Paper discussion led by Glorynel Ojeda, UPR Río Piedras

1. COASTALINFRASTRUCTURE
Primary Source: The introduction of coastal infrastructure as a driver of change in marine environments. (2010) Authors: Fabio Bulleri and Maura G. Chapman, Journal of Applied Ecology
Presentationpreparedby: GlorynelOjeda-Matos, BSCE, MP
Departmentof EnvironmentalSciences
Universityof Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus

2. ABOUTTHEAUTHORS
Fabio Bulleri
Maura G. Chapman
Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Italy
Centre for Research on Ecological
Impacts of Coastal Cities
School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia
Marine Ecology, restoration of habitat
Effects of coastal development

3. PAPERCONTENT
Summary
Introduction
Ecological consequences of the introduction of artificial structures
•Introduction of Novel Habitat
•Effects on Adjacent Habitats
•Regional or Large-scale Changes
•Implications for the Spread of Exotic Species
Alternative management options
Future directions for research
Concluding remarks

4. OUROBJECTIVESARE:
I.Overview of the current knowledge of the ecological effects and impacts of urban infrastructure on marine habitats.
II.Discuss the alternative coastal defence options might mitigate their impacts.
III.Identify future research directions that might advance understanding of these artificial habitats and, hence, our ability to preserve biodiversity in urbanized environments.

6. EXPONENTIALGROWTHOFPOPULATIONS
Many of the largest cities in the world are located in coastal zones.
Areas with higher coastal population generally link to a more altered state of shoreline.
75% of people are expected to live within 100 km of a coast by 2025.
Source: https://wiki.colby.edu/display/stateofmaine2009/State+of+Coastal+and+Marine+Management+in+Maine

7. TRANSFORMATIONWILLACCELERATE…
Exponential growth of human populations
Global changes
Sea-level rise
Increased frequency of extreme meteorological events
Image(Season2011) : http://www.envivopr.com/

8. COASTALSHORELINE

9. HARDSTABILIZATION: TWOMAJORCATEGORIES
Structures that are constructed parallel to the beach designed to protect the land and buildings located immediately landwardor nearshorewaters which act to intercept and reduce the energy of approaching waves.
Onshore
Seawalls, Bulkheads
Offshore
Breakwaters
Onshore to offshore
Pilings
Structures that are constructed perpendicular to the beach and extend out into the water. These types of structures are designed to retard or interrupt the longshore movement of sand and accumulate sand on the beach up drift of the structure.
Groins
Jetties
Shore-parallel structures
Shore-perpendicular structures

10. Shore-Parallel Onshore Structures
Shore-Parallel Offshore Structures
Shore-Perpendicular Structures
Source: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/archived/beachnourishment/html/geo/shorelin.htm
Groin at
Folly Beach ,
South Carolina
T-shaped
Y-shaped
Breakwaters at Sea Palling, Norfolk, England
Seawall at Galveston, Texas

12. was constructed in 1539
between the 1760s and 1780s, many of the present walls were added
forty foot high security wall around
is positioned 140ft/43m above sea level, and is surrounded by an 18ft/5.5m thick wall.
Fort San Felipe del Morro at Old San Juan
Sea wall –defensa marítima, muralla de defensa, malecón
Boardwalkat La Esperanza, ViequesIsland
Sea wall at Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

13. Azores Breakwater Repair (TercieraIsland, Azores, Portugal)
Response to a major breakwater failure to protect key US Military facilities.
Breakwater-rock fillplaced byhand.
Rompeolade escollera - acomodado a mano.
Source: http://www.baird.com/what-we-do/project/azores-breakwater-repair

14. ECOLOGICALIMPACTSOFCOASTALINFRASTRUCTURE
Artificial structuresare alsooftenconstructedof unnaturalmaterial, (e.g. concrete, plasticormetal) whichmayaffectcolonization.

15. ECOLOGICALIMPACTSOFCOASTALINFRASTRUCTURE
Current data indicate that artificial structures do not function as surrogates of natural habitat.
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/scamay/ecological-enhancement-of-coastal-and-marine-infrastructures-finkel

16. Groynes(Groins) are generally made of wood, concrete, or rock piles, and placed in groups.
Rompeolas, espigones
Port of Spain, total length of 550 m

17. FROMPUNTALIMA, NAGUABOTOPUNTAARENASVIEQUESISLAND(WESTSIDE)
Puerto Rico's underwater cable By Gabriel D'Attili

18. PUNTAARENAS, VIEQUES, PUERTORICO
1994
2006
2012
2012
WEBINAR, CTPR (2012):Calentamiento Globaly elefecto en nuestras costas. AurelioMercado Irizarry, Programa Sea Grant, UPRM

