
- Caribbean Green Technology Center, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, United States
| | - Samantha K. Chapman
- Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship and Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, United States
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4
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Sirianni H, Richter J, Sirianni MJ, Pettyjohn S. Shoreline classification maps and ground truth data for the Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina. Sci Data 2024; 11:103. [PMID: 38253576 PMCID: PMC10803800 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-02954-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Estuaries provide essential ecosystem services and economic value but are facing widespread degradation due to changing anthropogenic and climatic factors. In North Carolina, coastal structures, like bulkheads and riprap, are widely used by property owners throughout the Albemarle-Pamlico estuary to stop erosion and reclaim lost land following storm events. While coastal development is tightly governed, limited historical and no up-to-date data report on the spatial distribution of coastal structures throughout the Albemarle-Pamlico estuary. Here we describe the development of a dataset that classifies and catalogues 67 km of shoreline type along the Neuse River Estuary (NRE), a large tributary of the Albemarle-Pamlico. We used available LiDAR digital elevation models (DEMs), aerial imagery, and a ground truthing field campaign to determine shoreline type present along the NRE as of 2020. We validated these results using an intensive manual editing procedure that comparatively examines DEMs, LiDAR derived slope, aerial imagery, and ground truth photography of the shoreline. This dataset is available for public download.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Sirianni
- Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, East Carolina University, Greenville, USA.
| | - Jessica Richter
- Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, East Carolina University, Greenville, USA
| | - Matthew J Sirianni
- Department of Geological Sciences, East Carolina University, Greenville, USA
| | - Sarah Pettyjohn
- Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, East Carolina University, Greenville, USA
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5
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Carroll JM, de la Torre W, Kelly JL. Submarine groundwater discharge interacts with creek geomorphology to affect eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica growth rates in a coastal Georgia creek. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15837. [PMID: 37554337 PMCID: PMC10405797 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica, are commercially important coastal species that provide many ecosystem services for coastal communities. Unfortunately, 85% of oyster reefs have been lost globally, prompting investments in restoration efforts to rebuild populations. Managers often consider several well-studied environmental and water quality parameters when making restoration site decisions. However, recent research suggests that submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) may play a role in driving the distribution of oysters in some estuaries. Specifically, SGD may result in localized areas of low dissolved oxygen and low pH that could inhibit oyster recruitment and survival. However, SGD may interact with other potential oyster stressors, including creek geomorphology. On point bars, sediment accumulation could alter growth rates of oysters and physiology, and it is possible that the two factors, SGD and creek geomorphology, could interact to impact oyster growth. We conducted a field experiment to examine the effects of SGD and creek geomorphology on oyster growth rates in a marsh-lined tidal creek in Georgia, USA. High and low SGD sites were paired within point bars and cut banks. Oysters were deployed in cages for 72 days and growth rates were determined. We found a significant interaction between SGD and creek geomorphology on oyster growth rates. Oysters grew at significantly faster rates at locations on accretionary point bars regardless of SGD flux, whereas, on erosional cut banks, high SGD flux significantly reduced oyster growth rate relative to low SGD flux. It appears that SGD may negatively influence oyster growth at specific creek locations, likely due to the presence of other stressors. Therefore, it is important to consider potential interacting and confounding stressors when managing oyster populations. As SGD is still a relatively understudied potential stressor for oysters, it is critical to continue to examine how groundwater might influence oysters in other locations and in combination with other stressors. Regardless, this study provides further evidence that SGD should be considered in future management efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M. Carroll
- Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, United States
| | - Walker de la Torre
- Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, United States
| | - Jacque L. Kelly
- Geology and Geography, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, United States
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6
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Miesse T, de Souza de Lima A, Khalid A, Cassalho F, Coleman DJ, Ferreira CM, Sutton-Grier AE. Numerical modeling of wave attenuation: implications of representing vegetation found in coastal saltmarshes in the Chesapeake Bay. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:982. [PMID: 37481757 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11533-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Coastal communities are vulnerable to wave and storm surges during extreme events, highlighting the need to increase community resilience. The effectiveness of natural wetlands in attenuating waves is vital to designing strategies for protecting public safety. This study aimed to understand how vegetation attenuates waves and determine the best method for modeling vegetation's impact on wave dynamics. The researchers compared two different vegetation representations in numerical models, implicit and explicit, using SWAN and XBeach at varying spatial resolutions. The study focused on two marshes in the Chesapeake Bay, using field measurements to investigate the accuracy of each method in representing wave attenuation by vegetation and the implications of explicitly representing average characteristics of one vegetation species on a regional level. Results showed that explicit modeling using average vegetation characteristics provided more accurate results than the implicit model, which only showed wave attenuation due to topography. The finer scale resolution and site-specific vegetation characteristics further improved the accuracy of wave attenuation observed. Understanding the trade-offs between different vegetation representations in numerical models is essential to accurately represent wave attenuation and design effective protection strategies for coastal communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Miesse
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, USA, Virginia.
| | - Andre de Souza de Lima
- Centro de Filosofia E Ciências Humanas, Departamento de Geociências, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Geografia, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus UniversitárioTrindade, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-970, Brazil
| | - Arslaan Khalid
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, USA, Virginia
| | - Felicio Cassalho
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, USA, Virginia
| | - Daniel J Coleman
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, USA, Virginia
| | - Celso M Ferreira
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, USA, Virginia
| | - Ariana E Sutton-Grier
- Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
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7
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Dunlop T, Glamore W, Felder S. Restoring estuarine ecosystems using nature-based solutions: Towards an integrated eco-engineering design guideline. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 873:162362. [PMID: 36828074 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Traditional solutions to estuarine flood risk management have typically involved the implementation of static 'hard' shoreline protection structures, often at the expense of the natural landscape and the societal and ecosystem benefits they provide. In a changing climate, there is an increasing need to restore these estuarine ecosystems, and alternative measures in the form of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are being considered. Guidance that balances ecology and engineering is required for NbS to establish as self-sustaining ecosystems. In this study, a review of NbS guidelines was undertaken, revealing an absence of technical content bridging ecological and engineering values. Instead, most guidelines focus on NbS project implementation, identifying engineering aspects, and providing frameworks for investors and project managers. Integration of technical engineering and ecological outcomes within NbS guidelines is needed. A conceptual approach for integrating eco-engineering aspects for estuarine ecosystems is proposed. This conceptual approach focuses on the critical thresholds and parameter relationships associated with establishment, growth, recovery and mortality, and functionality of estuarine NbS, in efforts to quantify changes in ecological development and flood risk mitigation services. The conceptual approach documents how the suggested relationships between parameters can be adopted by practitioners in the short-term, medium-term, and long-term. The application of this conceptual approach to multi-habitat restoration is explored, including lifecycle timing and ecosystem/design functionality. The findings of this study demonstrate the need for an integrated NbS design guideline that balances ecology and engineering research for the long-term success of estuarine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dunlop
- Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Manly Vale 2093, NSW, Australia.
| | - William Glamore
- Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Manly Vale 2093, NSW, Australia.
| | - Stefan Felder
- Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Manly Vale 2093, NSW, Australia.
