Epibenthic and mobile species colonisation of a geotextile artificial surf reef on the south coast of England

Area of Science:

• Marine Ecology
• Coastal Engineering
• Biodiversity Studies

Background:

• Coastal development necessitates understanding colonization of novel artificial structures.
• Artificial surf reefs (ASRs) represent new habitats with unknown ecological impacts.
• Comparing ASRs to natural and existing artificial habitats is crucial for assessing biodiversity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the epibiota and mobile fauna colonizing Europe's first artificial surf reef (ASR).
• To compare ASR colonization patterns with natural and other artificial habitats.
• To assess the impact of the ASR on regional biodiversity, including non-native species.

Main Methods:

• Annual SCUBA diving and photography recorded epibiota succession on ASR surfaces (depth/orientation).
• Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) sampled mobile faunal assemblages.
• ASR data were compared with existing natural and artificial habitat assemblages.

Main Results:

• Distinct colonization stages observed, from early colonizers (bryozoans, green algae) to later ones (red algae, hydroids, ascidians).
• Assemblage structure varied significantly with depth and surface orientation.
• The ASR supported diverse fish and invertebrate life-history stages, including migratory and spawning species.
• A higher number of non-native species were recorded on the ASR compared to natural and other artificial habitats.

Conclusions:

• ASRs can create novel, diverse habitats supporting various marine taxa.
• The ASR accumulated a significant number of native and non-native species.
• Continued monitoring is essential to detect and mitigate potential negative invasive impacts on nearby ecosystems.