The role of limpets in biodiversity patterns and bioerosion on coastal infrastructure: Insights from Plymouth Breakwater

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dc.check.date2027-02-15en
dc.check.infoAccess to this article is restricted until 24 months after publication by request of the publisheren
dc.contributor.authorCooper, Aedenen
dc.contributor.authorKnights, Antony M.en
dc.contributor.authorWalker, Sandaliaen
dc.contributor.authorSempere-Valverde, Juanen
dc.contributor.authorMoocarme, Chrisen
dc.contributor.authorHawkins, Stephen J.en
dc.contributor.authorFirth, Louise B.en
dc.contributor.funderMalacological Society of Londonen
dc.contributor.funderMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidadesen
dc.contributor.funderSeventh Framework Programmeen
dc.contributor.funderEsmée Fairbairn Foundationen
dc.date.accessioned2025-02-28T16:45:43Z
dc.date.available2025-02-28T16:45:43Z
dc.date.issued2025-02-15en
dc.description.abstractThe choice of materials used in coastal infrastructure not only influences colonization by marine life, but it can also influence the extent to which colonizing organisms modify the surface topography of the structure. This study examines the role of limpets as ecosystem engineers on the 180 year-old Plymouth Breakwater, a large artificial coastal structure composed of limestone, granite, and concrete. By comparing biodiversity patterns across these substrates, the research highlights how limpet bioerosion and grazing activities influence community structure and ecological succession. The study found that limestone pools, formed through differential erosion, support higher biodiversity and distinct functional groups compared to emergent granite habitats. On concrete blocks of varying ages, a clear successional pattern was observed: early colonization by green algae (< 2 yrs) was followed by the establishment of fucoids (2–3 yrs) and, subsequently, dense limpet populations that reduced algal cover (4–10 yrs). Over time, as the blocks aged and eroded (> 25 yrs), red algae became dominant, and limpet populations declined. This study highlights the importance of substrate type and erosion in shaping ecological communities on artificial coastal structures. The research contributes to a growing understanding of the complex interactions between biotic and abiotic factors in engineered marine environments, offering insights for the design and management of sustainable coastal infrastructure to support biodiversity.en
dc.description.sponsorshipMalacological Society of London (Small Research grant); Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Project CGL 2017-82739-P); Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (URBANE: Urban research on biodiversity on artificial and natural coastal environments: enhancing biodiversity by sensitive design)en
dc.description.statusPeer revieweden
dc.description.versionAccepted Versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.citationCooper, A., Knights, A. M., Walker, S., Sempere-Valverde, J., Moocarme, C., Hawkins, S. J. and Firth, L. B. (2025) 'The role of limpets in biodiversity patterns and bioerosion on coastal infrastructure: Insights from Plymouth Breakwater', Ecological Engineering, 213, p.107548 (10pp). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107548en
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107548en
dc.identifier.endpage10en
dc.identifier.issn0925-8574en
dc.identifier.journaltitleEcological Engineeringen
dc.identifier.startpage1en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/17137
dc.identifier.volume213en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherElsevier Ltd.en
dc.relation.ispartofEcological Engineeringen
dc.relation.projectinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7::SP1::ENV/244104/EU/Innovative coastal technologies for safer European coasts in a changing climate/THESEUSen
dc.rights© 2025, Elsevier B. V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. This manuscript version is made available under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.en
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/en
dc.subjectBioerosionen
dc.subjectBiofoulingen
dc.subjectSuccessionen
dc.subjectEcosystem engineersen
dc.subjectBiodegradationen
dc.subjectHabitat-modifyingen
dc.titleThe role of limpets in biodiversity patterns and bioerosion on coastal infrastructure: Insights from Plymouth Breakwateren
dc.typeArticle (peer-reviewed)en
dc.typejournal-articleen
oaire.citation.volume213en
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