A significant expansion of offshore windpower is expected in northwestern Europe in the near future. Little is known about the impacts it may have on the marine environment. Here, we investigate th ...

The influence of offshore windpower on demersal fish

Coral reefs are vital ecosystems, providing a source of income, food and coastal protection for millions of people. Pollution, habitat destruction, disease and unsustainable fishing have led to declines in reef condition throughout the world. Added to this, the threat of mass coral bleaching has recently emerged, causing extensive coral mortality to nearly every coral reef region. Efforts have now begun to improve the prospects of coral reefs by identifying resilient areas, enhancing their protection, and implementing strategies to support ecosystem resilience. This guide brings together the latest scientific knowledge and management experience to assist managers in responding effectively to mass coral bleaching events. It is designed to provide pragmatic, science-based suggestions for adaptive management in this time of change.

/pdf/a-reef-manager-s-guide-to-coral-bleaching-2mm6o4tcx8.pdf

A reef manager's guide to coral bleaching

Hard structures for protection against erosion of shores are some of the most common human-made constructions in coastal areas. Nevertheless, little is known as to how marine organisms respond to their presence. The composition and distribution of intertidal epibiota at different positions around different types of defence structures (groynes and breakwaters) at three stations along the Emilia Romagna coast (Italy) were analysed. Sampling covered a range of scales: meters (distance among replicate plots), hundreds of meters (distance among replicate areas) and tens of kilometres (distance among stations). The colonisation and dynamics of conspicuous species over 1 year, following maintenance works on two structures, were also quantified. Assemblages on defence structures were characterised by a notably low richness of species, by strong spatial dominance of mussels and green ephemeral algae, and by high rates of colonisation. Abundance of mussels, Enteromorpha intestinalis and filamentous algae differed significantly among nearby areas within stations. Mussels were significantly less abundant along the landward side of breakwaters compared with all other positions on both groynes and breakwaters. Overall, however, fewer differences, than expected, were observed in the distribution of species at different positions around groynes and breakwaters, probably as a consequence of the low complexity of the colonising assemblages. Possible factors explaining the patterns of distribution observed are discussed, including the roles of harvesting of mussels and frequent maintenance works on the structures. The implications of the low richness of species observed in terms of management of defence structures and other human-made constructions are discussed.

http://www.ecology.unibo.it/page/Bacchiocchi%20%26%20Airoldi2003.pdf

Distribution and dynamics of epibiota on hard structures for coastal protection

Little is known about the effects of offshore energy installations on the marine environment, and further research could assist in minimizing environmental risks as well as in enhancing potential p ...

Artificial reef effect and fouling impacts on offshore wave power foundations and buoys - a pilot study

Many coral reefs worldwide are rapidly declin- ing, but efficient restoration techniques are not yet available. Here, we evaluate methodologies for reef res- toration based on the ''gardening concept''. A floating mid-water prototype nursery was placed at 6 m depth (14 m above sea-bottom) within the nutrient-enriched environment of a fish farm (Eilat, Red Sea). Ten colonies from five branching coral species provided 6,813 frag- ments (0.5-3 cm height). The fragments, each attached to a plastic pin, were inserted into plastic nets that were tied to a rope-net floating nursery. After 144 nursery days, only 13.1% of the fragments died and 21.2% were de- tached by mechanical forces. Small colonies ready for transplantation developed within 144-200 days. Ramets' ecological volumes increased 13-46 folds and their heights by a factor of 3.5. After 306 days, the ecological volumes of the colonies increased 147-163 fold as com- pared to original volumes (revealing a daily growth rate constant of 1.67% during the first 5-10 months) and height values by a factor of six. Building and maintenance costs of the nursery were low. This nursery prototype demonstrates the feasibility of the coral ''gardening concept'' by fulfilling several important needs, namely, mass production of coral colonies at low costs, high survivorship, fast growth, short nursery phase and im- proved methodologies for handling farmed colonies.

https://www.coralreef.gov/mitigation/stepsinconstruction_underwater.pdf

A Jensen

Papers

Artificial Reefs as a Tool to Aid Rehabilitation of Coastal Ecosystems: Investigating the Potential