Can storms and shore armouring exert additive effects on sandy-beach habitats and biota?

Serena Lucrezi; Thomas Schlacher; Wayne A Robinson

doi:10.1071/MF09259

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Can storms and shore armouring exert additive effects on sandy-beach habitats and biota?

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Can storms and shore armouring exert additive effects on sandy-beach habitats and biota?

Serena Lucrezi, Thomas Schlacher and Wayne A Robinson

Marine and Freshwater Research, Vol.61(9), pp.951-962

2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/MF09259

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Abstract

climate change

erosion

ghost crabs

Ocypode

recovery

sandy shores

storm impacts

Increased storminess is a likely consequence of global climate change; its effects may be most dramatic on coasts dominated by sandy beaches. This scenario demands that the impacts of storms and the role of armouring structures, constructed as storm defences, are better understood. Here, we assess how a relatively small storm affected beach morphology and macrobenthos, and whether a seawall can modulate such impacts. The study system was a small (<1.5 km long) beach, bisected into parts with and without a seawall. The beach became narrower and steeper during the storm, when 26% of the subaerial sediment prism eroded from the armoured section; sand losses on the unarmoured part were one-fifth of those on the armoured part. Densities of ghost crabs (Ocypode) dropped significantly (36%) and were to some extent modulated by shore armouring; losses were high (62%) just seawards of the seawall where post-storm densities remained consistently lower. There was no ecological recovery in the short term, with most (83%) post-storm density values of crabs being lower, and crab counts in front of the seawall being depressed up to 3 months after the storm. Seawalls can change the resilience of beaches to storms, which may result in stronger ecological effects on armoured coasts.

Details

Title: Can storms and shore armouring exert additive effects on sandy-beach habitats and biota?
Authors: Serena Lucrezi (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and Education
Thomas Schlacher (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and Education
Wayne A Robinson (Author) - Charles Sturt University
Publication details: Marine and Freshwater Research, Vol.61(9), pp.951-962
Publisher: C S I R O Publishing
Date published: 2010
DOI: 10.1071/MF09259
ISSN: 1323-1650
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449730602621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Fisheries; Limnology; Marine & Freshwater Biology; Oceanography

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