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8
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Smith RS, Cheng SL, Castorani MCN. Meta-analysis of ecosystem services associated with oyster restoration. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e13966. [PMID: 35686509 PMCID: PMC10087230 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13966] [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: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Restoration of foundation species promises to reverse environmental degradation and return lost ecosystem services, but a lack of standardized evaluation across projects limits understanding of recovery, especially in marine systems. Oyster reefs are restored to reverse massive global declines and reclaim valuable ecosystem services, but the success of these projects has not been systematically and comprehensively quantified. We synthesized data on ecosystem services associated with oyster restoration from 245 pairs of restored and degraded reefs and 136 pairs of restored and reference reefs across 3500 km of U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coastlines. On average, restoration was associated with a 21-fold increase in oyster production (mean log response ratio = 3.08 [95% confidence interval: 2.58-3.58]), 34-97% enhancement of habitat provisioning (mean community abundance = 0.51 [0.41-0.61], mean richness = 0.29 [0.19-0.39], and mean biomass = 0.69 [0.39-0.99]), 54% more nitrogen removal (mean = 0.43 [0.13-0.73]), and 89-95% greater sediment nutrients (mean = 0.67 [0.27-1.07]) and organic matter (mean = 0.64 [0.44-0.84]) relative to degraded habitats. Moreover, restored reefs matched reference reefs for these ecosystem services. Our results support the continued and expanded use of oyster restoration to enhance ecosystem services of degraded coastal systems and match many functions provided by reference reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S Smith
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Selina L Cheng
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Max C N Castorani
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Suedel BC, Calabria J, Bilskie MV, Byers JE, Broich K, McKay SK, Tritinger AS, Woodson CB, Dolatowski E. Engineering coastal structures to centrally embrace biodiversity. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 323:116138. [PMID: 36113289 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Global environmental factors (e.g., extreme weather, climate action failure, natural disasters, human environmental damage) increasingly threaten coastal communities. Shorelines are often hardened (seawalls, bulkheads) to prevent flooding and erosion and protect coastal communities. However, hardened shorelines lead to environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. Developmental pressures that are growing in scale, scope, and complexity necessitate the development of sustainable solutions to work with, rather than against, nature. Such nature-based solutions (NBS) provide protection and improve environmental quality and enhance biodiversity. To further this pressing need into action, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) began the Engineering With Nature (EWN) initiative to balance economic, environmental, and social benefits through collaboration with partners and stakeholders. This work shows how engineering practice can be advanced through structured decision-making and landscape architecture renderings that include ecological sciences and NBS into an integrated approach for enhancing biodiversity in coastal marine environments. This integrated approach can be applied when designing new infrastructure projects or modifying or repairing existing infrastructure. To help communicate designs incorporating NBS, drawings, and renderings showcasing EWN concepts can aid decision-making. Our experiences with implementing EWN in practice have revealed that involving landscape architects can play a crucial role in successful collaboration and lead to solutions that protect coastal communities while preserving or enhancing biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burton C Suedel
- Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army Corps of Engineers, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS, USA; The Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS), University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Jon Calabria
- College Environment and Design, University of Georgia, 152 Jackson Street Building, Athens, GA, USA; The Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS), University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Matthew V Bilskie
- College of Engineering, University of Georgia, 0712C Boyd Graduate Research Building, 200 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA, USA; The Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS), University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - James E Byers
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Ecology Building, Rm. 194B, 140 E Green St, Athens, GA, USA; The Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS), University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Kelsey Broich
- Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia, 201 North Milledge Avenue, Athens, GA, USA; The Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS), University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - S Kyle McKay
- Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army Corps of Engineers, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY, 10278, USA; The Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS), University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Amanda S Tritinger
- Engineer Research and Development Center, US Army Corps of Engineers, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS, USA; The Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS), University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - C Brock Woodson
- College of Engineering, University of Georgia, 708C Boyd Graduate Research Center 200 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA, USA; The Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS), University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Emily Dolatowski
- College Environment and Design, University of Georgia, 152 Jackson Street Building, Athens, GA, USA; The Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS), University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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10
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Francis TB, Sullaway GH, Feist BE, Shelton AO, Chui E, Daley C, Frick KE, Tolimieri N, Williams GD, Samhouri JF. Equivocal associations between small-scale shoreline restoration and subtidal fishes in an urban estuary. Restor Ecol 2022; 30:e13652. [PMID: 36589387 PMCID: PMC9790757 DOI: 10.1111/rec.13652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Restoration of degraded coastal and estuarine habitats owing to human activities is a major global concern. In Puget Sound, Washington, U.S.A., removal of hard armor from beaches and intertidal zones has become a priority for state and local agencies. However, the effectiveness of these shoreline restoration programs for subtidal habitats and fish is unknown. We surveyed six restoration sites in Puget Sound over 2 years to evaluate associations between shoreline restoration and subtidal fish abundance. We measured the abundance of juvenile salmonids and forage fishes along armored, restored, and reference shorelines. Bayesian generalized linear models showed limited support for associations between shoreline restoration and these fishes in the 3-7 years since armor removal. Pacific herring were more abundant at reference shorelines; the shoreline effect for surf smelt varied by survey site. Shoreline restoration was not an important predictor of salmonid abundance; the best models for Chinook and chum salmon included predictors for survey site and eelgrass, respectively. The retention of survey site in several species' top models reveals the influence of the broader landscape context. We also found seasonal variation in abundance for chum salmon and surf smelt. Our results suggest that juvenile forage fish and salmonids in estuaries likely have unique responses to shoreline features, and that the positive effects of armor removal either do not extend into subtidal areas or are not detectable at local scales. To be most effective, coastal restoration programs should consider broader landscape patterns as well as species-specific habitat needs when prioritizing investments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa B. Francis
- Puget Sound InstituteUniversity of Washington TacomaTacomaWA98421U.S.A.
| | - Genoa H. Sullaway
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and Ocean SciencesJuneauAK99801U.S.A.
| | - Blake E. Feist
- Conservation Biology DivisionNorthwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationSeattleWA98112U.S.A.
| | - Andrew O. Shelton
- Conservation Biology DivisionNorthwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationSeattleWA98112U.S.A.
| | - Emily Chui
- Department of Marine ScienceCalifornia State University Monterey BaySeasideCA93955U.S.A.
| | - Caroline Daley
- Department of BiologyMiddlebury CollegeMiddleburyVT05753U.S.A.
| | - Kinsey E. Frick
- Fish Ecology DivisionNorthwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationSeattleWA98112U.S.A.
| | - Nick Tolimieri
- Conservation Biology DivisionNorthwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationSeattleWA98112U.S.A.
| | - Gregory D. Williams
- Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Under contract to Northwest Fisheries Science CenterNational Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationSeattleWA98112U.S.A.
| | - Jameal F. Samhouri
- Conservation Biology DivisionNorthwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationSeattleWA98112U.S.A.
