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2. To what extent can decommissioning options for marine artificial structures move us toward environmental targets?

Author

Knights, AM, Lemasson, AJ, Firth, LB, Beaumont, N, Birchenough, S, Claisse, J, Coolen, JWP, Copping, A, De Dominicis, M, Degraer, S, Elliott, M, Fernandes, PG, Fowler, AM, Frost, M, Henry, L-A, Hicks, N, Hyder, K, Jagerroos, S, Love, M, Lynam, C, Macreadie, PI, McLean, D, Marlow, J, Mavraki, N, Montagna, PA, Paterson, DM, Perrow, MR, Porter, J, Bull, AS, Schratzberger, M, Shipley, B, van Elden, S, Vanaverbeke, J, Want, A, Watson, SCL, Wilding, TA, Somerfield, PJ, Knights, AM, Lemasson, AJ, Firth, LB, Beaumont, N, Birchenough, S, Claisse, J, Coolen, JWP, Copping, A, De Dominicis, M, Degraer, S, Elliott, M, Fernandes, PG, Fowler, AM, Frost, M, Henry, L-A, Hicks, N, Hyder, K, Jagerroos, S, Love, M, Lynam, C, Macreadie, PI, McLean, D, Marlow, J, Mavraki, N, Montagna, PA, Paterson, DM, Perrow, MR, Porter, J, Bull, AS, Schratzberger, M, Shipley, B, van Elden, S, Vanaverbeke, J, Want, A, Watson, SCL, Wilding, TA, and Somerfield, PJ

Abstract

Switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy is key to international energy transition efforts and the move toward net zero. For many nations, this requires decommissioning of hundreds of oil and gas infrastructure in the marine environment. Current international, regional and national legislation largely dictates that structures must be completely removed at end-of-life although, increasingly, alternative decommissioning options are being promoted and implemented. Yet, a paucity of real-world case studies describing the impacts of decommissioning on the environment make decision-making with respect to which option(s) might be optimal for meeting international and regional strategic environmental targets challenging. To address this gap, we draw together international expertise and judgment from marine environmental scientists on marine artificial structures as an alternative source of evidence that explores how different decommissioning options might ameliorate pressures that drive environmental status toward (or away) from environmental objectives. Synthesis reveals that for 37 United Nations and Oslo-Paris Commissions (OSPAR) global and regional environmental targets, experts consider repurposing or abandoning individual structures, or abandoning multiple structures across a region, as the options that would most strongly contribute toward targets. This collective view suggests complete removal may not be best for the environment or society. However, different decommissioning options act in different ways and make variable contributions toward environmental targets, such that policy makers and managers would likely need to prioritise some targets over others considering political, social, economic, and ecological contexts. Current policy may not result in optimal outcomes for the environment or society.

Published
2024

3. N2O production by mussels: Quantifying rates and pathways in current and future climate settings

Author

Voet, H., Soetaert, K., Moens, T., Bodé, S., Boeckx, P., Van Colen, C., Vanaverbeke, J., Voet, H., Soetaert, K., Moens, T., Bodé, S., Boeckx, P., Van Colen, C., and Vanaverbeke, J.

Abstract

Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) are an abundant and economically important species across the North Sea. Partly because of their potent filter feeding and associated shell biofilm, they are able to influence and alter the surrounding marine ecosystem. As a result of proliferating offshore wind farms (OWFs), whose turbine foundations are rapidly colonised by suspension feeding artificial hard substrate communities dominated by M. edulis, as well as planned co-location strategies of these OWFs with mussel mariculture, their numbers will only increase towards the future. On top of these local stressors, global climate change is exerting additional pressure on the marine environment. This study focusses on the link between M. edulis, its microbial shell biofilm and the local nitrogen cycling by quantifying the magnitude and underlying pathways of mussel-associated nitrous oxide (N2O) production. A set of closed-core incubations established nitrifier denitrification as the main chemical pathway of M. edulis related N2O production, although ammonium, nitrite and nitrate all acted as possible precursors. Additional future-climate experiments revealed that blue mussel’s total N2O production, as well as its metabolic activity and the relative contribution of its shell biofilm, were affected by warming (+ 3°C), acidification (- 0.3 pH units), or the combination of both. Because the effects of temperature and acidity were often of an antagonistic nature, the results suggest a relatively small net effect on local N2O production in future-climate marine environments. However, N2O production rates were several orders of magnitude lower than other measured N species (NH+4, NO−2 and NO−3), making substantial mussel-associated N2 production likely. This would greatly affect the local eutrophication levels or even bioavailable n

Published
2023

6. Biological geography of the European seas : results from the MacroBen database

Author

Arvanitidis, C., Somerfield, P. J., Rumohr, H., Faulwetter, S., Valavanis, V., Vasileiadou, A., Chatzigeorgiou, G., Vanden Berghe, E., Vanaverbeke, J., Labrune, C., Grémare, A., Zettler, M. L., Kędra, M., Włodarska-Kowalczuk, M., Aleffi, I. F., Amouroux, J. M., Anisimova, N., Bachelet, G., Büntzow, M., Cochrane, S. J., Costello, M. J., Craeymeersch, J., Dahle, S., Degraer, S., Denisenko, S., Dounas, C., Duineveld, G., Emblow, C., Escavarage, V., Fabri, M. C., Fleischer, D., Gray, J. S., Heip, C. H. R., Herrmann, M., Hummel, H., Janas, U., Karakassis, I., Kendall, M. A., Kingston, P., Kotwicki, L., Laudien, J., Mackie, A. S. Y., Nevrova, E. L., Occhipinti-Ambrogi, A., Oliver, P. G., Olsgard, F., Palerud, R., Petrov, A., Rachor, E., Revkov, N. K., Rose, A., Sardá, R., Sistermans, W. C. H., Speybroeck, J., Van Hoey, G., Vincx, M., Whomersley, P., Willems, W., and Zenetos, A.

Published
2009

7. Comparison of the performances of two biotic indices based on the MacroBen database

Author

Grémare, A., Labrune, C., Vanden Berghe, E., Amouroux, J. M., Bachelet, G., Zettler, M. L., Vanaverbeke, J., Fleischer, D., Bigot, L., Maire, O., Deflandre, B., Craeymeersch, J., Degraer, S., Dounas, C., Duineveld, G., Heip, C., Herrmann, M., Hummel, H., Karakassis, I., Kędra, M., Kendall, M., Kingston, P., Laudien, J., Occhipinti-Ambrogi, A., Rachor, E., Sardá, R., Speybroeck, J., Van Hoey, G., Vincx, M., Whomersley, P., Willems, W., Włodarska-Kowalczuk, M., and Zenetos, A.

Published
2009

11. Offshore wind farm footprint on organic and mineral particle flux to the bottom

Author

Ivanov, E., Capet, A., De Borger, E., Degraer, S., Delhez, E., Soetaert, K., Vanaverbeke, J., and Grégoire, M.

Subjects
Mytilus edulis
Abstract

Offshore wind farms (OWFs) are an important source of renewable energy accounting for 2.3% of the European Union's electricity demand. Yet their impact on the environment needs to be assessed. Here, we couple a hydrodynamic (including tides and waves) and sediment transport model with a description of the organic carbon and mineral particle dynamics in the water column and sediments. The model is applied to the Belgian Coastal Zone (BCZ) where OWFs currently occupy 7% of its surface area which is estimated to double in the next 5 years. The impact of OWFs on the environment is represented through the filtration of the water column and fecal pellets production by the blue mussel, the dominant fouling organism. Our model simulations show that the impact of biodeposition on the mud particle sedimentation and on sediment composition is small compared to the fluxes associated with tidal deposition and resuspension and the lateral inputs. In contrast, the total organic carbon (TOC) flux to the sediment is significantly altered inside the OWF perimeters and TOC deposition is increased up to 50% in an area 5 km around the monopiles. Further away, the TOC flux to the bottom decreases with a notable effect up to 30 km away. The major changes are found along the direction of the main residual current and tidal ellipse's major axis. In addition, sub-mesoscale gyres act as retention areas with increased carbon deposition. A future OWF in the BCZ will be located close to gravel beds in a Natura 2000 area, considered as vulnerable habitats and biodiversity hotspots. The different scenarios for this OWF, varying in turbine number and positioning, are compared in terms of impact on the carbon and mineral particle deposition flux in the BCZ and, particularly, to these gravel beds. The scenarios show that the number of turbines has only a slight impact on the TOC deposition flux, unlike their positioning that significantly alters the TOC flux to the gravel beds. The TOC deposition flux exceeds 50%, when the turbines are placed next to the gravel beds; while a limited increase is simulated, when the turbines are located the farthest possible from them.

Published
2021

12. Offshore windfarm footprint of sediment organic matter mineralization processes

Author

De Borger, E., Ivanov, E., Capet, A., Braeckman, U., Vanaverbeke, J., Grégoire, M., Soetaert, K., De Borger, E., Ivanov, E., Capet, A., Braeckman, U., Vanaverbeke, J., Grégoire, M., and Soetaert, K.

Abstract

Offshore windfarms (OWFs) offer part of the solution for the energy transition which is urgently needed to mitigate effects of climate change. Marine life has rapidly exploited the new habitat offered by windfarm structures, resulting in increased opportunities for filter- and suspension feeding organisms. In this study, we investigated the effects of organic matter (OM) deposition in the form of fecal pellets expelled by filtering epifauna in OWFs, on mineralization processes in the sediment. OM deposition fluxes produced in a 3D hydrodynamic model of the Southern Bight of the North Sea were used as input in a model of early diagenesis. Two scenarios of OWF development in the Belgian Part of the North Sea (BPNS) and its surrounding waters were calculated and compared to a no-OWF baseline simulation. The first including constructed OWFs as of 2021, the second containing additional planned OWFs by 2026. Our results show increased total mineralization rates within OWFs (27–30%) in correspondence with increased deposition of reactive organic carbon (OC) encapsulated in the OM. This leads to a buildup of OC in the upper sediment layers (increase by ∼10%) and an increase of anoxic mineralization processes. Similarly, denitrification rates within the OWFs increased, depending on the scenario, by 2–3%. Effects were not limited to the OWF itself: clear changes were noticed in sediments outside of the OWFs, which were mostly opposite to the “within-OWF” effects. This contrast generated relatively small changes when averaging values over the full modeling domain, however, certain changes, such as for example the increased storage of OC in sediments, may be of significant value for national / regional carbon management inventories. Our results add to expectations of ecosystem-wide effects of windfarms in the marine environments, which need to be researched further given the rapid rate of expansion of OWFs.

