Article
Environmental Sciences
Nele Svenja Oncken, Troels Lange, Erik Kristensen, Cintia O. Quintana, Rune C. Steinfurth, Mogens R. Flindt
Summary: The decades-long eutrophication has severely affected marine coastal habitats, leading to the decline of eelgrass and benthic fauna in European coastlines. Sand-capping of muddy sediments proved to be an effective large-scale restoration approach, stabilizing the mud without mixing the sand-mud interface. This method improved light conditions, increased benthic fauna diversity, and enhanced ecosystem functionality.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Stephen J. Tomasetti, Michael H. Doall, Brendan D. Hallinan, Jeffrey R. Kraemer, Christopher J. Gobler
Summary: Oyster reef restoration is a widely used coastal restoration intervention, but its impact on the chemistry of surrounding seawater and the vulnerability of oysters to acidification is still unclear. This study characterized the growth of constructed reefs and examined the pH and carbonate chemistry of reef-influenced seawater. The results showed that reef communities modified seawater carbonate chemistry, increasing oyster vulnerability to acidification.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Francisco Martinez-Baena, Vincent Raoult, Matthew D. Taylor, Troy F. Gaston, Ian McLeod, Melanie J. Bishop
Summary: Remnant oyster reefs play a critical role in the trophic ecology of both resident and transient species in Australian estuaries, contributing through direct predation and consumption of reef-dwelling organisms. The restoration of oyster reefs will enhance fisheries productivity by broadening the trophic resource base and promoting estuarine energy transfer.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Marina A. Richardson, Ya Zhang, Rod M. Connolly, Chris L. Gillies, Carmel McDougall
Summary: This review examines the historical presence and decline of tropical oyster reefs and compares their diversity and functional differences with temperate reefs. The study finds that tropical oyster reefs have higher diversity, continuous spatfall, faster growth, and mixed-species reefs compared to temperate reefs. Evidence of unsustainable and destructive harvesting emphasizes the need for restoration efforts in tropical oyster reefs.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sharon S. W. Chan, Ho Tin Wong, Marine Thomas, Heidi K. Alleway, Boze Hancock, Bayden D. Russell
Summary: This study evaluated the biodiversity of an abandoned benthic oyster farm and found that it has significant ecological potential, supporting a greater diversity and biomass of benthic flora and fauna.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Kira L. Allen, Thomas Ihde, Scott Knoche, Howard Townsend, Kristy A. Lewis
Summary: This study examined the potential impact of long-term shifts in water temperature and salinity as a result of climate change on the biomasses of important fisheries species within oyster sanctuary sites. The results indicated that the biomasses of striped bass and blue crab decreased, while oyster biomass increased in most scenarios, providing initial insights into the interaction between oyster reef restoration benefits and climate change.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Theresa M. Davenport, A. Randall Hughes, Philine S. E. zu Ermgassen, Jonathan H. Grabowski
Summary: Research on restored reefs shows differences in enhancing nekton recruitment between restored and natural reefs, with insufficient information on characteristics such as size and vertical relief of restored reefs, impacting the return on restoration investments.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Brittany R. Williams, Dominic McAfee, Sean D. Connell
Summary: Marine soundscapes provide navigational cues for dispersing organisms, but with habitat loss, these soundscapes are becoming weaker. Using speakers to create healthy soundscapes can attract larvae and enhance recruitment, improving restoration efforts.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laura Gajdzik, Alison L. Green, Jesse E. M. Cochran, Royale S. Hardenstine, Lyndsey K. Tanabe, Michael L. Berumen
Summary: Coastal nations must work together to protect marine biodiversity effectively, and incorporating connectivity information is crucial for designing large-scale marine protected areas.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kristen L. Bouska, Molly Sobotka, Todd Slack, Heather Theel