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Levine AJ, Turrietta EM, Bilkovic DM, Chambers RM. Demographic and Trophic Analysis of Adult Grass Shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) from Living Shoreline and Natural Tidal Marshes in the Chesapeake Bay. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2022. [DOI: 10.1656/045.029.0204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Donna M. Bilkovic
- Center for Coastal Resources Management, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062
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12
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Woodland RJ, Harris L, Reilly E, Fireman A, Schott E, Heyes A. Food web restructuring across an urban estuarine gradient. AMBIO 2022; 51:888-900. [PMID: 34374954 PMCID: PMC8847660 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01610-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Food webs in urban estuaries support valuable ecosystem services that are subject to a wide range of stressors that can degrade the structure of trophic networks. Multiple trophic pathways stabilize food webs by providing complementary diet resources for consumers but the consequences of urbanization on estuarine food webs are relatively unknown. In estuarine creeks across an urban-to-suburban gradient, we demonstrate trophic decoupling of benthic and pelagic pathways, trophic niche contraction, and increasing human health risk arising with the same factors that are associated with ecological degradation. This suggests an urban estuarine paradox-human activities often create larger volumes of deep water habitat, yet human activities also render much of this area unproductive with measurable opportunity costs to food webs. Our findings emphasize the shared consequences of environmental degradation for the ecological integrity of urban estuaries and the health of urban communities that rely on estuaries for sustenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J. Woodland
- Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, 146 Williams St, PO Box 38, Solomons, MD 20688 USA
| | - Lora Harris
- Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, 146 Williams St, PO Box 38, Solomons, MD 20688 USA
| | - Erin Reilly
- Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, 146 Williams St, PO Box 38, Solomons, MD 20688 USA
- James River Association, 211 Rocketts Way, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23231 USA
| | - Alexandra Fireman
- Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, 146 Williams St, PO Box 38, Solomons, MD 20688 USA
- Department of Biology and Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, University of Florida, PO Box 118525, Gainesville, FL 32605 USA
| | - Eric Schott
- Institute of Marine & Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, 701 E. Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21202 USA
| | - Andrew Heyes
- Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, 146 Williams St, PO Box 38, Solomons, MD 20688 USA
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13
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Wellman EH, Baillie CJ, Puckett BJ, Donaher SE, Trackenberg SN, Gittman RK. Reef design and site hydrodynamics mediate oyster restoration and marsh stabilization outcomes. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2506. [PMID: 34870355 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2506] [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: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The detrimental ecological impacts of engineered shoreline protection methods (e.g., seawalls) and the need to protect the coastal zone have prompted calls for greater use of natural and nature-based infrastructure (NNBI). To balance competing needs of structural stability and ecological functioning, managers require assessments of NNBI designs and materials for differing environmental settings (e.g., among wave-energy regimes). To examine the effects of setting and oyster-based NNBI design on the provision of shoreline protection, we constructed reefs from two substrates: a novel, biodegradable material (Oyster Catcher, OC) and traditional oyster shell bags (SB) on low- and high-energy eroding salt marsh shorelines, designated based on fetch and boat wake exposure. Both reef types buffered marsh elevation change on the high-energy shoreline relative to unaltered controls, but only SB reefs were able to do so on the low-energy shoreline. Additionally, both shorelines experienced high ambient rates of retreat and declines in marsh vegetation shoot density. Although constructed reefs did not mitigate marsh retreat on the low-energy shoreline, novel OC reefs significantly reduced retreat relative to SB reefs and control sites (no reefs) on the high-energy shoreline. Those SB reefs were severely damaged by storm events, increasing their areal footprints at the expense of vertical relief. Conversely, OC reefs on both shorelines exhibited steady oyster recruitment and growth and hosted higher densities of larger oysters. To successfully provide shoreline stabilization benefits, oyster-based NNBI must be structurally stable and able to promote sustained oyster recruitment and growth. Our results indicate that deliberate decisions regarding NNBI substrate, siting, and configuration can produce resilient reefs, which reduce rates of erosion and, in some cases, enhance vertical accretion along salt marsh edges. The growth trajectory, structural stability, and co-benefit provisioning of OC reefs demonstrate the potential of alternative restoration substrates to provide valuable oyster habitat along threatened marsh shorelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emory H Wellman
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Brandon J Puckett
- North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve, Beaufort, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sarah E Donaher
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Anderson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Stacy N Trackenberg
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rachel K Gittman
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
- Coastal Studies Institute, East Carolina University, Wanchese, North Carolina, USA
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14
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15
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Farr ER, Johnson MR, Nelson MW, Hare JA, Morrison WE, Lettrich MD, Vogt B, Meaney C, Howson UA, Auster PJ, Borsuk FA, Brady DC, Cashman MJ, Colarusso P, Grabowski JH, Hawkes JP, Mercaldo-Allen R, Packer DB, Stevenson DK. An assessment of marine, estuarine, and riverine habitat vulnerability to climate change in the Northeast U.S. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260654. [PMID: 34882701 PMCID: PMC8659346 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is impacting the function and distribution of habitats used by marine, coastal, and diadromous species. These impacts often exacerbate the anthropogenic stressors that habitats face, particularly in the coastal environment. We conducted a climate vulnerability assessment of 52 marine, estuarine, and riverine habitats in the Northeast U.S. to develop an ecosystem-scale understanding of the impact of climate change on these habitats. The trait-based assessment considers the overall vulnerability of a habitat to climate change to be a function of two main components, sensitivity and exposure, and relies on a process of expert elicitation. The climate vulnerability ranks ranged from low to very high, with living habitats identified as the most vulnerable. Over half of the habitats examined in this study are expected to be impacted negatively by climate change, while four habitats are expected to have positive effects. Coastal habitats were also identified as highly vulnerable, in part due to the influence of non-climate anthropogenic stressors. The results of this assessment provide regional managers and scientists with a tool to inform habitat conservation, restoration, and research priorities, fisheries and protected species management, and coastal and ocean planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R. Farr
- Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Michael R. Johnson
- Habitat and Ecosystem Services Division, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Gloucester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Mark W. Nelson
- ECS, Under contract to the Office of Science and Technology, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jonathan A. Hare
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Wendy E. Morrison
- Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Matthew D. Lettrich
- ECS, Under contract to the Office of Science and Technology, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Bruce Vogt
- NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Annapolis, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Christopher Meaney
- Gulf of Maine Coastal Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Falmouth, Maine, United States of America
| | - Ursula A. Howson
- Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Sterling, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Peter J. Auster
- Mystic Aquarium & University of Connecticut, Groton, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Frank A. Borsuk
- Region 3, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wheeling, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Damian C. Brady
- Darling Marine Center, University of Maine, Walpole, Maine, United States of America
| | - Matthew J. Cashman
- Maryland-Delaware-DC Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Phil Colarusso
- Region 1, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jonathan H. Grabowski
- Marine Science Center, Northeastern University, Nahant, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - James P. Hawkes
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Orono, Maine, United States of America
| | - Renee Mercaldo-Allen
- Milford Laboratory, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Milford, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - David B. Packer
- James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Highlands, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - David K. Stevenson
- Habitat and Ecosystem Services Division, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Gloucester, Massachusetts, United States of America
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16
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Restored Coastal Habitat Can “Reel In” Juvenile Sportfish: Population and Community Responses in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, USA. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su132212832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Coastal habitats are declining worldwide, which has impacted economically important fisheries, especially in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida. As a result, extensive intertidal oyster reef and living shoreline restoration projects have been implemented. Restoration can also theoretically benefit predator populations, but this relationship is understudied. Here, the impact of habitat restoration on juvenile predatory fish (i.e., sportfish) populations (abundance) and communities (species richness, diversity, and assemblage) was assessed prior to and following oyster reef restoration and living shoreline stabilization for up to three years, and incorporated the influence of 17 environmental predictor variables. Juvenile sportfish abundance and richness (n = 11) were variable over time but collectively higher on restored oyster reefs compared to controls, and similar between control and stabilized shorelines. Sportfish abundance was best described by a combination of biotic features of the site (e.g., reef height and benthic substrate cover), prey abundance, decreasing distance to the nearest ocean inlet and dissolved oxygen. Results suggest future restoration site selection should emphasize adequate dissolved oxygen (~6 mg/L), oyster densities above 50/m2 and reef height above 55 mm, and minimum shoreline vegetation coverage of 50% to support macrofaunal prey and subsequently attract sportfish. These findings can help natural resource managers better use habitat restoration as a tool for enhancing fish populations in the future.