Published
2021

13. Faunal and environmental drivers of carbon and nitrogen cycling along a permeability gradient in shallow North Sea sediments

Author

Toussaint, E., De Borger, E., Braeckman, U., De Backer, A., Soetaert, K., Vanaverbeke, J., Toussaint, E., De Borger, E., Braeckman, U., De Backer, A., Soetaert, K., and Vanaverbeke, J.

Abstract

Ecosystem functions are driven by abiotic and biotic factors, but due to high collinearity of both, it is often difficult to disentangle the drivers of these ecosystem functions. We studied sedimentological and faunal controls of benthic organic matter mineralization, a crucial ecosystem process provided for by sediments of shelf seas. Subtidal benthic habitats representative of the wide permeability gradient found in the Belgian Part of the North Sea (Northeast Atlantic Shelf) were characterized in terms of sediment descriptors, macrofauna, and sediment biogeochemistry was estimated. Our results confirmed a strong correlation between sediment characteristics and macrofauna, and estimated sediment biogeochemical process rates were clearly linked to both. Results of variance partitioning and statistical modelling showed that oxic mineralization and nitrification were mainly regulated by faunal activities whereas anoxic mineralization was regulated by sediment properties, with permeability as a decisive factor. Both biotic and abiotic factors were needed to explain variability in oxygen consumption and total mineralization estimates, suggesting that macrofaunal activities have different effects across habitats. The statistical models were a useful tool to interpret the impact of anthropogenic activities in the study area and represent a step towards predicting the effects of human activities on crucial ecosystem functions.

Published
2021

16. Nutrient, pigment, suspended matter and turbidity measurements in the Belgian part of the North Sea

Author

Mortelmans, J., Deneudt, K., Cattrijsse, A., Beauchard, O., Daveloose, I., Vyverman, W., Vanaverbeke, J., Timmermans, K., Peene, J., Roose, P., Knockaert, M., Chou, L., Sanders, R., Stinchcombe, M., Kimpe, P., Lammens, S., Theetaert, H., Gkritzalis, T., Hernandez, F., Mees, J., Mortelmans, J., Deneudt, K., Cattrijsse, A., Beauchard, O., Daveloose, I., Vyverman, W., Vanaverbeke, J., Timmermans, K., Peene, J., Roose, P., Knockaert, M., Chou, L., Sanders, R., Stinchcombe, M., Kimpe, P., Lammens, S., Theetaert, H., Gkritzalis, T., Hernandez, F., and Mees, J.

Abstract

Through regular sampling surveys, the Flanders Marine Institute is generating long term data series for the Belgian coastal water and sand bank systems, a designated site in the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) network. The data series is built on sampling activities initiated in 2002, but gradually upgraded and extended in the framework of the LifeWatch marine observatory and the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) participation. Nine nearshore stations are sampled monthly, with additional seasonal sampling of eight offshore stations. This paper presents the generated data series for nutrients, pigments, suspended matter and turbidity. The collection, methodology and processing of the 2002–2018 dataset is described, along with its data curation, integration and quality control. Yearly versions of the data are published online in a standardized format, accompanied with extensive metadata description and labelled with digital identifiers for traceability. Data is published under a CC-BY license, allowing use of the data under the condition of providing reference to the original source.

Published
2019

24. Environmental benefits of leaving offshore infrastructure in the ocean

Author

Fowler, A.M., Jørgensen, A.-M., Svendsen, J.C., Macreadie, P.I., Jones, D.O.B., Boon, A., Booth, D.J., Brabant, R., Callahan, E., Claisse, J.T., Dahlgren, T.G., Degraer, S., Dokken, Q.R., Gill, A.B., Johns, D.G., Leewis, R.J., Lindeboom, H.J., Lindén, O., May, R., Murk, A.J., Ottersen, G., Schroeder, D.M., Shastri, S.M., Teilmann, J., Todd, V., Van Hoey, G., Vanaverbeke, J., Coolen, J.W.P., Fowler, A.M., Jørgensen, A.-M., Svendsen, J.C., Macreadie, P.I., Jones, D.O.B., Boon, A., Booth, D.J., Brabant, R., Callahan, E., Claisse, J.T., Dahlgren, T.G., Degraer, S., Dokken, Q.R., Gill, A.B., Johns, D.G., Leewis, R.J., Lindeboom, H.J., Lindén, O., May, R., Murk, A.J., Ottersen, G., Schroeder, D.M., Shastri, S.M., Teilmann, J., Todd, V., Van Hoey, G., Vanaverbeke, J., and Coolen, J.W.P.

Abstract

The removal of thousands of structures associated with oil and gas development from the world's oceans is well underway, yet the environmental impacts of this decommissioning practice remain unknown. Similar impacts will be associated with the eventual removal of offshore wind turbines. We conducted a global survey of environmental experts to guide best decommissioning practices in the North Sea, a region with a substantial removal burden. In contrast to current regulations, 94.7% of experts (36 out of 38) agreed that a more flexible case‐by‐case approach to decommissioning could benefit the North Sea environment. Partial removal options were considered to deliver better environmental outcomes than complete removal for platforms, but both approaches were equally supported for wind turbines. Key considerations identified for decommissioning were biodiversity enhancement, provision of reef habitat, and protection from bottom trawling, all of which are negatively affected by complete removal. We provide recommendations to guide the revision of offshore decommissioning policy, including a temporary suspension of obligatory removal.

