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

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

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111578

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

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

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Chemistry

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

37 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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

Original language	English
Article number	111578
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	160
Online published	7 Sept 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111578
Publication status	Published - Nov 2020

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 15 Life on Land

Research Keywords

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

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10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111578

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

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

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

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

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

year = "2020",

month = nov,

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

language = "English",

volume = "160",

journal = "Marine Pollution Bulletin",

issn = "0025-326X",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Provision of refugia and seeding with native bivalves can enhance biodiversity on vertical seawalls

AU - Bradford, Thea E.

AU - Astudillo, Juan C.

AU - Lau, Edward T.C.

AU - Perkins, Matthew J.

AU - Lo, Chi C.

AU - Li, Tom C.H.

AU - Lam, Chung S.

AU - Ng, Terence P.T.

AU - Strain, Elisabeth M.A.

AU - Steinberg, Peter D.

AU - Leung, Kenneth M.Y.

PY - 2020/11

Y1 - 2020/11

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

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

KW - Biodiversity conservation

KW - Eco-engineering

KW - Ecological restoration

KW - Micro-habitat

KW - Reclamation

KW - Sustainable development

KW - Biodiversity conservation

KW - Eco-engineering

KW - Ecological restoration

KW - Micro-habitat

KW - Reclamation

KW - Sustainable development

KW - Biodiversity conservation

KW - Eco-engineering

KW - Ecological restoration

KW - Micro-habitat

KW - Reclamation

KW - Sustainable development

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M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 0025-326X

VL - 160

JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin

JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin

M1 - 111578

ER -

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

Abstract

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

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Gold Award at the Hong Kong Green Innovations Award (HKGIA)

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

Abstract

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

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Other Access Options

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Prizes

Gold Award at the Hong Kong Green Innovations Award (HKGIA)

Cite this