Abstract:
The rock type used in coastal engineering structures impacts biodiversity, but its effect has been understudied to date. We report here on whether different combinations of rock material and rock mass properties can improve habitat suitability and early phase ecological outcomes on coastal engineering structures. We examine two coastal engineering schemes that used different granites during construction. At site one, Shap granite boulders with a high number of cm-dm2 surface features (e.g. ledges) were deliberately positioned during construction (called passive enhancement), to a) maximise the provision of cm-dm scale intertidal habitat and b) determine which scale of habitat is best for ecological enhancement. At site two, Norwegian granite boulders were installed without passive enhancement, allowing for a direct comparison. Passive positioning of Shap granite boulders led to an increase in limpet (Patella vulgata, Linnaeus, 1758) abundance within two years but few limpets were recorded on the non-enhanced Norwegian granite. Positioning of boulder thus exerts a strong control on the mm and mm-dm scale geomorphic features present, with clear ecological benefits when suitable features are selected for and optimally positioned (i.e. passive enhancement) to maximise habitat features. An EcoRock scoring matrix was developed to aid in the selection of the most ecologically suitable rock materials for coastal engineering worldwide; this can help improve habitat provision on engineered structures in a rapidly warming world.
摘要:
海岸工程结构中使用的岩石类型影响生物多样性,但迄今为止,它的效果尚未得到充分研究。我们在此报告岩石材料和岩体性质的不同组合是否可以改善栖息地的适宜性和沿海工程结构的早期生态结果。我们研究了两个在施工过程中使用不同花岗岩的沿海工程方案。在一号站点,在施工过程中故意放置了大量cm-dm2表面特征(例如壁架)的沙普花岗岩巨石(称为被动增强),a)最大程度地提供cm-dm尺度的潮间带栖息地,b)确定哪种尺度的栖息地最有利于生态增强。在第二站点,挪威花岗岩巨石在没有被动增强的情况下安装,允许直接比较。Shap花岗岩巨石的被动定位导致lippet增加(Patellavulgata,Linnaeus,1758)在两年内丰富,但在未增强的挪威花岗岩上记录的帽贝很少。因此,巨石的定位对存在的mm和mm-dm尺度的地貌特征具有很强的控制作用,当选择合适的特征并进行最佳定位(即被动增强)以最大化栖息地特征时,具有明显的生态效益。开发了EcoRock评分矩阵,以帮助为全球沿海工程选择最适合生态的岩石材料;这可以帮助在迅速变暖的世界中改善工程结构的栖息地提供。