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17
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Isdell RE, Bilkovic DM, Guthrie AG, Mitchell MM, Chambers RM, Leu M, Hershner C. Living shorelines achieve functional equivalence to natural fringe marshes across multiple ecological metrics. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11815. [PMID: 34447620 PMCID: PMC8366526 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nature-based shoreline protection provides a welcome class of adaptations to promote ecological resilience in the face of climate change. Along coastlines, living shorelines are among the preferred adaptation strategies to both reduce erosion and provide ecological functions. As an alternative to shoreline armoring, living shorelines are viewed favorably among coastal managers and some private property owners, but they have yet to undergo a thorough examination of how their levels of ecosystem functions compare to their closest natural counterpart: fringing marshes. Here, we provide a synthesis of results from a multi-year, large-spatial-scale study in which we compared numerous ecological metrics (including habitat provision for fish, invertebrates, diamondback terrapin, and birds, nutrient and carbon storage, and plant productivity) measured in thirteen pairs of living shorelines and natural fringing marshes throughout coastal Virginia, USA. Living shorelines were composed of marshes created by bank grading, placement of sand fill for proper elevations, and planting of S. alterniflora and S. patens, as well as placement of a stone sill seaward and parallel to the marsh to serve as a wave break. Overall, we found that living shorelines were functionally equivalent to natural marshes in nearly all measured aspects, except for a lag in soil composition due to construction of living shoreline marshes with clean, low-organic sands. These data support the prioritization of living shorelines as a coastal adaptation strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Isdell
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, United States of America
| | - Donna Marie Bilkovic
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, United States of America
| | - Amanda G Guthrie
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, United States of America
| | - Molly M Mitchell
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, United States of America
| | - Randolph M Chambers
- Biology Department, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States of America.,Keck Environmental Laboratory, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States of America
| | - Matthias Leu
- Biology Department, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States of America
| | - Carl Hershner
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, United States of America
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18
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Carroll JM, Kelly JL, Treible LM, Bliss T. Submarine groundwater discharge as a potential driver of eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, populations in Georgia. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 170:105440. [PMID: 34333337 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105440] [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: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Reef-building eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica, provide many ecosystem services, including production of valuable commercial products, formation of complex habitats, improved water quality and shoreline protection. Despite this, oyster populations have experienced dramatic declines throughout their range, spawning massive investment in management and restoration. Restoration efforts typically consider several well-studied metrics that normally influence oyster success; however, one potential factor that has not received much prior attention is submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). We conducted a series of field surveys and field experiments to explore the relationship between SGD and oysters in a marsh-lined tidal creek in Georgia, USA. SGD was mapped across multiple time points using a natural radon tracer (radon-222), and fluxes were paired with discrete measurements of oyster density, condition, size, recruitment and growth at multiple locations along the creek. Variation in oyster metrics was best explained by a combination of SGD, pH, and DO, which displayed a high degree of multicollinearity. We found an overall negative, nonlinear relationship between oyster density and groundwater flux. Interestingly, juvenile and adult condition and growth were not negatively impacted by groundwater. Rather, our results suggest that the likely mechanism for the density-flux relationship was interruption of the larval recruitment, which was also negatively related to flux. We hypothesize that larval interruption is due to the low dissolved oxygen and pH conditions of the groundwater at high flux sites. Overall, the interaction between SGD and oysters appears complex, and may be affected by other variables. This study provides evidence of a potential negative effect of a previously understudied natural phenomena on oyster demographics, and we suggest that SGD be considered in future management efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Carroll
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA.
| | - Jacque L Kelly
- Department of Geology and Geography, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA
| | - Laura M Treible
- University of Georgia, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Savannah, GA, USA
| | - Thomas Bliss
- University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, Savannah, GA, USA
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19
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Gittman RK, Scyphers SB, Baillie CJ, Brodmerkel A, Grabowski JH, Livernois M, Poray AK, Smith CS, Fodrie FJ. Reversing a tyranny of cascading shoreline‐protection decisions driving coastal habitat loss. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel K. Gittman
- Department of Biology and Coastal Studies Institute East Carolina University Greenville North Carolina USA
| | - Steven B. Scyphers
- Department of Marine & Environmental Sciences Coastal Sustainability Institute, Northeastern University Nahant Massachusetts USA
| | - Christopher J. Baillie
- Department of Biology and Coastal Studies Institute East Carolina University Greenville North Carolina USA
| | - Anna Brodmerkel
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Morehead City North Carolina USA
| | - Jonathan H. Grabowski
- Department of Marine & Environmental Sciences Coastal Sustainability Institute, Northeastern University Nahant Massachusetts USA
| | - Mariah Livernois
- Department of Marine Biology Texas A&M University at Galveston Galveston Texas USA
| | - Abigail K. Poray
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Morehead City North Carolina USA
| | - Carter S. Smith
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Lab Beaufort North Carolina USA
| | - F. Joel Fodrie
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Morehead City North Carolina USA
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20
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O'Meara TA, Thornton PE, Ricciuto DM, Noyce GL, Rich RL, Megonigal J. Considering coasts: Adapting terrestrial models to characterize coastal wetland ecosystems. Ecol Modell 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2021.109561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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21
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Castagno KA, Bowden AA, Roberts EJ, Burns SE, Harlan SL, Senier L, Scyphers SB. Conservation practice insights from a comparative case study of two shoreline stabilization projects in Boston Harbor,
MA. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Sharon L. Harlan
- Department of Health Sciences and Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Northeastern University Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Laura Senier
- Department of Sociology & Anthropology and Department of Health Sciences Northeastern University Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Steven B. Scyphers
- Department of Marine & Environmental Sciences Marine Science Center, Northeastern University Nahant Massachusetts USA
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22
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Bilkovic DM, Isdell RE, Guthrie AG, Mitchell MM, Chambers RM. Ribbed mussel
Geukensia demissa
population response to living shoreline design and ecosystem development. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Donna Marie Bilkovic
- William & Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Science PO Box 1346 Gloucester Point Virginia23062USA
| | - Robert E. Isdell
- William & Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Science PO Box 1346 Gloucester Point Virginia23062USA
| | - Amanda G. Guthrie
- William & Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Science PO Box 1346 Gloucester Point Virginia23062USA
| | - Molly M. Mitchell
- William & Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Science PO Box 1346 Gloucester Point Virginia23062USA
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Airoldi L, Beck MW, Firth LB, Bugnot AB, Steinberg PD, Dafforn KA. Emerging Solutions to Return Nature to the Urban Ocean. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2021; 13:445-477. [PMID: 32867567 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-032020-020015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Urban and periurban ocean developments impact 1.5% of the global exclusive economic zones, and the demand for ocean space and resources is increasing. As we strive for a more sustainable future, it is imperative that we better design, manage, and conserve urban ocean spaces for both humans and nature. We identify three key objectives for more sustainable urban oceans: reduction of urban pressures, protection and restoration of ocean ecosystems, and support of critical ecosystem services. We describe an array of emerging evidence-based approaches, including greening grayinfrastructure, restoring habitats, and developing biotechnologies. We then explore new economic instruments and incentives for supporting these new approaches and evaluate their feasibility in delivering these objectives. Several of these tools have the potential to help bring nature back to the urban ocean while also addressing some of the critical needs of urban societies, such as climate adaptation, seafood production, clean water, and recreation, providing both human and environmental benefits in some of our most impacted ocean spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Airoldi
