Rocky shores provide hard, rigid structures that mitigate disturbances to other coastal ecosystems caused by wave action and storm surges. They stabilize inshore sediment and protect in from erosion, support development of islands (by trapping and accumulating sand), mitigate impact of rising sea levels, serve as a buffer during storm events and can additionally serve as substrate for other physical structures, such as coral or oyster reefs (anon., 2005; anon., 2006).
Additionally, macrophyte (for example kelp) beds, most abundantly growing on shelter rocky shores, reduce water current speed and trap suspended sediments, reducing turbidity in water surrounding them. Decreased turbidity also has a positive effect on macrophyte growth, allowing them to absorb greater levels of sunlight. Macrophyte roots and stalks stabilize sediment, thus decreasing sediment resuspension and erosion (Madsen et al., 2001).
Referenties
- The interaction between water movement, sediment dynamics and submersed macrophytes, Madsen, J.D., Chambers, P.A., James, W.F., Koch, E.W., Westlake, D.F., 2001. The interaction between water movement, sediment dynamics and submersed macrophytes. Hydrobiologia 444, 71–84. doi:10.1023/A:1017520800568, 2001.
- Marine and Coastal Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: A synthesis report based on the findings of the Millennium Ecosystems Assessment, anon., United Nations Environment Programme, 2006.
- Rocky shores, SEQ, anon., The South East Queensland Catchments, 2005.
Zie ook
- Oyster reefs and coastal protection
- Building with Nature; from concepts to practice
- Low-Canopy Seagrass Beds Still Provide Important Coastal Protection Services
- Reduction of storm impact
- Building with living nature; conceptual elaboration
- The efficiency of oyster reefs on coastal protection areas: Oesterdam case
- Wadden Sea Plan 2010
- Oesterdam sand nourishment - ecological and morphological development of a local sand nourishment
- The effects of biogeochemical stressors on seagrass ecosystems
- Ecosystem Services of constructed oyster reefs