Published
2018

25. BioTIME: a database of biodiversity time series for the Anthropocene

Author

Dornelas, M, Antão, LH, Moyes, F, Bates, AE, Magurran, AE, Adam, D, Akhmetzhanova, AA, Appeltans, W, Arcos, JM, Arnold, H, Ayyappan, N, Badihi, G, Baird, AH, Barbosa, M, Barreto, TE, Bässler, C, Bellgrove, Alecia, Belmaker, J, Benedetti-Cecchi, L, Bett, BJ, Bjorkman, AD, Błażewicz, M, Blowes, SA, Bloch, CP, Bonebrake, TC, Boyd, S, Bradford, M, Brooks, AJ, Brown, JH, Bruelheide, H, Budy, P, Carvalho, F, Castañeda-Moya, E, Chen, CA, Chamblee, JF, Chase, TJ, Siegwart Collier, L, Collinge, SK, Condit, R, Cooper, EJ, Cornelissen, JHC, Cotano, U, Kyle Crow, S, Damasceno, G, Davies, CH, Davis, RA, Day, FP, Degraer, S, Doherty, Timothy, Dunn, TE, Durigan, G, Duffy, JE, Edelist, D, Edgar, GJ, Elahi, R, Elmendorf, SC, Enemar, A, Ernest, SKM, Escribano, R, Estiarte, M, Evans, BS, Fan, T-Y, Turini Farah, F, Loureiro Fernandes, L, Farneda, FZ, Fidelis, A, Fitt, R, Fosaa, AM, Daher Correa Franco, GA, Frank, GE, Fraser, WR, García, H, Cazzolla Gatti, R, Givan, O, Gorgone-Barbosa, E, Gould, WA, Gries, C, Grossman, GD, Gutierréz, JR, Hale, S, Harmon, ME, Harte, J, Haskins, G, Henshaw, DL, Hermanutz, L, Hidalgo, P, Higuchi, P, Hoey, A, Van Hoey, G, Hofgaard, A, Holeck, K, Hollister, RD, Holmes, R, Hoogenboom, M, Hsieh, C-H, Hubbell, SP, Huettmann, F, Huffard, CL, Hurlbert, AH, Macedo Ivanauskas, N, Janík, D, Jandt, U, Jażdżewska, A, Johannessen, T, Johnstone, J, Jones, J, Jones, FAM, Kang, J, Kartawijaya, T, Keeley, EC, Kelt, DA, Kinnear, R, Klanderud, K, Knutsen, H, Koenig, CC, Kortz, AR, Král, K, Kuhnz, LA, Kuo, C-Y, Kushner, DJ, Laguionie-Marchais, C, Lancaster, LT, Min Lee, C, Lefcheck, JS, Lévesque, E, Lightfoot, D, Lloret, F, Lloyd, JD, López-Baucells, A, Louzao, M, Madin, JS, Magnússon, B, Malamud, S, Matthews, I, McFarland, KP, McGill, B, McKnight, D, McLarney, WO, Meador, J, Meserve, PL, Metcalfe, DJ, Meyer, CFJ, Michelsen, A, Milchakova, N, Moens, T, Moland, E, Moore, J, Mathias Moreira, C, Müller, J, Murphy, G, Myers-Smith, IH, Myster, RW, Naumov, A, Neat, F, Nelson, JA, Paul Nelson, M, Newton, SF, Norden, N, Oliver, JC, Olsen, EM, Onipchenko, VG, Pabis, K, Pabst, RJ, Paquette, A, Pardede, S, Paterson, DM, Pélissier, R, Peñuelas, J, Pérez-Matus, A, Pizarro, O, Pomati, F, Post, E, Prins, HHT, Priscu, JC, Provoost, P, Prudic, KL, Pulliainen, E, Ramesh, BR, Mendivil Ramos, O, Rassweiler, A, Rebelo, JE, Reed, DC, Reich, PB, Remillard, SM, Richardson, AJ, Richardson, JP, van Rijn, I, Rocha, R, Rivera-Monroy, VH, Rixen, C, Robinson, KP, Ribeiro Rodrigues, R, de Cerqueira Rossa-Feres, D, Rudstam, L, Ruhl, H, Ruz, CS, Sampaio, EM, Rybicki, N, Rypel, A, Sal, S, Salgado, B, Santos, FAM, Savassi-Coutinho, AP, Scanga, S, Schmidt, J, Schooley, R, Setiawan, F, Shao, K-T, Shaver, GR, Sherman, S, Sherry, TW, Siciński, J, Sievers, C, da Silva, AC, Rodrigues da Silva, F, Silveira, FL, Slingsby, J, Smart, T, Snell, SJ, Soudzilovskaia, NA, Souza, GBG, Maluf Souza, F, Castro Souza, V, Stallings, CD, Stanforth, R, Stanley, EH, Mauro Sterza, J, Stevens, M, Stuart-Smith, R, Rondon Suarez, Y, Supp, S, Yoshio Tamashiro, J, Tarigan, S, Thiede, GP, Thorn, S, Tolvanen, A, Teresa Zugliani Toniato, M, Totland, Ø, Twilley, RR, Vaitkus, G, Valdivia, N, Vallejo, MI, Valone, TJ, Van Colen, C, Vanaverbeke, J, Venturoli, F, Verheye, HM, Vianna, M, Vieira, RP, Vrška, T, Quang Vu, C, Van Vu, L, Waide, RB, Waldock, C, Watts, D, Webb, S, Wesołowski, T, White, EP, Widdicombe, CE, Wilgers, D, Williams, R, Williams, SB, Williamson, M, Willig, MR, Willis, TJ, Wipf, S, Woods, KD, Woehler, EJ, Zawada, K, Zettler, ML, Hickler, T, Dornelas, M, Antão, LH, Moyes, F, Bates, AE, Magurran, AE, Adam, D, Akhmetzhanova, AA, Appeltans, W, Arcos, JM, Arnold, H, Ayyappan, N, Badihi, G, Baird, AH, Barbosa, M, Barreto, TE, Bässler, C, Bellgrove, Alecia, Belmaker, J, Benedetti-Cecchi, L, Bett, BJ, Bjorkman, AD, Błażewicz, M, Blowes, SA, Bloch, CP, Bonebrake, TC, Boyd, S, Bradford, M, Brooks, AJ, Brown, JH, Bruelheide, H, Budy, P, Carvalho, F, Castañeda-Moya, E, Chen, CA, Chamblee, JF, Chase, TJ, Siegwart Collier, L, Collinge, SK, Condit, R, Cooper, EJ, Cornelissen, JHC, Cotano, U, Kyle Crow, S, Damasceno, G, Davies, CH, Davis, RA, Day, FP, Degraer, S, Doherty, Timothy, Dunn, TE, Durigan, G, Duffy, JE, Edelist, D, Edgar, GJ, Elahi, R, Elmendorf, SC, Enemar, A, Ernest, SKM, Escribano, R, Estiarte, M, Evans, BS, Fan, T-Y, Turini Farah, F, Loureiro Fernandes, L, Farneda, FZ, Fidelis, A, Fitt, R, Fosaa, AM, Daher Correa Franco, GA, Frank, GE, Fraser, WR, García, H, Cazzolla Gatti, R, Givan, O, Gorgone-Barbosa, E, Gould, WA, Gries, C, Grossman, GD, Gutierréz, JR, Hale, S, Harmon, ME, Harte, J, Haskins, G, Henshaw, DL, Hermanutz, L, Hidalgo, P, Higuchi, P, Hoey, A, Van Hoey, G, Hofgaard, A, Holeck, K, Hollister, RD, Holmes, R, Hoogenboom, M, Hsieh, C-H, Hubbell, SP, Huettmann, F, Huffard, CL, Hurlbert, AH, Macedo Ivanauskas, N, Janík, D, Jandt, U, Jażdżewska, A, Johannessen, T, Johnstone, J, Jones, J, Jones, FAM, Kang, J, Kartawijaya, T, Keeley, EC, Kelt, DA, Kinnear, R, Klanderud, K, Knutsen, H, Koenig, CC, Kortz, AR, Král, K, Kuhnz, LA, Kuo, C-Y, Kushner, DJ, Laguionie-Marchais, C, Lancaster, LT, Min Lee, C, Lefcheck, JS, Lévesque, E, Lightfoot, D, Lloret, F, Lloyd, JD, López-Baucells, A, Louzao, M, Madin, JS, Magnússon, B, Malamud, S, Matthews, I, McFarland, KP, McGill, B, McKnight, D, McLarney, WO, Meador, J, Meserve, PL, Metcalfe, DJ, Meyer, CFJ, Michelsen, A, Milchakova, N, Moens, T, Moland, E, Moore, J, Mathias Moreira, C, Müller, J, Murphy, G, Myers-Smith, IH, Myster, RW, Naumov, A, Neat, F, Nelson, JA, Paul Nelson, M, Newton, SF, Norden, N, Oliver, JC, Olsen, EM, Onipchenko, VG, Pabis, K, Pabst, RJ, Paquette, A, Pardede, S, Paterson, DM, Pélissier, R, Peñuelas, J, Pérez-Matus, A, Pizarro, O, Pomati, F, Post, E, Prins, HHT, Priscu, JC, Provoost, P, Prudic, KL, Pulliainen, E, Ramesh, BR, Mendivil Ramos, O, Rassweiler, A, Rebelo, JE, Reed, DC, Reich, PB, Remillard, SM, Richardson, AJ, Richardson, JP, van Rijn, I, Rocha, R, Rivera-Monroy, VH, Rixen, C, Robinson, KP, Ribeiro Rodrigues, R, de Cerqueira Rossa-Feres, D, Rudstam, L, Ruhl, H, Ruz, CS, Sampaio, EM, Rybicki, N, Rypel, A, Sal, S, Salgado, B, Santos, FAM, Savassi-Coutinho, AP, Scanga, S, Schmidt, J, Schooley, R, Setiawan, F, Shao, K-T, Shaver, GR, Sherman, S, Sherry, TW, Siciński, J, Sievers, C, da Silva, AC, Rodrigues da Silva, F, Silveira, FL, Slingsby, J, Smart, T, Snell, SJ, Soudzilovskaia, NA, Souza, GBG, Maluf Souza, F, Castro Souza, V, Stallings, CD, Stanforth, R, Stanley, EH, Mauro Sterza, J, Stevens, M, Stuart-Smith, R, Rondon Suarez, Y, Supp, S, Yoshio Tamashiro, J, Tarigan, S, Thiede, GP, Thorn, S, Tolvanen, A, Teresa Zugliani Toniato, M, Totland, Ø, Twilley, RR, Vaitkus, G, Valdivia, N, Vallejo, MI, Valone, TJ, Van Colen, C, Vanaverbeke, J, Venturoli, F, Verheye, HM, Vianna, M, Vieira, RP, Vrška, T, Quang Vu, C, Van Vu, L, Waide, RB, Waldock, C, Watts, D, Webb, S, Wesołowski, T, White, EP, Widdicombe, CE, Wilgers, D, Williams, R, Williams, SB, Williamson, M, Willig, MR, Willis, TJ, Wipf, S, Woods, KD, Woehler, EJ, Zawada, K, Zettler, ML, and Hickler, T

Published
2018

26. Environmental benefits of leaving offshore infrastructure in the ocean

Author

Fowler, AM, Jørgensen, AM, Svendsen, JC, Macreadie, PI, Jones, DOB, Boon, AR, Booth, DJ, Brabant, R, Callahan, E, Claisse, JT, Dahlgren, TG, Degraer, S, Dokken, QR, Gill, AB, Johns, DG, Leewis, RJ, Lindeboom, HJ, Linden, O, May, R, Murk, AJ, Ottersen, G, Schroeder, DM, Shastri, SM, Teilmann, J, Todd, V, Van Hoey, G, Vanaverbeke, J, Coolen, JWP, Fowler, AM, Jørgensen, AM, Svendsen, JC, Macreadie, PI, Jones, DOB, Boon, AR, Booth, DJ, Brabant, R, Callahan, E, Claisse, JT, Dahlgren, TG, Degraer, S, Dokken, QR, Gill, AB, Johns, DG, Leewis, RJ, Lindeboom, HJ, Linden, O, May, R, Murk, AJ, Ottersen, G, Schroeder, DM, Shastri, SM, Teilmann, J, Todd, V, Van Hoey, G, Vanaverbeke, J, and Coolen, JWP

Abstract

© The Ecological Society of America The removal of thousands of structures associated with oil and gas development from the world's oceans is well underway, yet the environmental impacts of this decommissioning practice remain unknown. Similar impacts will be associated with the eventual removal of offshore wind turbines. We conducted a global survey of environmental experts to guide best decommissioning practices in the North Sea, a region with a substantial removal burden. In contrast to current regulations, 94.7% of experts (36 out of 38) agreed that a more flexible case-by-case approach to decommissioning could benefit the North Sea environment. Partial removal options were considered to deliver better environmental outcomes than complete removal for platforms, but both approaches were equally supported for wind turbines. Key considerations identified for decommissioning were biodiversity enhancement, provision of reef habitat, and protection from bottom trawling, all of which are negatively affected by complete removal. We provide recommendations to guide the revision of offshore decommissioning policy, including a temporary suspension of obligatory removal.

