Abstract
As part of efforts to restore fishery resources and recover damaged coastal ecosystems, artificial reefs are often anchored on the seafloor in coastal zones, to provide new habitats for marine organisms. The aim of the study was to describe the structure of a community of benthic invertebrates colonising a niche-type artificial reef (AATN in Spanish). Nine structures were anchored at depths of 16 ± 1.5 m for 99 weeks (22 months) in the Area of Benthic Resource Management and Exploitation (AMERB) in coastal waters of the Region of Bio Bio, Chile.The results showed that, at 3 months from submersion of the NTAR, much of the artificial substrate remained bare and there were only low levels of specimens of Balanus sp. barnacles, showing mean coverage of 11.26%, and even lower proportions of Rhodophyta, with mean coverage of 0.34%. At 6 months, the presence of hydrozoans was seen, decreasing the coverage of the barnacles, which was aided further at 8 months with the arrival of barnacle predatory invertebrates. At 8 months, new benthic invertebrates appeared and competed for the substrate. These included sponges and algae. At 99 weeks, the hydrozoans dominated the substrate, followed by barnacles and Rhodophyta, the first colonising organisms, leading to colonisation by motile macro-invertebrates, mainly consisting of crustaceans, echinoderms and molluscs.The AATN artificial system provides an ideal substrate for the development of early ecological succession and the use of this technology should be feasible in the recovery process of habitat damaged by anthropogenic actions and climate change.
Highlights
The definitions of artificial reefs vary by country and region, leading the London Convention and Protocol/ UNEP, 2010, to agree the definition that they are structures placed intentionally on the sea bed with the aim of imitating the function of a natural reef, i.e. protection, regeneration, concentration or growth of marine resources
Artificial reefs have being used to recover and repair habitats damaged by anthropogenic intervention or climate changes (Komyakova et al 2019, Lee et al 2018, Silva Lima et al 2018)
The aim of this study is to evaluate the ecological succession of benthic organisms, assessing the association between time and the variables measured, as well the similarity in species composition between monitoring dates
Summary
The definitions of artificial reefs vary by country and region, leading the London Convention and Protocol/ UNEP, 2010, to agree the definition that they are structures placed intentionally on the sea bed with the aim of imitating the function of a natural reef, i.e. protection, regeneration, concentration or growth of marine resources. Artificial reefs have being used to recover and repair habitats damaged by anthropogenic intervention or climate changes (Komyakova et al 2019, Lee et al 2018, Silva Lima et al 2018) Over time, these reefs have become more popular and their aims have subsequently broadened (Ponti et al, 2015, Fabi et al, 2011) to account for new needs, such as recreation, habitat restoration or growth, contribution of new knowledge on species behaviour in its natural habitat or beach protection and erosion control (Encarnação & Calado, 2018, González-Duarte et al 2018, Herbert et al 2017, Liu et al 2017, Navarro-Barranco et al 2015, Firth et al 2014, Pacheco et al 2011, Ponti et al 2015, Perkol-Finkel & Benayahu 2005). The more common materials are concrete, pebbles, limestone rocks and in many cases PVC (Lezzi et al 2018, Liversage et al 2017, Vaz-Pinto et al 2014)
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