- Department of Biology, Chioggia Hydrobiological Station Umberto D'Ancona, University of Padova, 30015 Chioggia, Italy;
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences and Interdepartmental Research Center for Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, UO CoNISMa, 48123 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Michael W Beck
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95060, USA;
| | - Louise B Firth
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom;
| | - Ana B Bugnot
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia;
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia
| | - Peter D Steinberg
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation and School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia;
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551
| | - Katherine A Dafforn
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales 2109, Australia;
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Hardy T, Wu W. Impact of different restoration methods on coastal wetland loss in Louisiana: Bayesian analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2020; 193:1. [PMID: 33284456 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-020-08746-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Extensive efforts have been undertaken in the northern Gulf of Mexico to restore coastal wetlands that have been lost rapidly. The evaluation of these restorations mostly focused on individual-project scales. A modeling framework that can coherently synthesize multi-scale monitoring data and account for various uncertainties would improve quantitative evaluations at broader spatial scales needed for regional decision-making. We aim to develop such a framework to investigate the impact of different restoration methods (hydrological alteration, breakwater infrastructure, vegetative planting, or marsh creation using dredged materials) on wetland loss on the outermost mainland coastlines in Louisiana. We did this by implementing multi-level Bayesian models to predict areal wetland loss (1996-2005 before Hurricane Katrina) as a function of local geophysical variables (relative sea-level rise, wave height, tidal range) and a dummy variable indicating presence/absence of restoration. We assumed the effects of these variables varied by broader watershed scales. The restoration's effect also depended on temporal scales of implementation. The results indicate the sites with hydrological alteration, when implemented for longer than 7 years, had significantly smaller areal wetland loss, compared to the reference sites controlled for the local geophysical variables, in the Chenier Plain watershed, but not in the lower Mississippi River watershed. The effects of the other restoration methods on wetland loss were not significant based on limited numbers of sites. The Bayesian modeling framework we developed can integrate monitoring data/key drivers across projects with uncertainties accounted for, it is adaptable, and presents a useful tool in restoration evaluations spatially and temporally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Hardy
- Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, MS, 39564, USA
| | - Wei Wu
- Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, MS, 39564, USA.
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25
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McClenachan GM, Donnelly MJ, Shaffer MN, Sacks PE, Walters LJ. Does size matter? Quantifying the cumulative impact of small‐scale living shoreline and oyster reef restoration projects on shoreline erosion. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna M. McClenachan
- Department of Biology University of Central Florida Orlando FL 32816 U.S.A
- Department of Biological Sciences Nicholls State University Thibodaux LA 70310 U.S.A
| | | | | | - Paul E. Sacks
- Department of Biology University of Central Florida Orlando FL 32816 U.S.A
| | - Linda J. Walters
- Department of Biology University of Central Florida Orlando FL 32816 U.S.A
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26
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Protecting Coastlines from Flooding in a Changing Climate: A Preliminary Experimental Study to Investigate a Sustainable Approach. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12092471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Rising sea levels are causing more frequent flooding events in coastal areas and generate many issues for coastal communities such as loss of property or damages to infrastructures. To address this issue, this paper reviews measures currently in place and identifies possible control measures that can be implemented to aid preservation of coastlines in the future. Breakwaters present a unique opportunity to proactively address the impact of coastal flooding. However, there is currently a lack of research into combined hard and soft engineering techniques. To address the global need for developing sustainable solutions, three specific breakwater configurations were designed and experimentally compared in the hydraulic laboratory at Coventry University to assess their performance in reducing overtopping and the impact of waves, quantifying the effectiveness of each. The investigation confirmed that stepped configurations work effectively in high amplitudes waves, especially with the presence of a slope angle to aid wave reflection. These results provide a very valuable preliminary investigation into novel sustainable solutions incorporating both artificial and natural based strategies that could be considered by local and national authorities for the planning of future mitigation strategies to defend coastal areas from flooding and erosion.
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27
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Role of saltmarsh production in subsidizing adjacent seagrass food webs: Implications for landscape-scale restoration. FOOD WEBS 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2020.e00158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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28
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Scyphers SB, Beck MW, Furman KL, Haner J, Keeler AG, Landry CE, O'Donnell KL, Webb BM, Grabowski JH. Designing effective incentives for living shorelines as a habitat conservation strategy along residential coasts. Conserv Lett 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Steven B. Scyphers
- Department of Marine & Environmental Sciences, Coastal Sustainability Institute Northeastern University Nahant Massachusetts
| | - Michael W. Beck
- Institute of Marine Science & The Nature Conservancy University of California Santa Cruz California
| | - Kelsi L. Furman
- Department of Marine & Environmental Sciences, Coastal Sustainability Institute Northeastern University Nahant Massachusetts
| | - Judy Haner
- The Nature Conservancy Alabama Coastal Program Mobile Alabama
| | - Andrew G. Keeler
- University of North Carolina—Coastal Studies Institute & Department of Economics East Carolina University Wanchese North Carolina
| | - Craig E. Landry
- Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics University of Georgia Athens Georgia
| | - Kiera L. O'Donnell
- Department of Marine & Environmental Sciences, Coastal Sustainability Institute Northeastern University Nahant Massachusetts
| | - Bret M. Webb
- Department of Civil Engineering University of South Alabama Mobile Alabama
| | - Jonathan H. Grabowski
- Department of Marine & Environmental Sciences, Coastal Sustainability Institute Northeastern University Nahant Massachusetts
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29
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Zhang Y, Ruckelshaus M, Arkema KK, Han B, Lu F, Zheng H, Ouyang Z. Synthetic vulnerability assessment to inform climate-change adaptation along an urbanized coast of Shenzhen, China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 255:109915. [PMID: 31783212 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Coastal zones are increasingly threatened by stressors from both climate change and human activities. Vulnerability assessment is central to the implementation of interventions for adapting climate change. However, synthetic vulnerability based on an integrative analysis of ecosystem service and socioeconomic characteristics in urban coastal zones with tightly coupled human-nature interactions is not fully understood. Based on the Coastal Vulnerability model of the InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Environmental Services and Tradeoffs) tool, a holistic framework for assessing coastal vulnerability to multiple hazards (sea level rise, waves and storm surge) was developed by integrating ecological, physical and socioeconomic factors into a single spatial representation and applied to the coast of Shenzhen, China. Based on the levels of biophysical exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity of coastal communities, a three-dimensional decision matrix was proposed for planning location-specific interventions. Results show that approximately 15% of the coastline were categorized as having high vulnerability. Spatial vulnerability heterogeneity was found within and across the coastal districts, with Yantian grouped into the most vulnerable district. The biophysical exposure has greater influences on the overall vulnerability than either sensitivity or adaptive capacity. This study highlights the significance of complex interactions between natural ecosystems and socioeconomic conditions in driving vulnerability and suggests that combined natural-based defenses and socioeconomic factors contribute to lower vulnerability. The results can help decision-makers prioritize coastal zones for interventions and identifying adaptive strategies that target drivers of vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Mary Ruckelshaus
- The Natural Capital Project, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305-5020, USA; School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Katie K Arkema
- The Natural Capital Project, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305-5020, USA; School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Baolong Han
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Fei Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Hua Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Zhiyun Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.
