Abstract
Globally, there is growing interest in restoring previously widespread oyster reefs to reinstate key ecosystem services such as shoreline protection, fisheries productivity and water filtration. Yet, since peak expiration of oysters in the 1800s, significant and ongoing environmental change has occurred. Estuaries and coasts are undergoing some of the highest rates of urbanization, warming and ocean acidification on the planet, necessitating novel approaches to restoration. Here, we review key design considerations for oyster reef restoration projects that maximize the probability that they will meet biological and socio-economic goals not only under present-day conditions, but into the future. This includes selection of sites, and where required, substrates and oyster species and genotypes for seeding, not only on the basis of their present and future suitability in supporting oyster survival, growth and reproduction, but also based on their match to specific goals of ecosystem service delivery. Based on this review, we provide a road map of design considerations to maximize the success of future restoration projects.
Highlights
Growing recognition of the extent to which marine habitats have been degraded and the resulting socio-economic loss has led to heightened efforts to restore these habitats, and the important ecosystems services they once sustained (Duarte et al, 2020)
The success of ecological restoration was judged according to the extent to which an ecosystem that had been damaged, degraded or destroyed, Contemporary Oyster Reef Restoration was returned to a previous ecosystem state (McDonald et al, 2016)
Given limitations surrounding use of shell substrate, a diversity of natural and artificial substrates are being applied to oyster reef restoration (Goelz et al, 2020). These include, but are not limited to: other bivalve shells, crushed limestone or rock, standard concrete, concrete with various additives often aimed at lowering pH or resource consumption during manufacture (e.g., Econcrete, Sella et al, 2018; Reefcrete; Dennis et al, 2018) and biodegradable products such as BESE-elements, a zigzag mesh constructed of a potato waste polymer that can be layered to produce a high surface-area structure with protective microhabitat (Herbert et al, 2018; Temmink et al, 2020). These substrates vary in material type and structural attributes, which interact with environmental factors to determine oyster reef development, growth and ecosystem service provision
Summary
Growing recognition of the extent to which marine habitats have been degraded and the resulting socio-economic loss has led to heightened efforts to restore these habitats, and the important ecosystems services they once sustained (Duarte et al, 2020). Marine ecosystems underpin important ecosystem services including coastal protection, carbon sequestration, wastewater filtration and fisheries production (Barbier et al, 2011) Their conservation and restoration can assist in adapting to and mitigating climate change impacts, as well as improving human health and well-being (Kabisch et al, 2016; Raymond et al, 2017). Recently efforts have expanded to additional species including Saccostrea glomerata, Ostrea edulis, Ostrea angasi, Magallana (Crassostrea) sikamea, Magallana (Crassostrea) hongkongensis, and new geographic regions including Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Asia (Fitzsimons et al, 2019, 2020) Key goals of these oyster reef restoration projects may include biodiversity enhancement, nature-based coastal defense, fisheries productivity as well as improvement of coastal water quality (Figure 2; Coen et al, 2007; Gilby et al, 2018; Morris et al, 2019). We discuss how project goals and present and projected future environmental conditions might influence site selection, and substrate and seed (transplant) selection (where required; Figure 2)
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