Variation in the density and body size of a threatened foundation species across multiple spatial scales

Leong, Rick C.; Bugnot, Ana B.; Marzinelli, Ezequiel M.; Figueira, Will F.; Erickson, Katherine; Poore, Alistair G. B.; Gribben, Paul E.

doi:10.1111/rec.13670

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 89 publications

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“…Our data also suggest that recruitment is correlated with sedimentation, which may explain the significant differences found among estuaries at most sites. At Crookhaven River, however, recruitment was low despite having low sedimentation, possibly because the unusually strong currents and the higher elevation of the reef surface at this site (Leong et al, 2022) may hinder recruitment, as demonstrated in other studies (e.g., Thomsen & McGlathery, 2006). However, in our study, estuaries with high sedimentation also had longer periods of low salinity and high turbidity (Appendix S1: Table S5).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

“…To understand the extent to which the habitat attributes of reefs at different scales explained variation in recruitment, following Leong et al (2022), within patches, we quantified surface elevation ("elevation") of each tile and their distances to the nearest reef edge ("dist.to.edge"). Surface elevations were mapped with a Real-Time Kinematic and differential Global Positioning System unit (RTK-dGPS, Leica GNSS 14, vertical accuracy ±8 mm; horizontal ±13 mm), and the distances to patch edges were acquired with XY coordinates of tiles and mapped reef contours (obtained with NearMap) using the "NEARDIST" function (version 10.3, ESRI, 2016).…”

Section: Oyster Recruitment With Habitat Attributesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, total oyster recruitment and recruit survivorship on intertidal oyster reefs were greater at lower elevations and at edges than at higher elevations and centers of patches (Baillie & Grabowski, 2019; Fodrie et al, 2014). In addition, habitat attributes can vary with abiotic processes operating at larger spatial scales (Leong et al, 2022; Lloyd et al, 2020; Stelling‐Wood et al, 2021). Thus, their effects on recruitment will be dependent on the broader environmental settings in which they occur.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recruitment of a threatened foundation oyster species varies with large and small spatial scales

Leong,

Bugnot,

Ross

et al. 2024

Ecological Applications

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Understanding how habitat attributes (e.g., patch area and sizes, connectivity) control recruitment and how this is modified by processes operating at larger spatial scales is fundamental to understanding population sustainability and developing successful long‐term restoration strategies for marine foundation species—including for globally threatened reef‐forming oysters. In two experiments, we assessed the recruitment and energy reserves of oyster recruits onto remnant reefs of the oyster Saccostrea glomerata in estuaries spanning 550 km of coastline in southeastern Australia. In the first experiment, we determined whether recruitment of oysters to settlement plates in three estuaries was correlated with reef attributes within patches (distances to patch edges and surface elevation), whole‐patch attributes (shape and size of patches), and landscape attributes (connectivity). We also determined whether environmental factors (e.g., sedimentation and water temperature) explained the differences among recruitment plates. We also tested whether differences in energy reserves of recruits could explain the differences between two of the estuaries (one high‐ and one low‐sedimentation estuary). In the second experiment, across six estuaries (three with nominally high and three with nominally low sedimentation rates), we tested the hypothesis that, at the estuary scale, recruitment and survival were negatively correlated to sedimentation. Overall, total oyster recruitment varied mostly at the scale of estuaries rather than with reef attributes and was negatively correlated with sedimentation. Percentage recruit survival was, however, similar among estuaries, although energy reserves and condition of recruits were lower at a high‐ compared to a low‐sediment estuary. Within each estuary, total oyster recruitment increased with patch area and decreased with increasing tidal height. Our results showed that differences among estuaries have the largest influence on oyster recruitment and recruit health and this may be explained by environmental processes operating at the same scale. While survival was high across all estuaries, growth and reproduction of oysters on remnant reefs may be affected by sublethal effects on the health of recruits in high‐sediment estuaries. Thus, restoration programs should consider lethal and sublethal effects of whole‐estuary environmental processes when selecting sites and include environmental mitigation actions to maximize recruitment success.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Section: Oyster Recruitment With Habitat Attributesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recruitment of a threatened foundation oyster species varies with large and small spatial scales

Leong,

Bugnot,

Ross

et al. 2024

Ecological Applications

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“…McAfee et al 2021 b ) or spatial variability in environmental conditions (e.g. food availability and water quality) that influence oyster performance (Leong et al 2022). Additionally, it remains uncertain what impact the high density of these restored oysters may have on pathogen prevalence (Buss et al 2019), and whether limited parent stock seeding of these reefs may create a genetic bottleneck among the restored population (Reynolds et al 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reversing functional extinction: successful restoration of eradicated oyster reefs

McAfee,

McLeod,

Carruthers

et al. 2024

Restoration Ecology

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Functionally extinct ecosystems, those that have been locally eradicated save for remnant individuals, are unlikely to naturally recover over meaningful human time frames. However, ecosystem restoration provides opportunities to reverse functional extinction by rapidly addressing the physical and/or biological barriers that prevent natural recovery. Here, we assess the restoration progress of a native Flat oyster (Ostrea angasi) reef ecosystem in South Australia that was eradicated from the Australian mainland approximately 100 years ago. In the absence of any reference Flat oyster ecosystems in the region, restoration progress was assessed relative to ecological targets informed by a combination of local rocky reef ecosystems and an interim Flat oyster reference model informed by Australia's sole remaining O. angasi reef, in Tasmania. Two and half a years after the restoration was initiated via the construction of 14 boulder reefs, we observed densities of restored native adult O. angasi (192 ± 19 m−2; mean ± 1 SE) that exceeded oyster densities observed on the sole remaining natural reef. Communities of macroinvertebrates on the reef restoration represented approximately 60% of the biodiversity observed on healthy rocky reef reference systems, while ecological functions (e.g. filter feeding) are demonstrably increasing. The rate of recovery of this benthic ecosystem, from functionally extinct to a restored Flat oyster reef ecosystem within several years, demonstrates the latent resilience of degraded oyster communities and the capacity for effective marine restorations to achieve rapid ecological recoveries.

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Ecomorphodynamics of oyster reefs and their influence on oyster reef morphology

Roncolato,

Fellowes,

Duce

et al. 2024

Geomorphology

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Variation in the density and body size of a threatened foundation species across multiple spatial scales

Cited by 4 publications

References 89 publications

Recruitment of a threatened foundation oyster species varies with large and small spatial scales

Recruitment of a threatened foundation oyster species varies with large and small spatial scales

Reversing functional extinction: successful restoration of eradicated oyster reefs

Ecomorphodynamics of oyster reefs and their influence on oyster reef morphology

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