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30
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A Waterfront View of Coastal Hazards: Contextualizing Relationships among Geographic Exposure, Shoreline Type, and Hazard Concerns among Coastal Residents. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su11236687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Coastal communities exist on the front lines of diverse natural hazards and the growing impacts of climate change. While traditional strategies for dealing with coastal hazards have often involved the hardening or armoring of shorelines, more recent research and practice have demonstrated the value and cost-effectiveness of “living shorelines” and other ecosystem-based strategies for coastal protection. To explore potential relationships among geographic exposure (waterfront vs. inland), shoreline condition (armored vs. natural), and hazard concerns, we surveyed 583 waterfront and inland residents in the northern Gulf of Mexico. We found that overall concern for coastal hazards was similar across waterfront and inland residents, as well as among residents with both armored and natural shorelines. However, concern for specific hazards differed across these groups. Waterfront residents were significantly more concerned about major hurricanes and erosion than inland residents. Conversely, inland residents were more concerned with drought and flooding than waterfront residents. Among waterfront residents, specific hazard concerns were similar between residents with natural and armored shorelines with two key exceptions. Residents with armored shorelines reported higher concern for erosion and sea level rise than residents with natural shorelines. Our results suggest that armored shorelines do not necessarily alleviate concerns about coastal hazards. In the context of balancing social and ecological objectives in addressing coastal hazards or adapting to climate change, understanding the perceptions and behaviors of coastal residents is essential for conserving and protecting coastal ecosystems along residential shorelines.
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31
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Masucci GD, Reimer JD. Expanding walls and shrinking beaches: loss of natural coastline in Okinawa Island, Japan. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7520. [PMID: 31534840 PMCID: PMC6733238 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Okinawa is the largest and most populated island of the Ryukyu Archipelago in southern Japan and is renowned for its natural resources and beauty. Similar as to what has been happening in the rest of the country, Okinawa Island has been affected by an increasing amount of development and construction work. The trend has been particularly acute after reversion to Japanese sovereignty in 1972, following 27 years of post-war American administration. A coastline once characterized by extended sandy beaches surrounded by coral reefs now includes tracts delimited by seawalls, revetments, and other human-made hardening structures. Additionally, part of coastal Okinawa Island was obtained by land-filling shallow ocean areas (land reclamation). Nevertheless, the current extension of the artificial coastline, as well as the level of fragmentation of the natural coastline are unclear, due to the lack of both published studies and easily accessible and updated datasets. The aims of this research were to quantify the extension of coastline alterations in Okinawa Island, including the amount of land-filling performed over the last 41 years, and to describe the coastlines that have been altered the most as well as those that are still relatively pristine. The analyses were performed using a reference map of Okinawa Island based on GIS vector data extracted from the OpenStreetMap (OSM) coastline dataset (average node distance for Okinawa Island = 24 m), in addition to satellite and aerial photography from multiple providers. We measured 431.8 km of altered coastline, equal to about 63% of the total length of coastline in Okinawa Island. Habitat fragmentation is also an issue as the remaining natural coastline was broken into 239 distinct tracts (mean length = 1.05 km). Finally, 21.03 km2 of the island’s surface were of land reclaimed over the last 41 years. The west coast has been altered the most, while the east coast is in relatively more natural conditions, particularly the northern part, which has the largest amount of uninterrupted natural coastline. Given the importance of the ecosystem services that coastal and marine ecosystems provide to local populations of subtropical islands, including significant economic income from tourism, conservation of remaining natural coastlines should be given high priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Diego Masucci
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
| | - James D Reimer
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan.,Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
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32
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Keller DA, Gittman RK, Brodeur MC, Kenworthy MD, Ridge JT, Yeager LA, Rodriguez AB, Fodrie FJ. Salt marsh shoreline geomorphology influences the success of restored oyster reefs and use by associated fauna. Restor Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle A. Keller
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3431 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 U.S.A
| | - Rachel K. Gittman
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3431 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 U.S.A
- Present address: Department of Biology and Coastal Studies Institute East Carolina University Greenville NC 27858 U.S.A
| | - Michelle C. Brodeur
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3431 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 U.S.A
- Present address: North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC 28516 U.S.A
| | - Matthew D. Kenworthy
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3431 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 U.S.A
| | - Justin T. Ridge
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3431 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 U.S.A
- Present address: Division of Marine Science and Conservation Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Beaufort NC 28516 U.S.A
| | - Lauren A. Yeager
- University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78373 U.S.A
| | - Antonio B. Rodriguez
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3431 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 U.S.A
| | - F. Joel Fodrie
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3431 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 U.S.A
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33
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Flow–Vegetation Interaction in a Living Shoreline Restoration and Potential Effect to Mangrove Recruitment. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su11113215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Hydrodynamic differences among shorelines with no vegetation, reference vegetation (mature mangrove), and vegetation planted on restored shoreline (marsh grass and young mangrove) were compared based on field observations 6.5 years after living shoreline restoration. Mean current velocities and waves were more strongly attenuated in vegetation (from channel to shoreline: 80–98% velocity decrease and 35–36% wave height reduction) than in bare shoreline (36–72% velocity decrease, 7% wave height reduction, ANOVA: p < 0.001). Normalized turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates were significantly higher in reference vegetation (0.16 ± 0.03 m−1) than in restored (0.08 ± 0.02 m−1) or bare shoreline (0.02 ± 0.01 m−1, p < 0.001). Significant differences in the current attenuation and turbulence dissipation rates for the reference and planted vegetation are attributed to the observed differences in vegetation array and morphology. Although the hydrodynamic analyses did not suggest limitations to recruitment, mangrove seedlings were not observed in restored vegetation, while four recruited seedlings/m were counted in the reference vegetation. The lack of recruitment in the restored shoreline may suggest a lag in morphological habitat suitability (slope, sediment texture, organic matter content) after restoration. Although hydrodynamics suggest that the restored site should be functionally similar to a reference condition, thresholds in habitat suitability may emerge over longer timescales.