Summary: Side channels play important ecological roles in large floodplain rivers, especially in areas where habitat conditions are degraded or diminished. Our study aimed to investigate the ecological structure of side channels and their effects on fish communities in the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. We found that physical factors of side channels, such as size, heterogeneity, and connectivity, had varying explanatory contributions to fish community responses. The classification of side channels revealed spatial contrasts in abundance and diversity across different reaches. These findings highlight the significance of understanding the diversity and abundance of side channels for landscape-scale ecological functions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Camilo Cortes-Useche, Williams Reyes-Gamboa, Jose Luis Cabrera-Perez, Johanna Calle-Trivino, Ana Ceron-Flores, Rodolfo Raigoza-Figueras, Roshni Yathiraj, Jesus Ernesto Arias-Gonzalez
Summary: The study explores the potential of capturing postlarvae reef fishes, aquarium culture, and releasing juveniles to enhance fish populations on reefs, contributing to the restoration of reef biodiversity resilience. Results show positive effects in survivorship during capture and release procedures, supporting the novelty and potential of these techniques in improving restoration efforts in fish-depleted coral reefs in the Caribbean region.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bryan Locher, Nia R. Hurst, Linda J. Walters, Lisa G. Chambers
Summary: The study found that sediment nutrient concentrations significantly increased within the first year in restored oyster reefs, with higher levels of ammonium, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and organic matter. This is likely due to the nutrient contributions from oyster biodeposits and the greater filtration rate and nutrient-rich biodeposits produced by young oysters.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Mohammad J. Uddin, Kelly J. Smith, Craig W. Hargis
Summary: This study developed a more durable and sustainable cementitious composite substrate for oyster reef restoration using recycled oyster shells and low cement content. By increasing the water, sand, cement, and high-range water reducing admixture content, the physical properties of the concrete were improved, enhancing both compressive and flexural strength. The proposed material for reef restoration is superior in terms of cost, durability, environmental benefits, and carbon footprint.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Oceanography
Manuel A. Nieves-Ortiz, Richard Appeldoorn, Ernesto Weil, Hector J. Ruiz, Juan J. J. Cruz-Motta
Summary: The study found that different types of coral reef structures have varying effects on fish assemblages, with the ecological patterns of artificial reef ecosystems still poorly understood. Therefore, management strategies need to be tailored to specific site or reef goals and needs to improve the effectiveness of management actions on reef restoration and artificial reef habitats.
OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yinan Zhang, Hang Wan, Yunlong Zhao, Jiafeng Ding, Zhenchang Zhu, Hangjun Zhang, Zhiquan Liu
Summary: The functional groups and ecological health of a constructed oyster reef in the Yangtze estuary were studied. Long-term monitoring data confirmed the feasibility of creating an artificial oyster reef in this estuary. One or two functional groups were absent under moderate salinity conditions, while greater species richness, abundance, and biomass of macrobenthos functional group were observed under high salinity conditions. The feeding evenness index showed that the ecosystem health of the artificial oyster reefs was good or high, especially under high salinity conditions. Ecological health was lower under moderate salinity, possibly because of the absence of certain functional groups. Redundancy analysis revealed that changes in salinity and substrate factors were associated with ecosystem health. This study confirms the feasibility of artificial oyster reef construction and its positive impact on estuarine ecosystem health.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Ian R. Kroll, Abigail K. Poray, Brandon J. Puckett, David B. Eggleston, F. Joel Fodrie
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2018)
Article
Ecology
R. Patrick Lyon, David B. Eggleston, DelWayne R. Bohnenstiehl, Craig A. Layman, Shannon W. Ricci, Jacob E. Allgeier
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Seth J. Theuerkauf, David B. Eggleston, Brandon J. Puckett
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kayelyn R. Simmons, David B. Eggleston, DelWayne R. Bohnenstiehl
Summary: Soundscape ecology is a new and powerful approach for assessing habitat quality and ecological response of sound-producing species. This study focused on the impacts of Hurricane Irma on the coral reef soundscape using passive acoustic data collected before, during, and after the storm. The results showed that the coral reef soundscape was relatively resilient to acoustic energy exposure and environmental changes caused by the hurricane on short time scales.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Olivia N. Caretti, DelWayne R. Bohnenstiehl, David B. Eggleston
