The use of gabions as an eco-engineering approach to enhance estuarine fish habitats in urbanised waterways

IF 3.9 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ECOLOGY

Ecological Engineering Pub Date : 2024-11-02 DOI:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107431

J.L. Seath , L.B. Firth , P.W. Froneman , L. Claassens

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Anthropogenic activities are often concentrated around coastal ecosystems. Harbours and marinas comprising artificial structures with steeper orientations and reduced topographic complexities than natural ecosystems contribute to habitat alteration and biodiversity loss. Ecological engineering aims to mitigate these impacts by integrating ecological principles into coastal development to enhance habitat potential and improve biodiversity. This study investigated the potential of gabions (rock-filled wire mesh baskets) to enhance fish abundance and biodiversity by comparing these structures to conventional seawalls in an urbanised marina in Knysna, South Africa. Remote underwater video systems were used to determine fish diversity, abundance and composition over a 12-month period from August 2020 to August 2021. Overall, a significantly greater abundance and diversity of fish were associated with gabions compared to seawalls. Importantly, the gabions supported an endangered species, the Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus capensis), and two near threatened species recorded only on the gabions. This study highlights the efficacy of using structurally complex gabions as a viable ecoengineering alternative to less complex seawalls to enhance fish habitat.

查看原文本刊更多论文

使用石笼作为生态工程方法，改善城市化水道中的河口鱼类生境

人类活动往往集中在沿海生态系统周围。与自然生态系统相比，港湾和游艇停泊区的人工结构方向更陡，地形复杂程度更低，这导致了生境的改变和生物多样性的丧失。生态工程旨在通过将生态原则融入海岸开发来减轻这些影响，从而提高栖息地的潜力并改善生物多样性。本研究通过在南非克尼斯纳的一个城市化码头将石笼网（填充岩石的金属丝网筐）与传统海堤进行比较，研究了石笼网提高鱼类丰度和生物多样性的潜力。在 2020 年 8 月至 2021 年 8 月的 12 个月期间，使用远程水下视频系统确定鱼类的多样性、丰度和组成。总体而言，与海堤相比，石笼的鱼类丰度和多样性明显更高。重要的是，石笼支持一种濒危物种--克尼斯纳海马（Hippocampus capensis）和两种仅在石笼上记录到的近危物种。这项研究强调了使用结构复杂的石笼作为一种可行的生态工程替代品的功效，以改善鱼类的栖息地。

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来源期刊

Ecological Engineering 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

8.00

自引率

5.30%

发文量

293

审稿时长

57 days

期刊介绍： Ecological engineering has been defined as the design of ecosystems for the mutual benefit of humans and nature. The journal is meant for ecologists who, because of their research interests or occupation, are involved in designing, monitoring, or restoring ecosystems, and can serve as a bridge between ecologists and engineers. Specific topics covered in the journal include: habitat reconstruction; ecotechnology; synthetic ecology; bioengineering; restoration ecology; ecology conservation; ecosystem rehabilitation; stream and river restoration; reclamation ecology; non-renewable resource conservation. Descriptions of specific applications of ecological engineering are acceptable only when situated within context of adding novelty to current research and emphasizing ecosystem restoration. We do not accept purely descriptive reports on ecosystem structures (such as vegetation surveys), purely physical assessment of materials that can be used for ecological restoration, small-model studies carried out in the laboratory or greenhouse with artificial (waste)water or crop studies, or case studies on conventional wastewater treatment and eutrophication that do not offer an ecosystem restoration approach within the paper.