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Hemraj DA, Bishop MJ, Hancock B, Minuti JJ, Thurstan RH, Zu Ermgassen PSE, Russell BD. Oyster reef restoration fails to recoup global historic ecosystem losses despite substantial biodiversity gain. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabp8747. [PMID: 36417529 PMCID: PMC9683697 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abp8747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Human activities have led to degradation of ecosystems globally. The lost ecosystem functions and services accumulate from the time of disturbance to the full recovery of the ecosystem and can be quantified as a "recovery debt," providing a valuable tool to develop better restoration practices that accelerate recovery and limit losses. Here, we quantified the recovery of faunal biodiversity and abundance toward a predisturbed state following structural restoration of oyster habitats globally. We found that while restoration initiates a rapid increase in biodiversity and abundance of reef-associated species within 2 years, recovery rate then decreases substantially, leaving a global shortfall in recovery of 35% below a predisturbed state. While efficient restoration methods boost recovery and minimize recovery shortfalls, the time to full recovery is yet to be quantified. Therefore, potential future coastal development should weigh up not only the instantaneous damage to ecosystem functions but also the potential for generational loss of services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deevesh A. Hemraj
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science and Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Melanie J. Bishop
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Boze Hancock
- The Nature Conservancy, C/O URI Graduate School of Oceanography, 215 South Ferry Rd., Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - Jay J. Minuti
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science and Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ruth H. Thurstan
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Exeter, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Philine S. E. Zu Ermgassen
- Changing Oceans Group, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, James Hutton Rd, King’s Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FE, UK
| | - Bayden D. Russell
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science and Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The Dove Marine Laboratory, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
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Martinez MJ, Palmer TA, Breaux NJ, Beseres Pollack J. Dynamics of Restored and Natural Oyster Reefs After a Hurricane. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.791739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Restoration of shellfish reefs has increased exponentially over the past two decades, due in part to increased awareness of widespread oyster habitat loss. Large-scale, acute disturbances such as hurricanes have the potential to influence restoration outcomes, but because storm occurrence is unpredictable with respect to restoration timelines, the responses of restored habitats are not well understood. We quantified the ecological dynamics of a newly constructed Crassostrea virginica oyster reef and nearby reference reef in a Texas estuary immediately after Hurricane Harvey, a major category 4 storm. Biophysical structure (e.g., oyster density, shell height, sediment grain size), and community composition (abundance of reef-associated epifauna, and nearby infauna) were measured for 18 months. A sharp decrease in salinity and temporary deposition of fine sediments within the first 3 months corresponded with increases in oyster and epifaunal recruitment on the restored reef, although densities were generally below those measured on restored reefs without hurricanes. Criteria for oyster reef restoration success were met within 12–18 months post-storm. Infaunal densities decreased but returned to pre-storm densities within 2 months, but bivalves were delayed, returning to pre-storm levels after 9 months. A lack of historical baseline data on the newly restored reef limited our ability to assess the magnitude of reef recovery to pre-disturbance levels or separate the direct effects of the hurricane from the dynamics of early recruitment and growth. Results provide important information about restored and natural oyster reef dynamics after large-scale disturbance and can help inform effective management and conservation measures.
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