Quantifying the effectiveness of shoreline armoring removal on coastal biota of Puget Sound.

摘要: Shoreline armoring is prevalent around the world with unprecedented human population growth and urbanization along coastal habitats. Armoring structures, such as riprap bulkheads, that are built to prevent beach erosion protect infrastructure from storms flooding can cause deterioration of habitats for migratory fish species, disrupt aquatic-terrestrial connectivity, reduce overall ecosystem health. Relative armored shorelines, natural shorelines retain valuable macroinvertebrates other biota. One question whether impacts reversible, allowing restoration via removal related actions sediment nourishment replanting native riparian vegetation. targeted a viable option restoring some habitat functions, but few assessments biota response exist. Here, we use opportunistic sampling pre- post-restoration data five biotic measures (wrack % cover, saltmarsh number logs, macroinvertebrate abundance richness) set six restored sites in Puget Sound, WA, USA. This broad suite metrics responded strongly positively armor removal, these results were evident after less than one year. Restoration responses remained positive statistically significant across different shoreline elevations temporal trajectories. analysis shows removing effective projects aimed at improving health productivity ecosystems, may be widely applicable.