19. Vary according to the nature of the surrounding habitat(s)
Evidence that epibiotaliving on and fish assemblages associated with artificial structures, differ from those on natural reefs.
Different types of infrastructure generally providevertical habitat, whereasmanynatural habitatsslopemore gently or have heterogeneous topography.
Densities may be abnormally increased, or species that do not usually come into contact can be forced to occupy the same area, potentially increasing the strength of interspecific interactions.
ECOLOGICALIMPACTSOFCOASTALINFRASTRUCTURE

20. Altering the feeding behaviourand local distribution - The biota living on artificial structures may also provide an important food-source for species living in adjacent waters.
Fragmentation and loss of habitat
Substantial alteration in the functioning of the system
Many built structures are deployed on sedimentary bottoms and severe sand-scouring can be an important cause of mortality for sessile organisms, ultimately leading to relatively low levels of species richness.
ECOLOGICALIMPACTSOFCOASTALINFRASTRUCTURE

21. oPotentially causing loss of nursery and foraging grounds for fish and shorebirds, or breeding sites for turtles.
oPrevent inland migration of these habitats if sea- level rises.
oChanges water flow -Disruption of water flow by infrastructure may stop or limit dispersal of propagules.
oIllumination –Light Pollution
oIncrease rates of sedimentation
ECOLOGICALIMPACTSOFCOASTALINFRASTRUCTURE

22. In many cases, infrastructure is, however, obligatory, either for public safety or to meet engineering standards (e.g. ports, roads, bridges or wharves). Under these circumstances, minimizing their ecological impacts should be considered a priority.
The age of introduced surfaces is also an important determinant of the extent to which the assemblages they support can resemble those on natural rocky substrata.
Managed retreat or realignment of hard coastal defence structures (mostly seawalls) has been identified as an adaptive strategy for alleviating estuarine flood risk or for the re-establishment of ecologically valuable intertidal habitats.
ALTERNATIVEMANAGEMENTOPTIONS

23. Burt et al. (2009) have shown that the use of Gabbroas a material to construct breakwaters could encourage the recovery of corals in tropical regions, while Russell et al. (1983) have shown that disused docks can support diverse assemblages of marine animals and plants and can be used to promote educational, amenity and economic activities.
ALTERNATIVEMANAGEMENTOPTIONS

24. Conventional coastal engineering compared with new ecosystem-based defence.
ALTERNATIVEMANAGEMENTOPTIONS
Ecosystem creation and restoration can provide a more sustainable, cost-effective and ecologically sound alternative to conventional coastal engineering
Source: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v504/n7478/full/nature12859.html

25. Ecological Engineering: Combining science, design, and engineering for creating sustainable ecosystems that integrate human society with its natural environment for the benefit of both (Mitsch96).
ALTERNATIVEMANAGEMENTOPTIONS
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/scamay/ecological-enhancement-of-coastal-and-marine-infrastructures-finkel
Improved water quality or enhancement of habitats for birds, amphibians and crabs.

26. MARINEURBANECOSYSTEMS
Coastal ecosystem restoration project in New York City integrates revegetation
(a form of green infrastructure) with bulkheads and riprap (gray or built infrastructure). ©Department of City Planning, New York City.

27. MARINEURBANECOSYSTEMS
Novel or emerging ecosystems
Needs of research for advancing our understanding of marine urban ecosystems
Importance of these novel conditions for sustaining biodiversity
Successful conservation or management of species needs robust and up-to-date ecological knowledge and theories

28. FUTUREDIRECTIONSFORRESEARCH
Alternative management options might mitigate their impacts.
Incorporate ecological criteria into coastal engineering -to develop improved ways of building infrastructure to provide habitat formorespecies without compromising engineering standards.
Identify the mechanisms that cause differences in patterns or processes between natural and artificial rocky habitats.
Understanding how fundamental ecological processes (competition, predation, facilitation, etc.) are affected

29. FUTUREDIRECTIONSFORRESEARCH
Field experiments with adequate replication and at spatial and temporal scales relevant to managers so that the results of the experiments can underpin future management practices.
It is important that engineering practices become flexible and recognize that the same design may have different outcomes in different places.
There is little current knowledge about how connected are marine populations.
The potential role of marine artificial structures in promoting gene exchange remains virtually unexplored.

30. PUERTORICO
In Puerto Rico there are 8,431 hectares classified as coastal barriers. These are principally in the Southwest and Northeast side of the Island. These are fragile and high risk coastal areas, primarily formed from consolidated sediments. This structure explains coastal areas’ high instability for construction and erosion susceptibility.
Needs
Extensive studies of coastal erosion, which include physical and quantitative estimates of damages from erosion.
Study the process of erosion and sand deposits in various sites.
Protect the coast using creative, environmentally safe and cost-effective measures.
Puerto Rico CoastalZoneManagement Program, ExecutiveSummary, August2008

31. It is not yet possible to provide a ‘recipe book’ of ecological engineering, but with more experimental collaborations between engineers and ecologists, progress will be made.