Summary: The study found that the short-term persistence of restored oyster reefs in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina was influenced by factors such as sediment burial, with reefs in different environmental conditions being affected to varying degrees. Sediment dynamics play a key role in the success of these reefs, with reefs in high-energy environments potentially having limited long-term economic and ecosystem benefits.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
S. J. Pittman, K. L. Yates, P. J. Bouchet, D. Alvarez-Berastegui, S. Andrefouet, S. S. Bell, C. Berkstrom, C. Bostrom, C. J. Brown, R. M. Connolly, R. Devillers, D. Eggleston, B. L. Gilby, M. Gullstrom, B. S. Halpern, M. Hidalgo, D. Holstein, K. Hovel, F. Huettmann, E. L. Jackson, W. R. James, J. B. Kellner, C. Y. Kot, V Lecours, C. Lepczyk, I Nagelkerken, J. Nelson, A. D. Olds, R. O. Santos, K. L. Scales, D. C. Schneider, H. T. Schilling, C. Simenstad, I. M. Suthers, E. A. Treml, L. M. Wedding, P. Yates, M. Young
Summary: Seascape ecology, as a marine-centric interdisciplinary science, lacks a coherent prioritization of key research questions. Using a 2-stage Delphi method, this study identified priority research themes including seascape change, connectivity, scale, ecosystem-based management, and emerging technologies. The analysis revealed congruence and discrepancies in priority rankings across different respondent groups.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Kayla A. Christianson, David B. Eggleston
Summary: Ecologists use a variety of theories to explain ecological patterns and processes, testing their consistency in an ever-changing world. The recent study in North Carolina found that the colonial tunicate Clavelina oblonga has become a dominant component of the marine fouling community, leading to changes in community structure and reduction in species diversity.
Article
Ecology
Seth J. Theuerkauf, Brandon J. Puckett, David B. Eggleston
Summary: This study applied a spatially explicit model to simulate the dynamics of an Eastern oyster metapopulation in the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System, showing an overall stable but slightly declining metapopulation, reef type-specific population trajectories depending on larval recruitment variation, greater importance of inter-reef larval connectivity on metapopulation dynamics than local larval retention, and the need for continued protection of oyster sanctuaries.
Article
Fisheries
R. Patrick Lyon, David B. Eggleston, Leslie M. Smith
Summary: This study compared visual surveys with dredging in seagrass beds in North Carolina to quantify scallop density and catch per unit effort (CPUE), finding no significant differences between the two methods. Visual surveys showed higher scallop densities compared to dredging, but dredging had a higher CPUE. If visual surveys accurately reflect scallop density, the dredging sampling efficiency was 33%. Dredging may uproot seagrass and displace juvenile scallops, while visual surveys provide a low-impact method for identifying scallop distribution and abundance.
JOURNAL OF SHELLFISH RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kayelyn R. Simmons, DelWayne R. Bohnenstiehl, David B. Eggleston
Summary: This study characterizes the changes in abiotic and biotic features of coral reefs in the Florida Keys, USA, and finds that protected sites generally have higher live coral cover compared to fished sites with complex physical features. The study also highlights the importance of within-site variation in driving site separation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erin P. Voigt, David B. Eggleston
Summary: This study highlights how regional postlarval dispersal patterns and local-scale factors affect nursery habitat use by blue crabs when multiple habitats are present in a seascape.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Geoffrey W. Bell, David B. Eggleston
Summary: The study used mark-recapture data collected by commercial crabbers to quantify the timing and routes of mature female blue crab migration in the CAPES in North Carolina. The results showed that mature female blue crabs consistently moved towards the Oregon Inlet spawning sanctuary in early summer. The majority of recaptures were concentrated in the area where Albemarle, Currituck, and Croatan sounds merge.
TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Romuald N. Lipcius, David B. Eggleston, F. Joel Fodrie, Jaap van der Meer, Kenneth A. Rose, Rita P. Vasconcelos, Karen E. van de Wolfshaar
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Brandon J. Puckett, Seth J. Theuerkauf, David B. Eggleston, Rodney Guajardo, Craig Hardy, Jie Gao, Richard A. Luettich
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2018)
Article
Ecology
Kathrynlynn W. Theuerkauf, David B. Eggleston, Seth J. Theuerkauf
ECOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS
(2018)