Study

Estuarine and coastal structures: environmental effects, a focus on shore and nearshore structures

  • Published source details Dugan J.E., Airoldi L., Chapman M.G., Walker S.J. & Schlacher T. (2011) Estuarine and coastal structures: environmental effects, a focus on shore and nearshore structures. Pages 17-41 in: E. Wolanski & D.S. McLusky (eds.) Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science. 8, Academic Press, Waltham, Massachusetts.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Create groove habitats (1–50 mm) on intertidal artificial structures

Action Link
Biodiversity of Marine Artificial Structures
  1. Create groove habitats (1–50 mm) on intertidal artificial structures

    A replicated, paired sites, controlled study (year not reported) on two intertidal seawalls in Sydney Harbour estuary, Australia (Dugan et al. 2011; same experimental set-up as Chapman & Underwood 2011b) found that groove habitats created on the seawalls supported similar macroalgae and invertebrate species richness to seawall surfaces without grooves. Over 12 months, macroalgal species richness was similar in grooves and on surfaces without at lowshore (grooves: 7–8 species/survey; surfaces: 6–9/survey) and midshore (7–8 vs 5–7/survey). The same was true for mobile invertebrates (lowshore: grooves and surfaces both 0–1/survey; midshore: both 2–3/survey) and non-mobile invertebrates (lowshore: 4–6 vs 3–5/survey; midshore: 5–6 vs 3–5/survey). Groove habitats were created by indenting wet mortar between blocks during maintenance of vertical sandstone seawalls (month/year not reported). Five grooves (width: 30–50 mm; depth: 20 mm; length/orientation/spacing not reported) were compared with five flat mortar surfaces (dimensions not reported) at both midshore and lowshore in each of two paired sites on each of two seawalls. Macroalgae and invertebrates were counted in grooves and on surfaces without during low tide over 12 months, on nine occasions on one seawall and seven on the other. Method details reported from Chapman & Underwood 2011b.

    (Summarised by: Ally Evans)

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