Published
2018

27. BioTIME:a database of biodiversity time series for the Anthropocene

Author

Dornelas, M. (Maria), Antao, L. H. (Laura H.), Moyes, F. (Faye), Bates, A. E. (Amanda E.), Magurran, A. E. (Anne E.), Adam, D. (Dusan), Akhmetzhanova, A. A. (Asem A.), Appeltans, W. (Ward), Arcos, J. M. (Jose Manuel), Arnold, H. (Haley), Ayyappan, N. (Narayanan), Badihi, G. (Gal), Baird, A. H. (Andrew H.), Barbosa, M. (Miguel), Barreto, T. E. (Tiago Egydio), Baessler, C. (Claus), Bellgrove, A. (Alecia), Belmaker, J. (Jonathan), Benedetti-Cecchi, L. (Lisandro), Bett, B. J. (Brian J.), Bjorkman, A. D. (Anne D.), Blazewicz, M. (Magdalena), Blowes, S. A. (Shane A.), Bloch, C. P. (Christopher P.), Bonebrake, T. C. (Timothy C.), Boyd, S. (Susan), Bradford, M. (Matt), Brooks, A. J. (Andrew J.), Brown, J. H. (James H.), Bruelheide, H. (Helge), Budy, P. (Phaedra), Carvalho, F. (Fernando), Castaneda-Moya, E. (Edward), Chen, C. A. (Chaolun Allen), Chamblee, J. F. (John F.), Chase, T. J. (Tory J.), Siegwart Collier, L. (Laura), Collinge, S. K. (Sharon K.), Condit, R. (Richard), Cooper, E. J. (Elisabeth J.), Cornelissen, J. H. (J. Hans C.), Cotano, U. (Unai), Crow, S. K. (Shannan Kyle), Damasceno, G. (Gabriella), Davies, C. H. (Claire H.), Davis, R. A. (Robert A.), Day, F. P. (Frank P.), Degraer, S. (Steven), Doherty, T. S. (Tim S.), Dunn, T. E. (Timothy E.), Durigan, G. (Giselda), Duffy, J. E. (J. Emmett), Edelist, D. (Dor), Edgar, G. J. (Graham J.), Elahi, R. (Robin), Elmendorf, S. C. (Sarah C.), Enemar, A. (Anders), Ernest, S. K. (S. K. Morgan), Escribano, R. (Ruben), Estiarte, M. (Marc), Evans, B. S. (Brian S.), Fan, T.-Y. (Tung-Yung), Farah, F. T. (Fabiano Turini), Fernandes, L. L. (Luiz Loureiro), Farneda, F. Z. (Fabio Z.), Fidelis, A. (Alessandra), Fitt, R. (Robert), Fosaa, A. M. (Anna Maria), Daher Correa Franco, G. A. (Geraldo Antonio), Frank, G. E. (Grace E.), Fraser, W. R. (William R.), Garcia, H. (Hernando), Gatti, R. C. (Roberto Cazzolla), Givan, O. (Or), Gorgone-Barbosa, E. (Elizabeth), Gould, W. A. (William A.), Gries, C. (Corinna), Grossman, G. D. (Gary D.), Gutierrez, J. R. (Julio R.), Hale, S. (Stephen), Harmon, M. E. (Mark E.), Harte, J. (John), Haskins, G. (Gary), Henshaw, D. L. (Donald L.), Hermanutz, L. (Luise), Hidalgo, P. (Pamela), Higuchi, P. (Pedro), Hoey, A. (Andrew), Van Hoey, G. (Gert), Hofgaard, A. (Annika), Holeck, K. (Kristen), Hollister, R. D. (Robert D.), Holmes, R. (Richard), Hoogenboom, M. (Mia), Hsieh, C.-h. (Chih-hao), Hubbell, S. P. (Stephen P.), Huettmann, F. (Falk), Huffard, C. L. (Christine L.), Hurlbert, A. H. (Allen H.), Ivanauskas, N. M. (Natalia Macedo), Janik, D. (David), Jandt, U. (Ute), Jazdzewska, A. (Anna), Johannessen, T. (Tore), Johnstone, J. (Jill), Jones, J. (Julia), Jones, F. A. (Faith A. M.), Kang, J. (Jungwon), Kartawijaya, T. (Tasrif), Keeley, E. C. (Erin C.), Kelt, D. A. (Douglas A.), Kinnear, R. (Rebecca), Klanderud, K. (Kari), Knutsen, H. (Halvor), Koenig, C. C. (Christopher C.), Kortz, A. R. (Alessandra R.), Kral, K. (Kamil), Kuhnz, L. A. (Linda A.), Kuo, C.-Y. (Chao-Yang), Kushner, D. J. (David J.), Laguionie-Marchais, C. (Claire), Lancaster, L. T. (Lesley T.), Min Lee, C. (Cheol), Lefcheck, J. S. (Jonathan S.), Levesque, E. (Esther), Lightfoot, D. (David), Lloret, F. (Francisco), Lloyd, J. D. (John D.), Lopez-Baucells, A. (Adria), Louzao, M. (Maite), Madin, J. S. (Joshua S.), Magnusson, B. (Borgpor), Malamud, S. (Shahar), Matthews, I. (Iain), McFarland, K. P. (Kent P.), McGill, B. (Brian), McKnight, D. (Diane), McLarney, W. O. (William O.), Meador, J. (Jason), Meserve, P. L. (Peter L.), Metcalfe, D. J. (Daniel J.), Meyer, C. F. (Christoph F. J.), Michelsen, A. (Anders), Milchakova, N. (Nataliya), Moens, T. (Tom), Moland, E. (Even), Moore, J. (Jon), Moreira, C. M. (Carolina Mathias), Mueller, J. (Joerg), Murphy, G. (Grace), Myers-Smith, I. H. (Isla H.), Myster, R. W. (Randall W.), Naumov, A. (Andrew), Neat, F. (Francis), Nelson, J. A. (James A.), Paul Nelson, M. (Michael), Newton, S. F. (Stephen F.), Norden, N. (Natalia), Oliver, J. C. (Jeffrey C.), Olsen, E. M. (Esben M.), Onipchenko, V. G. (Vladimir G.), Pabis, K. (Krzysztof), Pabst, R. J. (Robert J.), Paquette, A. (Alain), Pardede, S. (Sinta), Paterson, D. M. (David M.), Pelissier, R. (Raphael), Penuelas, J. (Josep), Perez-Matus, A. (Alejandro), Pizarro, O. (Oscar), Pomati, F. (Francesco), Post, E. (Eric), Prins, H. H. (Herbert H. T.), Priscu, J. C. (John C.), Provoost, P. (Pieter), Prudic, K. L. (Kathleen L.), Erkki, P. (Pulliainen), Ramesh, B. R. (B. R.), Mendivil Ramos, O. (Olivia), Rassweiler, A. (Andrew), Rebelo, J. E. (Jose Eduardo), Reed, D. C. (Daniel C.), Reich, P. B. (Peter B.), Remillard, S. M. (Suzanne M.), Richardson, A. J. (Anthony J.), Richardson, J. P. (J. Paul), van Rijn, I. (Itai), Rocha, R. (Ricardo), Rivera-Monroy, V. H. (Victor H.), Rixen, C. (Christian), Robinson, K. P. (Kevin P.), Rodrigues, R. R. (Ricardo Ribeiro), Rossa-Feres, D. d. (Denise de Cerqueira), Rudstam, L. (Lars), Ruhl, H. (Henry), Ruz, C. S. (Catalina S.), Sampaio, E. M. (Erica M.), Rybicki, N. (Nancy), Rypel, A. (Andrew), Sal, S. (Sofia), Salgado, B. (Beatriz), Santos, F. A. (Flavio A. M.), Savassi-Coutinho, A. P. (Ana Paula), Scanga, S. (Sara), Schmidt, J. (Jochen), Schooley, R. (Robert), Setiawan, F. (Fakhrizal), Shao, K.-T. (Kwang-Tsao), Shaver, G. R. (Gaius R.), Sherman, S. (Sally), Sherry, T. W. (Thomas W.), Sicinski, J. (Jacek), Sievers, C. (Caya), da Silva, A. C. (Ana Carolina), da Silva, F. R. (Fernando Rodrigues), Silveira, F. L. (Fabio L.), Slingsby, J. (Jasper), Smart, T. (Tracey), Snell, S. J. (Sara J.), Soudzilovskaia, N. A. (Nadejda A.), Souza, G. B. (Gabriel B. G.), Souza, F. M. (Flaviana Maluf), Souza, V. C. (Vinicius Castro), Stallings, C. D. (Christopher D.), Stanforth, R. (Rowan), Stanley, E. H. (Emily H.), Sterza, J. M. (Jose Mauro), Stevens, M. (Maarten), Stuart-Smith, R. (Rick), Rondon Suarez, Y. (Yzel), Supp, S. (Sarah), Yoshio Tamashiro, J. (Jorge), Tarigan, S. (Sukmaraharja), Thiede, G. P. (Gary P.), Thorn, S. (Simon), Tolvanen, A. (Anne), Zugliani Toniato, M. T. (Maria Teresa), Totland, O. (Orjan), Twilley, R. R. (Robert R.), Vaitkus, G. (Gediminas), Valdivia, N. (Nelson), Vallejo, M. I. (Martha Isabel), Valone, T. J. (Thomas J.), Van Colen, C. (Carl), Vanaverbeke, J. (Jan), Venturoli, F. (Fabio), Verheye, H. M. (Hans M.), Vianna, M. (Marcelo), Vieira, R. P. (Rui P.), Vrska, T. (Tomas), Vu, C. Q. (Con Quang), Vu, L. V. (Lien Van), Waide, R. B. (Robert B.), Waldock, C. (Conor), Watts, D. (Dave), Webb, S. (Sara), Wesolowski, T. (Tomasz), White, E. P. (Ethan P.), Widdicombe, C. E. (Claire E.), Wilgers, D. (Dustin), Williams, R. (Richard), Williams, S. B. (Stefan B.), Williamson, M. (Mark), Willig, M. R. (Michael R.), Willis, T. J. (Trevor J.), Wipf, S. (Sonja), Woods, K. D. (Kerry D.), Woehler, E. J. (Eric