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34
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Smith CS, Puckett B, Gittman RK, Peterson CH. Living shorelines enhanced the resilience of saltmarshes to Hurricane Matthew (2016). ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 28:871-877. [PMID: 29702741 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Nature-based solutions, such as living shorelines, have the potential to restore critical ecosystems, enhance coastal sustainability, and increase resilience to natural disasters; however, their efficacy during storm events compared to traditional hardened shorelines is largely untested. This is a major impediment to their implementation and promotion to policy-makers and homeowners. To address this knowledge gap, we evaluated rock sill living shorelines as compared to natural marshes and hardened shorelines (i.e., bulkheads) in North Carolina, USA for changes in surface elevation, Spartina alterniflora stem density, and structural damage from 2015 to 2017, including before and after Hurricane Matthew (2016). Our results show that living shorelines exhibited better resistance to landward erosion during Hurricane Matthew than bulkheads and natural marshes. Additionally, living shorelines were more resilient than hardened shorelines, as they maintained landward elevation over the two-year study period without requiring any repair. Finally, rock sill living shorelines were able to enhance S. alterniflora stem densities over time when compared to natural marshes. Our results suggest that living shorelines have the potential to improve coastal resilience while supporting important coastal ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carter S Smith
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3431 Arendell Street, Morehead City, North Carolina, 28557, USA
| | - Brandon Puckett
- North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve, Beaufort, North Carolina, 28516, USA
| | - Rachel K Gittman
- Department of Biology and Institute for Coastal Science and Policy, Eastern Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, 27858, USA
| | - Charles H Peterson
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3431 Arendell Street, Morehead City, North Carolina, 28557, USA
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35
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A Global Synthesis Reveals Gaps in Coastal Habitat Restoration Research. SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/su10041040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Coastal ecosystems have drastically declined in coverage and condition across the globe. To combat these losses, marine conservation has recently employed habitat restoration as a strategy to enhance depleted coastal ecosystems. For restoration to be a successful enterprise, however, it is necessary to identify and address potential knowledge gaps and review whether the field has tracked scientific advances regarding best practices. This enables managers, researchers, and practitioners alike to more readily establish restoration priorities and goals. We synthesized the peer-reviewed, published literature on habitat restoration research in salt marshes, oyster reefs, and seagrasses to address three questions related to restoration efforts: (i) How frequent is cross-sector authorship in coastal restoration research? (ii) What is the geographic distribution of coastal restoration research? and (iii) Are abiotic and biotic factors equally emphasized in the literature, and how does this vary with time? Our vote-count survey indicated that one-third of the journal-published studies listed authors from at least two sectors, and 6% listed authors from all three sectors. Across all habitat types, there was a dearth of studies from Africa, Asia, and South America. Finally, despite many experimental studies demonstrating that species interactions can greatly affect the recovery and persistence of coastal foundation species, only one-fourth of the studies we examined discussed their effects on restoration. Combined, our results reveal gaps and discrepancies in restoration research that should be addressed in order to further propel coastal restoration science.
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36
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Lee TS, Toft JD, Cordell JR, Dethier MN, Adams JW, Kelly RP. Quantifying the effectiveness of shoreline armoring removal on coastal biota of Puget Sound. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4275. [PMID: 29492331 PMCID: PMC5825941 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Shoreline armoring is prevalent around the world with unprecedented human population growth and urbanization along coastal habitats. Armoring structures, such as riprap and bulkheads, that are built to prevent beach erosion and protect coastal infrastructure from storms and flooding can cause deterioration of habitats for migratory fish species, disrupt aquatic–terrestrial connectivity, and reduce overall coastal ecosystem health. Relative to armored shorelines, natural shorelines retain valuable habitats for macroinvertebrates and other coastal biota. One question is whether the impacts of armoring are reversible, allowing restoration via armoring removal and related actions of sediment nourishment and replanting of native riparian vegetation. Armoring removal is targeted as a viable option for restoring some habitat functions, but few assessments of coastal biota response exist. Here, we use opportunistic sampling of pre- and post-restoration data for five biotic measures (wrack % cover, saltmarsh % cover, number of logs, and macroinvertebrate abundance and richness) from a set of six restored sites in Puget Sound, WA, USA. This broad suite of ecosystem metrics responded strongly and positively to armor removal, and these results were evident after less than one year. Restoration responses remained positive and statistically significant across different shoreline elevations and temporal trajectories. This analysis shows that removing shoreline armoring is effective for restoration projects aimed at improving the health and productivity of coastal ecosystems, and these results may be widely applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy S Lee
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.,School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jason D Toft
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jeffery R Cordell
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Megan N Dethier
- Department of Biology, Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, WA, USA
| | - Jeffrey W Adams
- Washington Sea Grant, College of the Environment, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ryan P Kelly
- School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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37
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Investing in Natural and Nature-Based Infrastructure: Building Better Along Our Coasts. SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/su10020523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Much of the United States’ critical infrastructure is either aging or requires significant repair, leaving U.S. communities and the economy vulnerable. Outdated and dilapidated infrastructure places coastal communities, in particular, at risk from the increasingly frequent and intense coastal storm events and rising sea levels. Therefore, investments in coastal infrastructure are urgently needed to ensure community safety and prosperity; however, these investments should not jeopardize the ecosystems and natural resources that underlie economic wealth and human well-being. Over the past 50 years, efforts have been made to integrate built infrastructure with natural landscape features, often termed “green” infrastructure, in order to sustain and restore valuable ecosystem functions and services. For example, significant advances have been made in implementing green infrastructure approaches for stormwater management, wastewater treatment, and drinking water conservation and delivery. However, the implementation of natural and nature-based infrastructure (NNBI) aimed at flood prevention and coastal erosion protection is lagging. There is an opportunity now, as the U.S. government reacts to the recent, unprecedented flooding and hurricane damage and considers greater infrastructure investments, to incorporate NNBI into coastal infrastructure projects. Doing so will increase resilience and provide critical services to local communities in a cost-effective manner and thereby help to sustain a growing economy.
