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Morris RL, La Peyre MK, Webb BM, Marshall DA, Bilkovic DM, Cebrian J, McClenachan G, Kibler KM, Walters LJ, Bushek D, Sparks EL, Temple NA, Moody J, Angstadt K, Goff J, Boswell M, Sacks P, Swearer SE. Large-scale variation in wave attenuation of oyster reef living shorelines and the influence of inundation duration. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02382. [PMID: 34042243 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
One of the paramount goals of oyster reef living shorelines is to achieve sustained and adaptive coastal protection, which requires meeting ecological (i.e., develop a self-sustaining oyster population) and engineering (i.e., provide coastal defense) targets. In a large-scale comparison along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, the efficacy of various designs of oyster reef living shorelines at providing wave attenuation was evaluated accounting for the ecological limitations of oysters with regard to inundation duration. A critical threshold for intertidal oyster reef establishment is 50% inundation duration. Living shorelines that spent less than one-half of the time (<50%) inundated were not considered suitable habitat for oysters, however, were effective at wave attenuation (68% reduction in wave height). Reefs that experienced >50% inundation were considered suitable habitat for oysters, but wave attenuation was similar to controls (no reef; ~5% reduction in wave height). Many of the oyster reef living shoreline approaches therefore failed to optimize the ecological and engineering goals. In both inundation regimes, wave transmission decreased with an increasing freeboard (difference between reef crest elevation and water level), supporting its importance in the wave attenuation capacity of oyster reef living shorelines. However, given that the reef crest elevation (and thus freeboard) should be determined by the inundation duration requirements of oysters, research needs to be refocused on understanding the implications of other reef parameters (e.g., width) for optimizing wave attenuation. A broader understanding of the reef characteristics and seascape contexts that result in effective coastal defense by oyster reefs is needed to inform appropriate design and implementation of oyster-based living shorelines globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Morris
- National Centre for Coasts and Climate, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Megan K La Peyre
- U.S. Geological Survey, Louisiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Bret M Webb
- Department of Civil, Coastal & Environmental Engineering, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, 36688, USA
| | - Danielle A Marshall
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Donna M Bilkovic
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia, 23062, USA
| | - Just Cebrian
- Northern Gulf Institute, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39529, USA
| | - Giovanna McClenachan
- Department of Biology and National Center for Integrated Coastal Research, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, Louisiana, 70301, USA
| | - Kelly M Kibler
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Construction Engineering and National Center for Integrated Coastal Research, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
| | - Linda J Walters
- Department of Biology and National Center for Integrated Coastal Research, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
| | - David Bushek
- Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Rutgers University, Port Norris, New Jersey, 08349, USA
| | - Eric L Sparks
- Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, Biloxi, Mississippi, 39532, USA
- Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, Ocean Springs, Mississippi, 39564, USA
| | - Nigel A Temple
- Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, Biloxi, Mississippi, 39532, USA
| | - Joshua Moody
- Partnership for Delaware Estuary, Wilmington, Delaware, 19801, USA
| | - Kory Angstadt
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia, 23062, USA
| | - Joshua Goff
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama, 36528, USA
| | - Maura Boswell
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, 23529, USA
| | - Paul Sacks
- Department of Biology and National Center for Integrated Coastal Research, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
| | - Stephen E Swearer
- National Centre for Coasts and Climate, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
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Okoye OK, Li H, Gong Z. Retraction of invasive Spartina alterniflora and its effect on the habitat loss of endangered migratory bird species and their decline in YNNR using remote sensing technology. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:13810-13824. [PMID: 33391682 PMCID: PMC7771125 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Wetland environment and habitat loss increase the rate of biodiversity decline and affect our ecosystems. Yancheng National Nature Reserve (YNNR) is a protected area dedicated to endangered migratory bird species to overwinter. However, it currently has a record low influx of migrating birds and might therefore be losing its founding purpose. We used remote sensing technology to assess and quantify the impacts and effects of invasive halophytes Spartina alterniflora in the habitat loss and shrinkage of endangered bird wintering habitat from 2003 to 2018. We also attempted to ascertain the causes and triggers of avian population decline and its relationship with habitat loss, as these phenomena threaten and endanger species both locally and globally. Our study shows how YNNR has lost about 80% of migratory bird habitat to invasive S. alterniflora and Phragmites australis, a native halophyte plant in the reserve. Furthermore, shoreline erosion triggered the retraction of S. alterniflora and its backward growth toward Suaeda Salsa, the preferred foraging habitat for migratory birds in the zone, which is a possible cause of their decline.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Huan Li
- College of Harbor, Coastal and Offshore EngineeringHohai UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Zheng Gong
- College of Harbor, Coastal and Offshore EngineeringHohai UniversityNanjingChina
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