Marine Ecology Progress Series
MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12756
copiedThe effects of shoreline armouring on estuarine fish are contingent upon the broader urbanisation context
ABSTRACT: Natural ecosystems in estuaries are modified by the effects of runoff from disturbed watersheds and are frequently replaced by armoured estuarine shorelines. Whilst the effects of these 2 stressors are widely recognised, they are typically studied in isolation, and it is not clear how these contrasting types of urbanisation interact to shape faunal assemblages. In this study, fish assemblages were surveyed with underwater videos arranged in a 200 m grid throughout the lower reaches of 3 estuaries in eastern Australia (resulting in ≥63 sites per estuary and 277 sites in total) which differed in their extent of shoreline and watershed urbanisation. Overall, the least urbanised estuary supported more than twice the number of fish species and a significantly greater abundance of fish. The spatial patterns of fish diversity and abundance within estuaries were related to the proximity of urbanised shorelines, with most fish groups aggregating near armoured shorelines. These effects of distance from urbanised shorelines were, however, modified by the degree to which the entire estuary had been modified. We show that the ecological effects of urbanisation can extend across estuaries and suggest that coastal landscapes should therefore be managed as interlinked mosaics of both natural and artificial habitats.
KEYWORDS
Thomas W. Brook (Co-author)
- The ANIMAL Research Centre: health + ecology + conservation; University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia
- School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD 4558, Australia
Ben L. Gilby (Corresponding Author)
- The ANIMAL Research Centre: health + ecology + conservation; University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia
- School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD 4558, Australia
Andrew D. Olds (Co-author)
- The ANIMAL Research Centre: health + ecology + conservation; University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia
- School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD 4558, Australia
Rod M. Connolly (Co-author)
- Australian Rivers Institute - Coasts and Estuaries, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport 4222, Queensland, Australia
Christopher J. Henderson (Co-author)
- The ANIMAL Research Centre: health + ecology + conservation; University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia
- School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD 4558, Australia
Thomas A. Schlacher (Co-author)
- The ANIMAL Research Centre: health + ecology + conservation; University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia
- School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD 4558, Australia