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Evaluating the success of managed realignment for the restoration of salt marshes: Lessons from invertebrate communities

Julien, Pétillon ; Potier, Simon LU ; Alexandre, Carpentier and Angus, Garbutt (2014) In Ecological Engineering 69. p.70-75
Abstract
Studying successional processes and related factors in salt marshes encompasses both fundamental (community structuration) and applied (biodiversity conservation and restoration) issues. Current managed realignment projects and sites where, in the past, large storm events led to breaches in embankments create unique experimental conditions for such challenges by re-instating tidal inundation and salt-marsh development. We conducted a pair-matched approach using natural and recreated (either accidentally or managed) salt marshes and studied changes in invertebrate communities over time during a field experiment (Essex, UK). Trophic guild was assigned to all invertebrates, and detailed analyzes conducted on most abundant (amphipods,... (More)
Studying successional processes and related factors in salt marshes encompasses both fundamental (community structuration) and applied (biodiversity conservation and restoration) issues. Current managed realignment projects and sites where, in the past, large storm events led to breaches in embankments create unique experimental conditions for such challenges by re-instating tidal inundation and salt-marsh development. We conducted a pair-matched approach using natural and recreated (either accidentally or managed) salt marshes and studied changes in invertebrate communities over time during a field experiment (Essex, UK). Trophic guild was assigned to all invertebrates, and detailed analyzes conducted on most abundant (amphipods, Orchestia sp., 9666 individuals) and diversified (spiders, 43 species) groups. A total of 27,180 invertebrates (almost all arthropods: 99% of specimens) was collected in 2005. The conservation equivalency was achieved quickly (which was shown here with spider assemblages), but that did not translate into a complete functional equivalency. Indeed neither the structure of trophic guilds, nor the potential role of marine enrichment and fish nursery, estimated through the population size of amphipods, was achieved by managed realignments. We finally argue that the study of invertebrates brings information complementary to those brought by plants, and underline that functional and conservation equivalency have to be assessed separately. (Less)
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author
; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Intertidal systems, Macro-arthropods, Essex
in
Ecological Engineering
volume
69
pages
70 - 75
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:84899821217
ISSN
1872-6992
DOI
10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.03.085
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
3572e566-ca8e-4e4a-a638-2e74ff4b2d06
date added to LUP
2017-03-23 11:03:42
date last changed
2022-01-30 19:08:24
@article{3572e566-ca8e-4e4a-a638-2e74ff4b2d06,
  abstract     = {{Studying successional processes and related factors in salt marshes encompasses both fundamental (community structuration) and applied (biodiversity conservation and restoration) issues. Current managed realignment projects and sites where, in the past, large storm events led to breaches in embankments create unique experimental conditions for such challenges by re-instating tidal inundation and salt-marsh development. We conducted a pair-matched approach using natural and recreated (either accidentally or managed) salt marshes and studied changes in invertebrate communities over time during a field experiment (Essex, UK). Trophic guild was assigned to all invertebrates, and detailed analyzes conducted on most abundant (amphipods, Orchestia sp., 9666 individuals) and diversified (spiders, 43 species) groups. A total of 27,180 invertebrates (almost all arthropods: 99% of specimens) was collected in 2005. The conservation equivalency was achieved quickly (which was shown here with spider assemblages), but that did not translate into a complete functional equivalency. Indeed neither the structure of trophic guilds, nor the potential role of marine enrichment and fish nursery, estimated through the population size of amphipods, was achieved by managed realignments. We finally argue that the study of invertebrates brings information complementary to those brought by plants, and underline that functional and conservation equivalency have to be assessed separately.}},
  author       = {{Julien, Pétillon and Potier, Simon and Alexandre, Carpentier and Angus, Garbutt}},
  issn         = {{1872-6992}},
  keywords     = {{Intertidal systems; Macro-arthropods; Essex}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{70--75}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Ecological Engineering}},
  title        = {{Evaluating the success of managed realignment for the restoration of salt marshes: Lessons from invertebrate communities}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.03.085}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.03.085}},
  volume       = {{69}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}