TY - JOUR

T1 - Immersion Time Determines Performance of Artificial Habitats in Commercial Harbours by Changing Biodiversity of Colonising Invertebrate Assemblages

AU - Richardson, Laura

AU - Varenne, Alix

AU - Radford, Andrew

AU - Rossi, Francesca

AU - Lecaillon, Gilles

AU - Gudefin, Anaïs

AU - Bérenger, Lucas

AU - Abadie, Etienne

AU - Boissery, Pierre

AU - Lenfant, Philippe

AU - Simpson, Stephen

PY - 2023/4/1

Y1 - 2023/4/1

N2 - In highly modified coastal environments, such as commercial harbours, the installation of artificial habitats has garnered support as a means of enhancing local biological recruitment and connectivity. The success of these measures depends largely on the patterns of species colonisation. Using post-installation monitoring data, we compared the composition of assemblages of invertebrates colonising artificial habitats that were immersed for different periods (~6 vs. ~18 months) in three commercial harbours along the French Mediterranean coast. The artificial habitats were colonised by taxonomically diverse invertebrate assemblages of ecological and economic importance, including molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoids. Composition differed significantly with the immersion time of the artificial habitats, with total abundance, species richness, and evenness being significantly higher after ~18 than after ~6 months of immersion, indicating that long periods are necessary to enrich these new habitats with economically and ecologically important species. These results can inform restoration protocols and emphasise the value of post-installation monitoring programs.

AB - In highly modified coastal environments, such as commercial harbours, the installation of artificial habitats has garnered support as a means of enhancing local biological recruitment and connectivity. The success of these measures depends largely on the patterns of species colonisation. Using post-installation monitoring data, we compared the composition of assemblages of invertebrates colonising artificial habitats that were immersed for different periods (~6 vs. ~18 months) in three commercial harbours along the French Mediterranean coast. The artificial habitats were colonised by taxonomically diverse invertebrate assemblages of ecological and economic importance, including molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoids. Composition differed significantly with the immersion time of the artificial habitats, with total abundance, species richness, and evenness being significantly higher after ~18 than after ~6 months of immersion, indicating that long periods are necessary to enrich these new habitats with economically and ecologically important species. These results can inform restoration protocols and emphasise the value of post-installation monitoring programs.

KW - coastal restoration

KW - coastal biodiversity

KW - ecological community development

KW - species composition

KW - artificial structures

U2 - 10.3390/d15040505

DO - 10.3390/d15040505

M3 - Article

VL - 15

JO - Diversity

JF - Diversity

SN - 1424-2818

IS - 4

ER -