J.), Zawada, K. (Kyle), Zettler, M. L. (Michael L.), Dornelas, M. (Maria), Antao, L. H. (Laura H.), Moyes, F. (Faye), Bates, A. E. (Amanda E.), Magurran, A. E. (Anne E.), Adam, D. (Dusan), Akhmetzhanova, A. A. (Asem A.), Appeltans, W. (Ward), Arcos, J. M. (Jose Manuel), Arnold, H. (Haley), Ayyappan, N. (Narayanan), Badihi, G. (Gal), Baird, A. H. (Andrew H.), Barbosa, M. (Miguel), Barreto, T. E. (Tiago Egydio), Baessler, C. (Claus), Bellgrove, A. (Alecia), Belmaker, J. (Jonathan), Benedetti-Cecchi, L. (Lisandro), Bett, B. J. (Brian J.), Bjorkman, A. D. (Anne D.), Blazewicz, M. (Magdalena), Blowes, S. A. (Shane A.), Bloch, C. P. (Christopher P.), Bonebrake, T. C. (Timothy C.), Boyd, S. (Susan), Bradford, M. (Matt), Brooks, A. J. (Andrew J.), Brown, J. H. (James H.), Bruelheide, H. (Helge), Budy, P. (Phaedra), Carvalho, F. (Fernando), Castaneda-Moya, E. (Edward), Chen, C. A. (Chaolun Allen), Chamblee, J. F. (John F.), Chase, T. J. (Tory J.), Siegwart Collier, L. (Laura), Collinge, S. K. (Sharon K.), Condit, R. (Richard), Cooper, E. J. (Elisabeth J.), Cornelissen, J. H. (J. Hans C.), Cotano, U. (Unai), Crow, S. K. (Shannan Kyle), Damasceno, G. (Gabriella), Davies, C. H. (Claire H.), Davis, R. A. (Robert A.), Day, F. P. (Frank P.), Degraer, S. (Steven), Doherty, T. S. (Tim S.), Dunn, T. E. (Timothy E.), Durigan, G. (Giselda), Duffy, J. E. (J. Emmett), Edelist, D. (Dor), Edgar, G. J. (Graham J.), Elahi, R. (Robin), Elmendorf, S. C. (Sarah C.), Enemar, A. (Anders), Ernest, S. K. (S. K. Morgan), Escribano, R. (Ruben), Estiarte, M. (Marc), Evans, B. S. (Brian S.), Fan, T.-Y. (Tung-Yung), Farah, F. T. (Fabiano Turini), Fernandes, L. L. (Luiz Loureiro), Farneda, F. Z. (Fabio Z.), Fidelis, A. (Alessandra), Fitt, R. (Robert), Fosaa, A. M. (Anna Maria), Daher Correa Franco, G. A. (Geraldo Antonio), Frank, G. E. (Grace E.), Fraser, W. R. (William R.), Garcia, H. (Hernando), Gatti, R. C. (Roberto Cazzolla), Givan, O. (Or), Gorgone-Barbosa, E. (Elizabeth), Gould, W. A. (William A.), Gries, C. (Corinna), Grossman, G. D. (Gary D.), Gutierrez, J. R. (Julio R.), Hale, S. (Stephen), Harmon, M. E. (Mark E.), Harte, J. (John), Haskins, G. (Gary), Henshaw, D. L. (Donald L.), Hermanutz, L. (Luise), Hidalgo, P. (Pamela), Higuchi, P. (Pedro), Hoey, A. (Andrew), Van Hoey, G. (Gert), Hofgaard, A. (Annika), Holeck, K. (Kristen), Hollister, R. D. (Robert D.), Holmes, R. (Richard), Hoogenboom, M. (Mia), Hsieh, C.-h. (Chih-hao), Hubbell, S. P. (Stephen P.), Huettmann, F. (Falk), Huffard, C. L. (Christine L.), Hurlbert, A. H. (Allen H.), Ivanauskas, N. M. (Natalia Macedo), Janik, D. (David), Jandt, U. (Ute), Jazdzewska, A. (Anna), Johannessen, T. (Tore), Johnstone, J. (Jill), Jones, J. (Julia), Jones, F. A. (Faith A. M.), Kang, J. (Jungwon), Kartawijaya, T. (Tasrif), Keeley, E. C. (Erin C.), Kelt, D. A. (Douglas A.), Kinnear, R. (Rebecca), Klanderud, K. (Kari), Knutsen, H. (Halvor), Koenig, C. C. (Christopher C.), Kortz, A. R. (Alessandra R.), Kral, K. (Kamil), Kuhnz, L. A. (Linda A.), Kuo, C.-Y. (Chao-Yang), Kushner, D. J. (David J.), Laguionie-Marchais, C. (Claire), Lancaster, L. T. (Lesley T.), Min Lee, C. (Cheol), Lefcheck, J. S. (Jonathan S.), Levesque, E. (Esther), Lightfoot, D. (David), Lloret, F. (Francisco), Lloyd, J. D. (John D.), Lopez-Baucells, A. (Adria), Louzao, M. (Maite), Madin, J. S. (Joshua S.), Magnusson, B. (Borgpor), Malamud, S. (Shahar), Matthews, I. (Iain), McFarland, K. P. (Kent P.), McGill, B. (Brian), McKnight, D. (Diane), McLarney, W. O. (William O.), Meador, J. (Jason), Meserve, P. L. (Peter L.), Metcalfe, D. J. (Daniel J.), Meyer, C. F. (Christoph F. J.), Michelsen, A. (Anders), Milchakova, N. (Nataliya), Moens, T. (Tom), Moland, E. (Even), Moore, J. (Jon), Moreira, C. M. (Carolina Mathias), Mueller, J. (Joerg), Murphy, G. (Grace), Myers-Smith, I. H. (Isla H.), Myster, R. W. (Randall W.), Naumov, A. (Andrew), Neat, F. (Francis), Nelson, J. A. (James A.), Paul Nelson, M. (Michael), Newton, S. F. (Stephen F.), Norden, N. (Natalia), Oliver, J. C. (Jeffrey C.), Olsen, E. M. (Esben M.), Onipchenko, V. G. (Vladimir G.), Pabis, K. (Krzysztof), Pabst, R. J. (Robert J.), Paquette, A. (Alain), Pardede, S. (Sinta), Paterson, D. M. (David M.), Pelissier, R. (Raphael), Penuelas, J. (Josep), Perez-Matus, A. (Alejandro), Pizarro, O. (Oscar), Pomati, F. (Francesco), Post, E. (Eric), Prins, H. H. (Herbert H. T.), Priscu, J. C. (John C.), Provoost, P. (Pieter), Prudic, K. L. (Kathleen L.), Erkki, P. (Pulliainen), Ramesh, B. R. (B. R.), Mendivil Ramos, O. (Olivia), Rassweiler, A. (Andrew), Rebelo, J. E. (Jose Eduardo), Reed, D. C. (Daniel C.), Reich, P. B. (Peter B.), Remillard, S. M. (Suzanne M.), Richardson, A. J. (Anthony J.), Richardson, J. P. (J. Paul), van Rijn, I. (Itai), Rocha, R. (Ricardo), Rivera-Monroy, V. H. (Victor H.), Rixen, C. (Christian), Robinson, K. P. (Kevin P.), Rodrigues, R. R. (Ricardo Ribeiro), Rossa-Feres, D. d. (Denise de Cerqueira), Rudstam, L. (Lars), Ruhl, H. (Henry), Ruz, C. S. (Catalina S.), Sampaio, E. M. (Erica M.), Rybicki, N. (Nancy), Rypel, A. (Andrew), Sal, S. (Sofia), Salgado, B. (Beatriz), Santos, F. A. (Flavio A. M.), Savassi-Coutinho, A. P. (Ana Paula), Scanga, S. (Sara), Schmidt, J. (Jochen), Schooley, R. (Robert), Setiawan, F. (Fakhrizal), Shao, K.-T. (Kwang-Tsao), Shaver, G. R. (Gaius R.), Sherman, S. (Sally), Sherry, T. W. (Thomas W.), Sicinski, J. (Jacek), Sievers, C. (Caya), da Silva, A. C. (Ana Carolina), da Silva, F. R. (Fernando Rodrigues), Silveira, F. L. (Fabio L.), Slingsby, J. (Jasper), Smart, T. (Tracey), Snell, S. J. (Sara J.), Soudzilovskaia, N. A. (Nadejda A.), Souza, G. B. (Gabriel B. G.), Souza, F. M. (Flaviana Maluf), Souza, V. C. (Vinicius Castro), Stallings, C. D. (Christopher D.), Stanforth, R. (Rowan), Stanley, E. H. (Emily H.), Sterza, J. M. (Jose Mauro), Stevens, M. (Maarten), Stuart-Smith, R. (Rick), Rondon Suarez, Y. (Yzel), Supp, S. (Sarah), Yoshio Tamashiro, J. (Jorge), Tarigan, S. (Sukmaraharja), Thiede, G. P. (Gary P.), Thorn, S. (Simon), Tolvanen, A. (Anne), Zugliani Toniato, M. T. (Maria Teresa), Totland, O. (Orjan), Twilley, R. R. (Robert R.), Vaitkus, G. (Gediminas), Valdivia, N. (Nelson), Vallejo, M. I. (Martha Isabel), Valone, T. J. (Thomas J.), Van Colen, C. (Carl), Vanaverbeke, J. (Jan), Venturoli, F. (Fabio), Verheye, H. M. (Hans M.), Vianna, M. (Marcelo), Vieira, R. P. (Rui P.), Vrska, T. (Tomas), Vu, C. Q. (Con Quang), Vu, L. V. (Lien Van), Waide, R. B. (Robert B.), Waldock, C. (Conor), Watts, D. (Dave), Webb, S. (Sara), Wesolowski, T. (Tomasz), White, E. P. (Ethan P.), Widdicombe, C. E. (Claire E.), Wilgers, D. (Dustin), Williams, R. (Richard), Williams, S. B. (Stefan B.), Williamson, M. (Mark), Willig, M. R. (Michael R.), Willis, T. J. (Trevor J.), Wipf, S. (Sonja), Woods, K. D. (Kerry D.), Woehler, E. J. (Eric J.), Zawada, K. (Kyle), and Zettler, M. L. (Michael L.)

