Ecological response and physical stability of habitat enhancements along an urban armored shoreline

Toft, Jason D.; Ogston, A. S.; Heerhartz, Sarah M.; Cordell, Jeffery R.; Flemer, Emilie E.

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.04.022

Cited by 88 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Fish responses to habitat rehabilitation along urban recreational shorelines have only begun to be evaluated (Toft et al . ; preliminary observations by Reid et al . ), and these juxtapositions of human and fish use should be further explored because they can demonstrate how goals of resource management and other human uses can be aligned.…”

Section: Managing Socio‐ecological Systemsmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…Habitat enhancement (Toft et al . ), ecological engineering (Bergen, Bolton & Fridley ) and educational efforts often require only a fraction of project budgets when building or replacing shoreline infrastructure, yet they can provide habitat functions for fish while maintaining or improving the value of shorelines to society. Many urban waterfronts are so removed from natural ecosystems that return to historical conditions is impractical (Hobbs et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of shoreline armouring and overwater structures on coastal and estuarine fish: opportunities for habitat improvement

Munsch

Cordell

Toft

2017

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Summary Nearshore ecosystems are increasingly recognized as critical habitats for fish of cultural, ecological and economic significance. These ecosystems are often densely inhabited by juvenile fish, highly productive and refuges from predation, leading ecologists to characterize them as nurseries. However, nearshore ecosystems are being transformed globally to support demands of growing coastal populations. Many shorelines are modified by armouring (e.g. seawalls, riprap) that minimizes erosion, and overwater structures (e.g. piers, docks) that facilitate waterfront use. These modifications affect the ecology of nearshore systems by restructuring, eliminating and shading shallow waters. Here, we review literature examining effects of armouring and overwater structures on coastal and estuarine fishes, and discuss how research and management can coordinate to minimize negative effects. Along armoured shorelines, fish assemblages differed from unarmoured sites, fish consumed less epibenthic and terrestrial prey, beach spawning was less successful and fish were larger. Under large overwater structures, visually oriented fish were less abundant and they fed less. Shade from overwater structures also interrupted localized movements of migratory fish. Thus, shoreline modifications impaired habitats by limiting feeding, reproduction, ontogenetic habitat shifts from shallow to deeper waters and connectivity. Research suggests that restoring shallow waters and substrate complexity, and minimizing shading underneath overwater structures, can rehabilitate habitats compromised by shoreline modifications. Synthesis and applications. Shoreline armouring and overwater structures often compromise fish habitats. These threats to nearshore fish habitats will become more severe as growing coastal populations and rising sea levels increase demands for shoreline infrastructure. Our ability to assess and rehabilitate nearshore fish habitats along modified shorelines will be enhanced by: focusing research attention on metrics that directly indicate fish habitat quality; implementing and evaluating shoreline features that repair compromised habitat functions within human‐use constraints; collating natural history knowledge of nearshore ecosystems; and embracing the socio‐ecological nature of habitat improvements by educating the public about conservation efforts and fostering appreciation of local nearshore ecosystems. Actions to reduce impacts of shoreline modifications on fish are particularly feasible when they align with societal goals, such as improving flood protection and providing spaces that facilitate recreation, education, and connections between people and nature.

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Section: Managing Socio‐ecological Systemsmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of shoreline armouring and overwater structures on coastal and estuarine fish: opportunities for habitat improvement

Munsch

Cordell

Toft

2017

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…But these structures can be expensive to build and maintain, especially under changing climate conditions . Shoreline hardening can also have major impacts on the coast through changes in coastal morphology, increases in erosion, and degradation of ecosystems and the benefits they provide to people …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking social, ecological, and physical science to advance natural and nature‐based protection for coastal communities

Arkema

Griffin

Maldonado

et al. 2017

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

130

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Interest in the role that ecosystems play in reducing the impacts of coastal hazards has grown dramatically. Yet the magnitude and nature of their effects are highly context dependent, making it difficult to know under what conditions coastal habitats, such as saltmarshes, reefs, and forests, are likely to be effective for saving lives and protecting property. We operationalize the concept of natural and nature-based solutions for coastal protection by adopting an ecosystem services framework that propagates the outcome of a management action through ecosystems to societal benefits. We review the literature on the basis of the steps in this framework, considering not only the supply of coastal protection provided by ecosystems but also the demand for protective services from beneficiaries. We recommend further attention to (1) biophysical processes beyond wave attenuation, (2) the combined effects of multiple habitat types (e.g., reefs, vegetation), (3) marginal values and expected damage functions, and, in particular, (4) community dependence on ecosystems for coastal protection and co-benefits. We apply our approach to two case studies to illustrate how estimates of multiple benefits and losses can inform restoration and development decisions. Finally, we discuss frontiers for linking social, ecological, and physical science to advance natural and nature-based solutions to coastal protection.

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“…As a result, there have been widespread losses of biodiversity and ecological functioning in shore zones. Recently, ecologists have been engaged in the design and maintenance of shore defenses (e.g., Chapman 2011, 2014;Chapman and Blockley 2009;Chapman and Underwood 2011;Firth et al 2014;Toft et al 2013;Hoggart and Francis 2014), in an attempt to improve ecological functions while retaining the engineering value of these defenses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation of riprapped revetments along the freshwater tidal Hudson River, New York

et al. 2015

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Riprapped revetments are a common shore defense along lakes, rivers, estuaries, and the ocean, but little is known about the ecology of these structures. We studied the amount and composition of vascular vegetation on riprapped revetments along the freshwater tidal Hudson River, New York. Cover, species richness, and species composition of vegetation varied greatly across the 21 study sites, from nearly barren sites to densely vegetated sites. The flora was split about equally between native and nonnative species, and vines were especially well represented. Vegetation cover and composition were correlated with the age, slope, particle size, and roughness of revetments, as well as site exposure and local management practices. We suggest that the ecological functions provided by revetment vegetation vary enormously from site to site along the Hudson, and could be enhanced by deliberate design and management.

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Ecological response and physical stability of habitat enhancements along an urban armored shoreline

Cited by 88 publications

References 55 publications

Effects of shoreline armouring and overwater structures on coastal and estuarine fish: opportunities for habitat improvement

Effects of shoreline armouring and overwater structures on coastal and estuarine fish: opportunities for habitat improvement

Linking social, ecological, and physical science to advance natural and nature‐based protection for coastal communities

Vegetation of riprapped revetments along the freshwater tidal Hudson River, New York

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