The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Enhancing stocks of the exploited limpet Patella candei d’Orbigny via modifications in coastal engineering

Enhancing stocks of the exploited limpet Patella candei d’Orbigny via modifications in coastal engineering
Enhancing stocks of the exploited limpet Patella candei d’Orbigny via modifications in coastal engineering
It is widely recognised that microhabitats are important for a variety of marine organisms, yet this knowledge has rarely been applied in the construction of engineered structures as a means of enhancing biodiversity or populations of species at risk. Here we examined the influence of microhabitats on the distribution and survival of the exploited limpet Patella candei on natural shores before determining the effect of introducing such habitats to an artificial seawall. On natural shores individuals were associated with pits (a natural feature of volcanic rocky shores). Animals inhabiting pits showed reduced mortality and were smaller than those on open rock. Microhabitat utilisation was similar over the vertical range of distribution of P. candei. Following observation of natural patterns, we applied this knowledge by experimentally drilling pits at varying densities and sizes in a seawall that had been constructed with simple topographical complexity. Overall, the number of animals increased in areas with experimentally increased microhabitat area. There was evidence that this was the result of immigration (larger animals) but also of increased recruitment. This study demonstrates one cost-effective way of conciliating the need to protect our coastlines while promoting the conservation and stock enhancement of over-exploited species.
Microhabitat, Coastal urbanisation, Patterns of distribution, Limpet harvesting, Seawall, Azores
0006-3207
203-211
Martins, Gustavo M.
c7156a0a-e15c-4b9f-9793-f24d8574e5bc
Thompson, Richard C.
f439ea56-b6dd-48cf-8adb-d9c2ecc6e24d
Neto, Ana I.
b544e774-2789-421a-997a-278c2520722b
Hawkins, Stephen J.
758fe1c1-30cd-4ed1-bb65-2471dc7c11fa
Jenkins, Stuart R.
63f5521f-fe3a-4dae-b582-4a6a8d3aa936
Martins, Gustavo M.
c7156a0a-e15c-4b9f-9793-f24d8574e5bc
Thompson, Richard C.
f439ea56-b6dd-48cf-8adb-d9c2ecc6e24d
Neto, Ana I.
b544e774-2789-421a-997a-278c2520722b
Hawkins, Stephen J.
758fe1c1-30cd-4ed1-bb65-2471dc7c11fa
Jenkins, Stuart R.
63f5521f-fe3a-4dae-b582-4a6a8d3aa936

Martins, Gustavo M., Thompson, Richard C., Neto, Ana I., Hawkins, Stephen J. and Jenkins, Stuart R. (2010) Enhancing stocks of the exploited limpet Patella candei d’Orbigny via modifications in coastal engineering. Biological Conservation, 143 (1), 203-211. (doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2009.10.004).

Record type: Article

Abstract

It is widely recognised that microhabitats are important for a variety of marine organisms, yet this knowledge has rarely been applied in the construction of engineered structures as a means of enhancing biodiversity or populations of species at risk. Here we examined the influence of microhabitats on the distribution and survival of the exploited limpet Patella candei on natural shores before determining the effect of introducing such habitats to an artificial seawall. On natural shores individuals were associated with pits (a natural feature of volcanic rocky shores). Animals inhabiting pits showed reduced mortality and were smaller than those on open rock. Microhabitat utilisation was similar over the vertical range of distribution of P. candei. Following observation of natural patterns, we applied this knowledge by experimentally drilling pits at varying densities and sizes in a seawall that had been constructed with simple topographical complexity. Overall, the number of animals increased in areas with experimentally increased microhabitat area. There was evidence that this was the result of immigration (larger animals) but also of increased recruitment. This study demonstrates one cost-effective way of conciliating the need to protect our coastlines while promoting the conservation and stock enhancement of over-exploited species.

Text
Martins_etal_2010_BiolConver.pdf - Version of Record
Restricted to Repository staff only
Request a copy

More information

Published date: January 2010
Keywords: Microhabitat, Coastal urbanisation, Patterns of distribution, Limpet harvesting, Seawall, Azores

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 187753
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/187753
ISSN: 0006-3207
PURE UUID: b90b1566-9df9-4548-9a54-a763f6402f1c

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 18 May 2011 09:33
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 03:26

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Gustavo M. Martins
Author: Richard C. Thompson
Author: Ana I. Neto
Author: Stuart R. Jenkins

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×