Abstract

Motivation: The BioTIME database contains raw data on species identities and abundances in ecological assemblages through time. These data enable users to calculate temporal trends in biodiversity within and amongst assemblages using a broad range of metrics. BioTIME is being developed as a community‐led open‐source database of biodiversity time series. Our goal is to accelerate and facilitate quantitative analysis of temporal patterns of biodiversity in the Anthropocene. Main types of variables included: The database contains 8,777,413 species abundance records, from assemblages consistently sampled for a minimum of 2 years, which need not necessarily be consecutive. In addition, the database contains metadata relating to sampling methodology and contextual information about each record. Spatial location and grain: BioTIME is a global database of 547,161 unique sampling locations spanning the marine, freshwater and terrestrial realms. Grain size varies across datasets from 0.0000000158 km² (158 cm²) to 100 km² (1,000,000,000,000 cm²). Time period and grain: BioTIME records span from 1874 to 2016. The minimal temporal grain across all datasets in BioTIME is a year. Major taxa and level of measurement: BioTIME includes data from 44,440 species across the plant and animal kingdoms, ranging from plants, plankton and terrestrial invertebrates to small and large vertebrates. Software format: .csv and .SQL.

Published
2018

28. BioTIME: A database of biodiversity time series for the Anthropocene

Author

Dornelas, M., Antão, L. H., Moyes, F., Bates, A. E., Magurran, A. E., Adam, D., Akhmetzhanova, A. A., Appeltans, W., Arcos, J. M., Arnold, H., Ayyappan, N., Badihi, G., Baird, A. H., Barbosa, M., Barreto, T. E., Bässler, C., Bellgrove, A., Belmaker, J., Benedetti-Cecchi, L., Bett, B. J., Bjorkman, A. D., Błażewicz, M., Blowes, S. A., Bloch, C. P., Bonebrake, T. C., Boyd, S., Bradford, M., Brooks, A. J., Brown, J. H., Bruelheide, H., Budy, P., Carvalho, F., Castañeda-Moya, E., Chen, C. A., Chamblee, J. F., Chase, T. J., Siegwart Collier, L., Collinge, S. K., Condit, R., Cooper, E. J., Cornelissen, J. H. C., Cotano, U., Kyle Crow, S., Damasceno, G., Davies, C. H., Davis, R. A., Day, F. P., Degraer, S., Doherty, T. S., Dunn, T. E., Durigan, G., Duffy, J. E., Edelist, D., Edgar, G. J., Elahi, R., Elmendorf, S. C., Enemar, A., Ernest, S. K. M., Escribano, R., Estiarte, M., Evans, B. S., Fan, T. Y., Turini Farah, F., Loureiro Fernandes, L., Farneda, F. Z., Fidelis, A., Fitt, R., Fosaa, A. M., Daher Correa Franco, G. A., Frank, G. E., Fraser, W. R., García, H., Cazzolla Gatti, R., Givan, O., Gorgone-Barbosa, E., Gould, W. A., Gries, C., Grossman, G. D., Gutierréz, J. R., Hale, S., Harmon, M. E., Harte, J., Haskins, G., Henshaw, D. L., Hermanutz, L., Hidalgo, P., Higuchi, P., Hoey, A., Van Hoey, G., Hofgaard, A., Holeck, K., Hollister, R. D., Holmes, R., Hoogenboom, M., Hsieh, C. H., Hubbell, S. P., Huettmann, F., Huffard, C. L., Hurlbert, A. H., Macedo Ivanauskas, N., Janík, D., Jandt, U., Jażdżewska, A., Johannessen, T., Johnstone, J., Jones, J., Jones, F. A. M., Kang, J., Kartawijaya, T., Keeley, E. C., Kelt, D. A., Kinnear, R., Klanderud, K., Knutsen, H., Koenig, C. C., Kortz, A. R., Král, K., Kuhnz, L. A., Kuo, C. Y., Kushner, D. J., Laguionie-Marchais, C., Lancaster, L. T., Min Lee, C., Lefcheck, J. S., Lévesque, E., Lightfoot, D., Lloret, F., Lloyd, J. D., López-Baucells, A., Louzao, M., Madin, J. S., Magnússon, B., Malamud, S., Matthews, I., McFarland, K. P., McGill, B., McKnight, D., McLarney, W. O., Meador, J., Meserve, P. L., Metcalfe, D. J., Meyer, C. F. J., Michelsen, A., Milchakova, N., Moens, T., Moland, E., Moore, J., Mathias Moreira, C., Müller, J., Murphy, G., Myers-Smith, I. H., Myster, R. W., Naumov, A., Neat, F., Nelson, J. A., Paul Nelson, M., Newton, S. F., Norden, N., Oliver, J. C., Olsen, E. M., Onipchenko, V. G., Pabis, K., Pabst, R. J., Paquette, A., Pardede, S., Paterson, D. M., Pélissier, R., Peñuelas, J., Pérez-Matus, A., Pizarro, O., Pomati, F., Post, E., Prins, H. H. T., Priscu, J. C., Provoost, P., Prudic, K. L., Pulliainen, E., Ramesh, B. R., Mendivil Ramos, O., Rassweiler, A., Rebelo, J. E., Reed, D. C., Reich, P. B., Remillard, S. M., Richardson, A. J., Richardson, J. P., van Rijn, I., Rocha, R., Rivera-Monroy, V. H., Rixen, C., Robinson, K. P., Ribeiro Rodrigues, R., de Cerqueira Rossa-Feres, D., Rudstam, L., Ruhl, H., Ruz, C. S., Sampaio, E. M., Rybicki, N., Rypel, A., Sal, S., Salgado, B., Santos, F. A. M., Savassi-Coutinho, A. P., Scanga, S., Schmidt, J., Schooley, R., Setiawan, F., Shao, K. T., Shaver, G. R., Sherman, S., Sherry, T. W., Siciński, J., Sievers, C., da Silva, A. C., Rodrigues da Silva, F., Silveira, F. L., Slingsby, J., Smart, T., Snell, S. J., Soudzilovskaia, N. A., Souza, G. B. G., Maluf Souza, F., Castro Souza, V., Stallings, C. D., Stanforth, R., Stanley, E. H., Mauro Sterza, J., Stevens, M., Stuart-Smith, R., Rondon Suarez, Y., Supp, S., Yoshio Tamashiro, J., Tarigan, S., Thiede, G. P., Thorn, S., Tolvanen, A., Teresa Zugliani Toniato, M., Totland, Ø, Twilley, R. R., Vaitkus, G., Valdivia, N., Vallejo, M. I., Valone, T. J., Van Colen, C., Vanaverbeke, J., Venturoli, F., Verheye, H. M., Vianna, M., Vieira, R. P., Vrška, T., Quang Vu, C., Van Vu, L., Waide, R. B., Waldock, C., Watts, D., Webb, S., Wesołowski, T., White, E. P., Widdicombe, C. E., Wilgers, D., Williams, R., Williams, S. B., Williamson, M., Willig, M. R., Willis, T. J., Wipf, S., Woods, K. D., Woehler, E. J., Zawada, K., Zettler, M. L., Dornelas, M., Antão, L. H., Moyes, F., Bates, A. E., Magurran, A. E., Adam, D., Akhmetzhanova, A. A., Appeltans, W., Arcos, J. M., Arnold, H., Ayyappan, N., Badihi, G., Baird, A. H., Barbosa, M., Barreto, T. E., Bässler, C., Bellgrove, A., Belmaker, J., Benedetti-Cecchi, L., Bett, B. J., Bjorkman, A. D., Błażewicz, M., Blowes, S. A., Bloch, C. P., Bonebrake, T. C., Boyd, S., Bradford, M., Brooks, A. J., Brown, J. H., Bruelheide, H., Budy, P., Carvalho, F., Castañeda-Moya, E., Chen, C. A., Chamblee, J. F., Chase, T. J., Siegwart Collier, L., Collinge, S. K., Condit, R., Cooper, E. J., Cornelissen, J. H. C., Cotano, U., Kyle Crow, S., Damasceno, G., Davies, C. H., Davis, R. A., Day, F. P., Degraer, S., Doherty, T. S., Dunn, T. E., Durigan, G., Duffy, J. E., Edelist, D., Edgar, G. J., Elahi, R., Elmendorf, S. C., Enemar, A., Ernest, S. K. M., Escribano, R., Estiarte, M., Evans, B. S., Fan, T. Y., Turini Farah, F., Loureiro Fernandes, L., Farneda, F. Z., Fidelis, A., Fitt, R., Fosaa, A. M., Daher Correa Franco, G. A., Frank, G. E., Fraser, W. R., García, H., Cazzolla Gatti, R., Givan, O., Gorgone-Barbosa, E., Gould, W. A., Gries, C., Grossman, G. D., Gutierréz, J. R., Hale, S., Harmon, M. E., Harte, J., Haskins, G., Henshaw, D. L., Hermanutz, L., Hidalgo, P., Higuchi, P., Hoey, A., Van Hoey, G., Hofgaard, A., Holeck, K., Hollister, R. D., Holmes, R., Hoogenboom, M., Hsieh, C. H., Hubbell, S. P., Huettmann, F., Huffard, C. L., Hurlbert, A. H., Macedo Ivanauskas, N., Janík, D., Jandt, U., Jażdżewska, A., Johannessen, T., Johnstone, J., Jones, J., Jones, F. A. M., Kang, J., Kartawijaya, T., Keeley, E. C., Kelt, D. A., Kinnear, R., Klanderud, K., Knutsen, H., Koenig, C. C., Kortz, A. R., Král, K., Kuhnz, L. A., Kuo, C. Y., Kushner, D. J., Laguionie-Marchais, C., Lancaster, L. T., Min Lee, C., Lefcheck, J. S., Lévesque, E., Lightfoot, D., Lloret, F., Lloyd, J. D., López-Baucells, A., Louzao, M., Madin, J. S., Magnússon, B., Malamud, S., Matthews, I., McFarland, K. P., McGill, B., McKnight, D., McLarney, W. O., Meador, J., Meserve, P. L., Metcalfe, D. J., Meyer, C. F. J., Michelsen, A., Milchakova, N., Moens, T., Moland, E., Moore, J., Mathias Moreira, C., Müller, J., Murphy, G., Myers-Smith, I. H., Myster, R. W., Naumov, A., Neat, F., Nelson, J. A., Paul Nelson, M., Newton, S. F., Norden, N., Oliver, J. C., Olsen, E. M., Onipchenko, V. G., Pabis, K., Pabst, R. J., Paquette, A., Pardede, S., Paterson, D. M., Pélissier, R., Peñuelas, J., Pérez-Matus, A., Pizarro, O., Pomati, F., Post, E., Prins, H. H. T., Priscu, J. C., Provoost, P., Prudic, K. L., Pulliainen, E., Ramesh, B. R., Mendivil Ramos, O., Rassweiler, A., Rebelo, J. E., Reed, D. C., Reich, P. B., Remillard, S. M., Richardson, A. J., Richardson, J. P., van Rijn, I., Rocha, R., Rivera-Monroy, V. H., Rixen, C., Robinson, K. P., Ribeiro Rodrigues, R., de Cerqueira Rossa-Feres, D., Rudstam, L., Ruhl, H., Ruz, C. S., Sampaio, E. M., Rybicki, N., Rypel, A., Sal, S., Salgado, B., Santos, F. A. M., Savassi-Coutinho, A. P., Scanga, S., Schmidt, J., Schooley, R., Setiawan, F., Shao, K. T., Shaver, G. R., Sherman, S., Sherry, T. W., Siciński, J., Sievers, C., da Silva, A. C., Rodrigues da Silva, F., Silveira, F. L., Slingsby, J., Smart, T., Snell, S. J., Soudzilovskaia, N. A., Souza, G. B. G., Maluf Souza, F., Castro Souza, V., Stallings, C. D., Stanforth, R., Stanley, E. H., Mauro Sterza, J., Stevens, M., Stuart-Smith, R., Rondon Suarez, Y., Supp, S., Yoshio Tamashiro, J., Tarigan, S., Thiede, G. P., Thorn, S., Tolvanen, A., Teresa Zugliani Toniato, M., Totland, Ø, Twilley, R. R., Vaitkus, G., Valdivia, N., Vallejo, M. I., Valone, T. J., Van Colen, C., Vanaverbeke, J., Venturoli, F., Verheye, H. M., Vianna, M., Vieira, R. P., Vrška, T., Quang Vu, C., Van Vu, L., Waide, R. B., Waldock, C., Watts, D., Webb, S., Wesołowski, T., White, E. P., Widdicombe, C. E., Wilgers, D., Williams, R., Williams, S. B., Williamson, M., Willig, M. R., Willis, T. J., Wipf, S., Woods, K. D., Woehler, E. J., Zawada, K., and Zettler, M. L.

