Are we there yet? Management baselines and biodiversity indicators for the protection and restoration of subtidal bivalve shellfish habitats.

Autor: Fariñas-Franco JM; Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland EH14 4AS, UK; Marine and Freshwater Research Centre and Department of Natural Resource and the Environment, School of Science and Computing, Atlantic Technological University, Old Dublin Road, Galway H91 T8NW, Ireland. Electronic address: josemaria.farinas-franco@atu.ie., Cook RL; Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland EH14 4AS, UK., Gell FR; Fisheries Directorate, Department of Environment Food and Agriculture, Isle of Man Government, St John's, Isle of Man., Harries DB; Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland EH14 4AS, UK., Hirst N; Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland EH14 4AS, UK., Kent F; Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland EH14 4AS, UK; Scottish Natural Heritage, Silvan House, 231 Corstorphine Rd, Edinburgh EH12 7AT, UK., MacPherson R; Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland EH14 4AS, UK., Moore C; Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland EH14 4AS, UK., Mair JM; Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland EH14 4AS, UK., Porter JS; International Centre for Island Technology, Heriot-Watt University, Franklin Road, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3AN, UK., Sanderson WG; Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland EH14 4AS, UK.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: The Science of the total environment [Sci Total Environ] 2023 Mar 10; Vol. 863, pp. 161001. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Dec 17.
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161001
Abstrakt: Biodiversity loss and degradation of natural habitats is increasing at an unprecedented rate. Of all marine habitats, biogenic reefs created by once-widespread shellfish, are now one of the most imperilled, and globally scarce. Conservation managers seek to protect and restore these habitats, but suitable baselines and indicators are required, and detailed scientific accounts are rare and inconsistent. In the present study the biodiversity of a model subtidal habitat, formed by the keystone horse mussel Modiolus modiolus (L.), was analysed across its Northeast Atlantic biogeographical range. Consistent samples of 'clumped' mussels were collected at 16 locations, covering a wide range of environmental conditions. Analysis of the associated macroscopic biota showed high biodiversity across all sites, cumulatively hosting 924 marine macroinvertebrate and algal taxa. There was a rapid increase in macroinvertebrate biodiversity (H') and community evenness (J) between 2 and 10 mussels per clump, reaching an asymptote at mussel densities of 10 per clump. Diversity declined at more northern latitudes, with depth and in coarser substrata with the fastest tidal flows. Diversity metrics corrected for species abundance were generally high across the habitats sampled, with significant latitudinal variability caused by current, depth and substrate type. Faunal community composition varied significantly between most sites and was difficult to assign to a 'typical' M. modiolus assemblage, being significantly influenced by regional environmental conditions, including the presence of algal turfs. Within the context of the rapid global increase in protection and restoration of bivalve shellfish habitats, site and density-specific values of diversity are probably the best targets for conservation management and upon which to base monitoring programmes.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Jose M. Farinas-Franco reports financial support was provided by JNCC. William G. Sanderson reports financial support was provided by NatureScot. William G. Sanderson reports financial support was provided by Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside. William G. Sanderson reports financial support was provided by Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
(Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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