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38
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Ziegler SL, Grabowski JH, Baillie CJ, Fodrie FJ. Effects of landscape setting on oyster reef structure and function largely persist more than a decade post‐restoration. Restor Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shelby L. Ziegler
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 3431 Arendell Street, Morehead City NC 28557 U.S.A
| | - Jonathan H. Grabowski
- Marine Science Center Northeastern University 430 Nahant Road, Nahant MA 01908 U.S.A
| | | | - F. J. Fodrie
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 3431 Arendell Street, Morehead City NC 28557 U.S.A
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39
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Choi CY, Jackson MV, Gallo-Cajiao E, Murray NJ, Clemens RS, Gan X, Fuller RA. Biodiversity and China's new Great Wall. DIVERS DISTRIB 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Yeung Choi
- School of Biological Sciences; The University of Queensland; Brisbane QLD Australia
| | - Micha V. Jackson
- School of Biological Sciences; The University of Queensland; Brisbane QLD Australia
| | - Eduardo Gallo-Cajiao
- School of Biological Sciences; The University of Queensland; Brisbane QLD Australia
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences; The University of Queensland; Brisbane QLD Australia
| | - Nicholas J. Murray
- School of Biological Sciences; The University of Queensland; Brisbane QLD Australia
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences; University of New South Wales; UNSW Sydney; Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Robert S. Clemens
- School of Biological Sciences; The University of Queensland; Brisbane QLD Australia
| | - Xiaojing Gan
- Independent researcher; Dutton Park QLD Australia
| | - Richard A. Fuller
- School of Biological Sciences; The University of Queensland; Brisbane QLD Australia
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40
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Keller DA, Gittman RK, Bouchillon RK, Fodrie FJ. Life stage and species identity affect whether habitat subsidies enhance or simply redistribute consumer biomass. J Anim Ecol 2017; 86:1394-1403. [PMID: 28833089 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Quantifying the response of mobile consumers to changes in habitat availability is essential for determining the degree to which population-level productivity is habitat limited rather than regulated by other, potentially density-independent factors. Over landscape scales, this can be explored by monitoring changes in density and foraging as habitat availability varies. As habitat availability increases, densities may: (1) decrease (unit-area production decreases; weak habitat limitation); (2) remain stable (unit-area production remains stable; habitat limitation) or (3) increase (unit-area production increases; strong habitat limitation). We tested the response of mobile estuarine consumers over 5 months to changes in habitat availability in situ by comparing densities and feeding rates on artificial reefs that were or were not adjacent to neighbouring artificial reefs or nearby natural reefs. Using either constructed or natural reefs to manipulate habitat availability, we documented threefold density decreases among juvenile stone crabs as habitat increased (i.e. weak habitat imitation). However, for adult stone crabs, density remained stable across treatments, demonstrating that habitat limitation presents a bottleneck in this species' later life history. Oyster toadfish densities also did not change with increasing habitat availability (i.e. habitat limitation), but densities of other cryptic fishes decreased as habitat availability increased (i.e. weak limitation). Feeding and abundance data suggested that some mobile fishes experience habitat limitation, or, potentially in one case, strong limitation across our habitat manipulations. These findings of significant, community-level habitat limitation provide insight into how global declines in structurally complex estuarine habitats may have reduced the fishery production of coastal ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle A Keller
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, NC, USA
| | - Rachel K Gittman
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, NC, USA
| | - Rachel K Bouchillon
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, NC, USA
| | - F Joel Fodrie
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, NC, USA
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41
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Historical Loss and Current Rehabilitation of Shoreline Habitat along an Urban-Industrial River—Detroit River, Michigan, USA. SUSTAINABILITY 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/su9050828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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42
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Munsch SH, Cordell JR, Toft JD. Effects of shoreline armouring and overwater structures on coastal and estuarine fish: opportunities for habitat improvement. J Appl Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stuart H. Munsch
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences; University of Washington; 1122 NE Boat St. Seattle WA 98105 USA
| | - Jeffery R. Cordell
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences; University of Washington; 1122 NE Boat St. Seattle WA 98105 USA
| | - Jason D. Toft
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences; University of Washington; 1122 NE Boat St. Seattle WA 98105 USA
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43
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Dethier MN, Toft JD, Shipman H. Shoreline Armoring in an Inland Sea: Science-Based Recommendations for Policy Implementation. Conserv Lett 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Megan N. Dethier
- Friday Harbor Laboratories and Biology Department; University of Washington; Friday Harbor WA 98250 USA
| | - Jason D. Toft
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences; University of Washington; Seattle WA 98195 USA
| | - Hugh Shipman
- Washington State Department of Ecology; Olympia WA 98504 USA
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44
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Gittman RK, Scyphers SB, Smith CS, Neylan IP, Grabowski JH. Ecological Consequences of Shoreline Hardening: A Meta-Analysis. Bioscience 2016; 66:763-773. [PMID: 28533564 PMCID: PMC5421310 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biw091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Protecting coastal communities has become increasingly important as their populations grow, resulting in increased demand for engineered shore protection and hardening of over 50% of many urban shorelines. Shoreline hardening is recognized to reduce ecosystem services that coastal populations rely on, but the amount of hardened coastline continues to grow in many ecologically important coastal regions. Therefore, to inform future management decisions, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies comparing the ecosystem services of biodiversity (richness or diversity) and habitat provisioning (organism abundance) along shorelines with versus without engineered-shore structures. Seawalls supported 23% lower biodiversity and 45% fewer organisms than natural shorelines. In contrast, biodiversity and abundance supported by riprap or breakwater shorelines were not different from natural shorelines; however, effect sizes were highly heterogeneous across organism groups and studies. As coastal development increases, the type and location of shoreline hardening could greatly affect the habitat value and functioning of nearshore ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel K Gittman
- Rachel K. Gittman , Steven B. Scyphers, and Jonathan H. Grabowski are affiliated with the Marine Science Center at Northeastern University, in Nahant, Massachusetts. Carter S. Smith and Isabelle P. Neylan are affiliated with the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in Morehead City
| | - Steven B Scyphers
- Rachel K. Gittman , Steven B. Scyphers, and Jonathan H. Grabowski are affiliated with the Marine Science Center at Northeastern University, in Nahant, Massachusetts. Carter S. Smith and Isabelle P. Neylan are affiliated with the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in Morehead City
| | - Carter S Smith
- Rachel K. Gittman , Steven B. Scyphers, and Jonathan H. Grabowski are affiliated with the Marine Science Center at Northeastern University, in Nahant, Massachusetts. Carter S. Smith and Isabelle P. Neylan are affiliated with the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in Morehead City
| | - Isabelle P Neylan
- Rachel K. Gittman , Steven B. Scyphers, and Jonathan H. Grabowski are affiliated with the Marine Science Center at Northeastern University, in Nahant, Massachusetts. Carter S. Smith and Isabelle P. Neylan are affiliated with the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in Morehead City
| | - Jonathan H Grabowski
- Rachel K. Gittman , Steven B. Scyphers, and Jonathan H. Grabowski are affiliated with the Marine Science Center at Northeastern University, in Nahant, Massachusetts. Carter S. Smith and Isabelle P. Neylan are affiliated with the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in Morehead City
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Davis JL, Currin CA, O’Brien C, Raffenburg C, Davis A. Living Shorelines: Coastal Resilience with a Blue Carbon Benefit. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142595. [PMID: 26569503 PMCID: PMC4646691 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Living shorelines are a type of estuarine shoreline erosion control that incorporates native vegetation and preserves native habitats. Because they provide the ecosystem services associated with natural coastal wetlands while also increasing shoreline resilience, living shorelines are part of the natural and hybrid infrastructure approach to coastal resiliency. Marshes created as living shorelines are typically narrow (< 30 m) fringing marshes with sandy substrates that are well flushed by tides. These characteristics distinguish living shorelines from the larger meadow marshes in which most of the current knowledge about created marshes was developed. The value of living shorelines for providing both erosion control and habitat for estuarine organisms has been documented but their capacity for carbon sequestration has not. We measured carbon sequestration rates in living shorelines and sandy transplanted Spartina alterniflora marshes in the Newport River Estuary, North Carolina. The marshes sampled here range in age from 12 to 38 years and represent a continuum of soil development. Carbon sequestration rates ranged from 58 to 283 g C m-2 yr-1 and decreased with marsh age. The pattern of lower sequestration rates in older marshes is hypothesized to be the result of a relative enrichment of labile organic matter in younger sites and illustrates the importance of choosing mature marshes for determination of long-term carbon sequestration potential. The data presented here are within the range of published carbon sequestration rates for S. alterniflora marshes and suggest that wide-scale use of the living shoreline approach to shoreline management may come with a substantial carbon benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny L. Davis
- NOAA National Ocean Service Center for Coastal Fisheries & Habitat Research, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
- Consolidated Safety Services, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Carolyn A. Currin
- NOAA National Ocean Service Center for Coastal Fisheries & Habitat Research, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Colleen O’Brien
- Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America
| | - Craig Raffenburg
- University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Amanda Davis
- Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States of America
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