Abstract

Motivation: The BioTIME database contains raw data on species identities and abundances in ecological assemblages through time. These data enable users to calculate temporal trends in biodiversity within and amongst assemblages using a broad range of metrics. BioTIME is being developed as a community-led open-source database of biodiversity time series. Our goal is to accelerate and facilitate quantitative analysis of temporal patterns of biodiversity in the Anthropocene. Main types of variables included: The database contains 8,777,413 species abundance records, from assemblages consistently sampled for a minimum of 2 years, which need not necessarily be consecutive. In addition, the database contains metadata relating to sampling methodology and contextual information about each record. Spatial location and grain: BioTIME is a global database of 547,161 unique sampling locations spanning the marine, freshwater and terrestrial realms. Grain size varies across datasets from 0.0000000158 km2 (158 cm2) to 100 km2 (1,000,000,000,000 cm2). Time period and grain: BioTIME records span from 1874 to 2016. The minimal temporal grain across all datasets in BioTIME is a year. Major taxa and level of measurement: BioTIME includes data from 44,440 species across the plant and animal kingdoms, ranging from plants, plankton and terrestrial invertebrates to small and large vertebrates. Software format:.csv and.SQL.

Published
2018

31. Surf zone fauna of Ecuadorian sandy beaches: Spatial and temporal patterns

Author

Marin Jarrin, J.R., Vanaverbeke, J., Fockedey, N., de Grunauer, M.d.P.C.R., and Dominguez-Granda, L.

Abstract

Sandy beaches and their surf zones are the most common open shoreline habitat; however, surf zone fauna in the tropics is one of the least studied communities in the world. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that Ecuadorian surf zone hyperbenthos (invertebrates and vertebrates 1-5 mm in length) and epibenthos (fish and macrocrustaceans > 5 mm in length) vary among beaches and seasons. Therefore, the fauna was described and related to environmental variables. In addition, indicator taxa were identified. The hyperbenthos was divided into holo- and mero-hyperbenthos depending on whether taxa were present during their entire life or only early life stages, respectively. Samples were collected at eight different beaches during the wet, dry and intermediate or transitional season during the low spring tide, from 1999 to 2000, using a hyperbenthic sledge and epibenthic trawl. A total of 447 hyperbenthic and 30 epibenthic taxa were collected, most of which were crustaceans and fish, respectively (52 and 60% of taxa). The mysid, Metamysidopsis sp., was the most abundant member of the hyperbenthos (average ± SD: 14,425 ± 40,039 ind. 100 m-2, present in 92% of samples collected), and the swimming blue crab, Areneus mexicanus, was the most encountered species among the epibenthos (1 ± 1 ind. 100 m-2, 97% of samples collected). All faunal groups varied among beaches, while the holo-hyperbenthos and less strongly the epibenthos varied among seasons. Variability in the three faunas among beaches, distance from the continental slope and the Guayas estuarine system, and beach water physical characteristics were all strongly correlated suggesting adjacent habitats can influence surf zone biological communities and water physical characteristics. Seasonal effects were related to changes in water physical characteristics among seasons potentially reflecting changes in oceanic currents. These results suggest that, similarly to other beaches around the world, Ecuadorian surf zone fauna is abundant, diverse, and vary among beaches and, for some faunal groups, among seasons, potentially due to the influence of adjacent habitats and seasonal changes in oceanic currents.

Published
2017

34. A case study on the growth of Lanice conchilega (Pallas, 1766) aggregations and their ecosystem engineering impact on sedimentary processes

Author

Alves, R.M.S., Van Colen, C., Vincx, M., Vanaverbeke, J., De Smet, B., Guarini, J.-M., Rabaut, M., Bouma, T.J., Alves, R.M.S., Van Colen, C., Vincx, M., Vanaverbeke, J., De Smet, B., Guarini, J.-M., Rabaut, M., and Bouma, T.J.

Abstract

Ecosystem engineers are organisms that modulate natural resources enabling the survival of other species. They drive environmental change and contribute to several coastal functional attributes such as landscape heterogeneity, sedimentary processes, and coastal protection. Our study focuses on the case of Lanice conchilega, a tube-building ecosystem engineer whose aggregations impact sedimentary processes. This polychaete forms biogenic tube aggregations distributed on the coasts of the northern hemisphere from the shallow intertidal to depths of 1900 m. The aggregations engineer sedimentary processes autogenically by altering water flow at the benthic-boundary layer, and harbor highly diverse infaunal communities as a consequence. This study evaluates the relationships between intertidal L. conchilega aggregations and sedimentary processes at the intertidal zone of a sandy beach in northern France. Three experiments were executed to investigate (1) the effects of L. conchilega presence on sedimentary processes, as well as (2) the impacts of sedimentation on L. conchilega survival and patch growth, and (3) assess small-scale spatial heterogeneity in density and ecosystem engineering in L. conchilega aggregations. Weekly estimations of sedimentary properties in-situ showed that net deposition is significantly higher inside L. conchilega aggregations than in bare sand; whereas sediment mixing depth is noticeably reduced in comparison and regardless of patch tidal height. Variations in tube density above 3200 ind m-2 did not significantly impact sedimentary properties suggesting that the relationship between flow attenuation and tube density is nonlinear. In-situ monitoring of L. conchilega aggregations revealed different temporal trends for tube density and EPS content at the sediment surface between the center and edges of patches. This hints at the presence of environmental gradients within ag

Published
2017

35. Effects of temporal fluctuation in population processes of intertidal Lanice conchilega (Pallas, 1766) aggregations on its ecosystem engineering

Author

Alves, R.M.S., Vanaverbeke, J., Bouma, T.J., Guarini, J.-M., Vincx, M., Van Colen, C., Alves, R.M.S., Vanaverbeke, J., Bouma, T.J., Guarini, J.-M., Vincx, M., and Van Colen, C.

Abstract

Ecosystem engineers contribute to ecosystem functioning by regulating key environmental attributes, such as habitat availability and sediment biogeochemistry. While autogenic engineers can increase habitat complexity passively and provide physical protection to other species, allogenic engineers can regulate sediment oxygenation and biogeochemistry through bioturbation and/or bioirrigation. Their effects rely on the physical attributes of the engineer and/or its biogenic constructs, such as abundance and/or size. The present study focused on tube aggregations of a sessile, tube-building polychaete that engineers marine sediments, Lanice conchilega. Its tube aggregations modulate water flow by dissipating energy, influencing sedimentary processes and increasing particle retention. These effects can be influenced by temporal fluctuations in population demographic processes. Presently, we investigated the relationship between population processes and ecosystem engineering through an in-situ survey (1.5 years) of L. conchilega aggregations at the sandy beach of Boulogne-sur-Mer (France). We (1) evaluated temporal patterns in population structure, and (2) investigated how these are related to the ecosystem engineering of L. conchilega on marine sediments. During our survey, we assessed tube density, demographic structure, and sediment properties (surficial chl-a, EPS, TOM, median and mode grain size, sorting, and mud and water content) on a monthly basis for 12 intertidal aggregations. We found that the population was mainly composed by short-lived (6-10 months), small-medium individuals. Mass mortality severely reduced population density during winter. However the population persisted, likely due to recruits from other populations, which are associated to short- and long-term population dynamics. Two periods of recruitment were identified: spring/summer and autumn. Population density was highest during the spring recruitment and signif

Published
2017

36. Executive summary

Author

Degraer, S., Rumes, B., Alsebai, M., Botteldooren, D., Brabant, R., Courtens, W., Debusschere, E., Derweduwen, J., De Mesel, I., Erkman, A., Haelters, J., Hostens, K., Kerckhof, F., Lafontaine, R.-M., Laurent, Y., Moens, T., Norro, A., Persoon, K., Ranson, J., Reubens, J., Smith, A., Stienen, E.W.M., Ribeiro da Costa, A.M., Torreele, E., Vanaverbeke, J., Vandendriessche, S., Vanermen, N., Van de walle, M., Verstraete, H., Vigin, L., Vidao, J., Vincx, M., and Wittoeck, J.

