Global evidence for the ecological effects of greening of grey infrastructure: a systematic review protocol

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dc.contributor.authorAllen, Jessica
dc.contributor.authorFirth, Louise
dc.contributor.authorBishop, Melanie J.
dc.contributor.authorDafforn, Katherine A.
dc.contributor.authorGrasselli, Ferante
dc.contributor.authorHanley, Mick E.
dc.contributor.authorKnights, Antony
dc.contributor.authorMayer-Pinto, Mariana
dc.contributor.authorMcquatters-Gollop, Abigail
dc.contributor.authorO'Shaughnessy, Kathryn A.
dc.contributor.authorPorri, Francesca
dc.contributor.authorSmith, Rebecca K.
dc.contributor.authorStrain, Elisabeth M.A.
dc.contributor.authorLemasson, Anaëlle J.
dc.contributor.funderUniversity of Plymouth
dc.contributor.funderUniversity College Cork
dc.contributor.funderDeutsche Bank
dc.date.accessioned2026-05-27T15:50:02Z
dc.date.available2026-05-27T15:50:02Z
dc.date.issued2026-03-05
dc.description© 2026, The Author(s).
dc.description.abstractBackground: The presence of artificial structures in our marine environments is increasing rapidly, with negative impacts for biodiversity. Greening of grey infrastructure (GGI) - an eco-engineering method applied to the marine context - aims to increase the ecological value of traditional grey infrastructure, while still allowing it to perform its primary human-centric function. GGI is a rapidly increasing field of research, being tested and implemented worldwide by academics, private practitioners, governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), amongst others, using a variety of methods. Outcomes vary widely, and results are communicated across a range of peer-reviewed and grey literature, rendering the evidence base for the effectiveness of GGI fragmented. To inform future decision-making regarding GGI application, it is critical to consolidate and evaluate existing research. To do so, we propose a systematic review and meta-analysis that will answer the following primary question: “What are the effects of GGI interventions applied to marine structures on the diversity, abundance, biomass, composition, and functional diversity of species on or around these ecologically enhanced structures?”. Additionally, we will answer a series of secondary questions relating to intervention type, material use, geographic variations and other relevant associated variables. Methods: This systematic review will follow the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence Guidelines and Standards for Evidence Synthesis in Environmental Management. Using a defined search string, literature searches will be run in English in at least five databases, three repositories and 10 websites, gathering both peer-reviewed and grey literature. Returns will be screened at title, abstract, and full text levels against defined inclusion criteria. Relevant metadata and effect data will be extracted from each study and used to write a narrative review and, where data allow, a meta-analysis of quantified effects. This review will provide a robust, up to date, consolidated and evaluated evidence base to inform future decision-making regarding the implementation of greening of grey infrastructure methods.en
dc.description.sponsorshipFunding for this protocol and associated systematic review was provided by the University of Plymouth’s School of Biological and Marine Sciences and University College Cork Doctoral Training Partnership, Shezad Dawood Leviathan non-profit, Deutsche Bank, and The Plymouth University Marine Institute.
dc.format.extent12
dc.format.extent1848572
dc.identifier.authororcidAllen, Jessica
dc.identifier.authororcidFirth, Louise§0000-0002-6620-8512
dc.identifier.authororcidBishop, Melanie J.
dc.identifier.authororcidDafforn, Katherine A.
dc.identifier.authororcidGrasselli, Ferante
dc.identifier.authororcidHanley, Mick E.
dc.identifier.authororcidKnights, Antony§0000-0002-0916-3469
dc.identifier.authororcidMayer-Pinto, Mariana
dc.identifier.authororcidMcquatters-Gollop, Abigail
dc.identifier.authororcidO'Shaughnessy, Kathryn A.
dc.identifier.authororcidPorri, Francesca
dc.identifier.authororcidSmith, Rebecca K.
dc.identifier.authororcidStrain, Elisabeth M.A.
dc.identifier.authororcidLemasson, Anaëlle J.
dc.identifier.citationAllen, J, Firth, L, Bishop, M J, Dafforn, K A, Grasselli, F, Hanley, M E, Knights, A, Mayer-Pinto, M, Mcquatters-Gollop, A, O'Shaughnessy, K A, Porri, F, Smith, R K, Strain, E M A & Lemasson, A J 2026, 'Global evidence for the ecological effects of greening of grey infrastructure: a systematic review protocol', Environmental Evidence, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-026-00382-z
dc.identifier.doi10.1186/s13750-026-00382-z
dc.identifier.endpage12
dc.identifier.issn2047-2382
dc.identifier.issued1
dc.identifier.journaltitleEnvironmental Evidence
dc.identifier.otherRIS: urn:650DBE4F69EBF4D41BB142E434CEDD02
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-0916-3469/work/215974984
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-6620-8512/work/215975005
dc.identifier.startpage1
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/18914
dc.identifier.urlhttps://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105036050104?origin=resultslist
dc.identifier.volume15
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightscc_by
dc.subjectSDG 14 - Life Below Water
dc.subjectBiodiversity enhancement
dc.subjectEco-engineering
dc.subjectEnvironmental evidence
dc.subjectEnvironmental intervention
dc.subjectEvidence synthesis
dc.subjectNature-based solutions
dc.subjectUrban ecology
dc.subject[BEES]
dc.titleGlobal evidence for the ecological effects of greening of grey infrastructure: a systematic review protocolen
dc.typeArticle (Peer reviewed)
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