Published
2016

40. Sandy beaches: state of the art of nematode ecology

Author

Maria, T.F., Vanaverbeke, J., Vanreusel, A., and Esteves, A.M.

Subjects
Benthos, Food webs, Biodiversity, Climatic changes
Abstract

In this review, we summarize existing knowledge of the ecology of sandy-beach nematodes, in relation to spatial distribution, food webs, pollution and climate change. We attempt to discuss spatial scale patterns (macro-, meso- and microscale) according to their degree of importance in structuring sandy-beach nematode assemblages. This review will provide a substantial background on current knowledge of sandy-beach nematodes, and can be used as a starting point to delineate further investigations in this field. Over decades, sandy beaches have been the scene of studies focusing on community and population ecology, both related to morphodynamic models. The combination of physical factors (e.g. grain size, tidal exposure) and biological interactions (e.g. trophic relationships) is responsible for the spatial distribution of nematodes. In other words, the physical factors are more important in structuring nematodes communities over large scale of distribution while biological interactions are largely important in finer-scale distributions. It has been accepted that biological interactions are assumed to be of minor importance because physical factors overshadow the biological interactions in sandy beach sediments; however, the most recent results from in-situ and ex-situ experimental investigations on behavior and biological factors on a microscale have shown promise for understanding the mechanisms underlying larger-scale patterns and processes. Besides nematodes are very promising organisms used to understand the effects of pollution and climate changes although these subjects are less studied in sandy beaches than distribution patterns.

Published
2016

41. Lanice conchilega structures carbon flows in soft-bottom intertidal areas

Author

De Smet, B., van Oevelen, D., Vincx, M., Vanaverbeke, J., and Soetaert, K.

Subjects
Lanice conchilega
Abstract

Biogenic reefs constructed by the tube-building ecosystem engineer Lanice conchilega (Terrebilidae, Polychaeta) have profound structuring impacts on the benthic environment in that they alter the biogeochemical and physical properties of the sediment. This study provides new insights into the functioning and effects on food webs of L. conchilega reefs in intertidal sediments using linear inverse models to quantify the carbon flows in the food webs in the presence and absence of the tubeworm. The inverse food web models were based on an empirical dataset from 2 study sites, which provided biomass and stable isotope data, and information on general physiological constraints from the literature. Results of the model showed that the carbon input into reef food webs (mean ± SE; 191 ± 50 mmol C m-2 d-1) is ca. 40 times higher compared to bare sand areas (5 ± 2 mmol C m-2 d-1) and is mainly derived from organic matter (OM) in the water column. Most of the OM input towards these reefs is consumed by suspension-feeding macrofauna, particularly L. conchilega; however, the worm is not an important source of carbon for other macrofaunal organisms. The ratio of OM input to primary production indicates that the OM needs to be produced in an area at least 15 times larger than the reef area, demonstrating significant OM ‘focussing’ within the reef food web. The reef structures created by L. conchilega act as a trap for OM, resulting in an overall higher macrofaunal biomass and much more diverse food webs than in the absence of the tubeworm.

Published
2016

42. Seasonal and interannual patterns in the presence of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in Belgian waters from 2010 to 2015 as derived from passive acoustic monitoring

Author

Haelters, J., Rumes, B., Vanaverbeke, J., and Degraer, S.

Abstract

The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is the most abundant cetacean in the Belgian part of the North Sea. We developed a mooring system for static passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) of this species using c-PoDs at locations of opportunity. Data of moorings between 2010 and 2015 at two locations were analysed. They revealed a significant seasonal trend in detections, assessed by month, with peaks in late winter - early spring and late summer, consistent with the results of aerial surveys and with strandings data. At one location there were significant differences in detections between years, with higher detection rates in every year between 2011 and 2014, and the highest detection rates in 2013 and 2014. The experiences gained are used to design a subsequent study strategy to monitor harbour porpoise presence in Belgian waters, including possible effects on their presence due to the construction of offshore windfarms.

Published
2016

46. Short-term effects of fishery exclusion in offshore wind farms on macrofaunal communities in the Belgian part of the North Sea

Author

Coates, D., Kapasakali, D.-A., Vincx, M., and Vanaverbeke, J.

Subjects
ANE, North Sea, Macrobenthos
Abstract

With the wide scale construction of offshore wind farms (OWFs) throughout the entire North Sea, large areas are permanently being closed to beam trawl fisheries. Beam trawling has affected macrobenthic assemblages for centuries, especially the fragile and long-lived species. Due to the prohibition of bean trawling in many OWFs, opportunities are being provided to investigate the potential recovery of vulnerable species and the creation of de-facto Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The soft-substrate macrobenthic community was investigated from 2008 to 2012, before and after the construction of an OWF in the Belgian part of the North Sea, situated on the Bligh Bank. The fishery enclosed area (±21 km2) within the OWF (No Fishery area) was compared with a surrounding control area ((±30 km2) where regular fishing activities were registered through vessel monitoring system (VMS) data throughout the period 2010-2011. Three years after the exclusion of beam trawl fisheries, subtle changes within the macrobenthic community were observed in the No Fishery area. The benthic mysid shrimp Gastrosaccus spinifer (30 ± 151 ind m2), tube-building polychaetes Terebellidae sp. (196 ± 151 ind m2) and the echinoderm Echinocyamus pusillus (73 ±71 ind m2), sensitive to trawling activities, showed increased abundances within the No Fishery area. With an expansion of the wind farm concession area to 238 km2 in the future, the likely increase of dense Terebellidae patches (e.g., Lanice conchilega reefs) within the No Fishery area could create an ecological important large-scale refugium for higher trophic levels. This study creates a baseline for the evaluation of long-term changes due to the fishing impacts and effects related to the presence of OWFs and highlights the importance of executing long-term monitoring programs in combination with targeted research.

Published
2016

48. Predator effects on the feeding and bioirrigation activity of ecosystem-engineered Lanice conchilega reefs

Author

De Smet, B., Braeckman, U., Soetaert, K., Vincx, M., and Vanaverbeke, J.

Subjects
Lanice conchilega, Predation, Crangon crangon [brown shrimp]
Abstract

Ecosystem engineers can considerably affect the community composition, abundance and species richness of their environment. This study investigates the existence of positive or negative feedbacks of species that compose the community in intertidal biogenic reefs constructed by the ecosystem engineer Lanice conchilega. This tubeworm creates attractive nursery and feeding grounds for the predatory brown shrimp Crangon crangon, while at the same time is preyed upon by C. crangon. The effect of the predation pressure exerted by C. crangon on the bioirrigation and feeding activity of the tubeworm is up until now unknown and it is hypothesised that these activities are affected by the high densities of C. crangon in the reefs. A mesocosm experiment was set up to investigate the effects of predation pressure on the bioirrigation and feeding activity of L. conchilega in the i) absence; ii) restricted presence; and iii) unrestricted presence of C. crangon. Bioirrigation was quantified by the decrease of an artificially introduced bromide (Br-) tracer, while feeding activity was measured from the incorporation of 13C via stable isotope analysis. The bioirrigation rate of the L. conchilega reef equalled about 30 L·m- 2·d- 1 and was not affected by the presence of the predator. The food uptake of the tubeworm was however about three times lower in the unrestricted presence of C. crangon, presumably due to the retraction of the worm's body and tentacles in its tube induced by physical contact with the predator. Notwithstanding the impacted food uptake of L. conchilega, the tubeworm maintains its functional role in the presence of predators in soft-bottom intertidal areas.

Published
2016

49. Meiofauna and nematode diversity in some Mediterranean subtidal areas of the Adriatic and Ionian Sea

Author

Leonardis, C., Roberto Sandulli, Vanaverbeke, J., Vincx, M., and Zio, S.

Subjects
lcsh:SH1-691, Nematoda [Nematodes], MED, SH1-691, estructura de comunidad, lcsh:Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling, área submareal, subtidal area, nematodes, Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling, Mediterranean Sea, Community composition, meiobenthos, meiobentos, nemátodos, community structure, Mediterráneo
Abstract

Sediments of three different subtidal areas (15-705 m depth) of the Italian coasts (Manfredonia, Brindisi and Gallipoli) were investigated to study meiofauna and nematode composition. The nematodes were identified to the genus level and their abundances compared using multivariate analysis. Our data showed an evident depth gradient in meiofauna abundance: the shallowest sites had more diverse and abundant meiobenthic communities than the deeper ones. Nematodes were the dominant taxon (83-100%) at all sites, followed by Copepoda (0.5-8%). Sabatieria, Astomonema, Dorylaimopsis, Terschellingia and Daptonema were among the dominant nematode genera in the three areas. Nematode genus H’ diversities were not significantly dissimilar, though at community level some differences were detected among the study areas. The greatest differences were observed in the comparison of the communities from Manfredonia and Gallipoli. Furthermore, there was a difference between shallow (

Published
2008
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