Blue carbon ecosystems (including saltmarsh, mangrove, seagrass meadows, and other soft sediment habitats) play a valuable role in aquatic dynamics contribute significantly to global climate change mitigation. However, these habitats are undergoing rapid accelerating shifts extent due anthropogenic impactsstressors. Here, we demonstrate that blue stocks vary across cross-habitat subsidies of stocks. Using case study estuary from New Zealand, organic above ground biomass 100 cm varied between...

Marine ecosystems are prone to tipping points, particularly in coastal zones where dramatic changes associated with interactions between cumulative stressors (e.g., shellfish harvesting, eutrophication and sediment inputs) ecosystem functions. A common feature of many degraded estuaries is elevated turbidity that reduces incident light the seafloor, resulting from multiple factors including loading, sea-level rise increased water column algal biomass. To determine whether effects may result...

Increasing responsiveness to anthropogenic climate change and the loss of global shellfish ecosystems has heightened interest in carbon storage sequestration potential bivalve-dominated systems. While coastal are dynamic zones transformation change, current uncertainties notable heterogeneity benthic environment make it difficult ascertain mitigation capacity ongoing restoration projects aimed at revitalizing bivalve populations. In this study we sought distinguish between direct indirect...

Abstract The onset of the Anthropocene has coincided with enormous global declines in natural ecosystems, leading to losses valuable goods and ecosystem services they provide. This decline, conjunction growing recognition ecological importance generated a pressing need for restoration. Effective restoration relies on accurate identification cause decline clear metrics success, which are only possible baseline data both pre‐degradation pre‐restoration ecosystems. However, establishment these...

Abstract Restoration projects are underway internationally in response to global declines shellfish beds. As diverse biological assemblages underpin a variety of ecosystem services, understanding broader changes biodiversity associated with mussel restoration becomes increasingly valuable scientists and practitioners. Studies generally show bivalve beds increase species richness abundance, but results scale-dependent conditional on the mobility specific communities observed. We examined at...

Abstract The global loss in ecosystem engineers has initiated calls for restoration, which includes the UN declaration of 2021–2030 as decade restoration. As researchers dive into this it is important to consider current state an ensure restoration success. Pilot‐scale been recommended by guidelines and standards effective starting point provide valuable initial information increase efficiency success subsequent larger‐scale To test habitat suitability, 4 t green‐lipped mussels were placed...

The world’s oceans and coastal areas have been severely impacted by multiple anthropological stressors. Coastal marine managers, scientists organisations around the world look to active ecological restoration measures help slow decline of ecosystem health boost natural recovery ecosystems. Marine restoration, while heavily reliant on knowledge, is a human-driven activity that can involve stakeholders local community groups. Therefore, understanding how provide benefits beyond be useful in...

In coastal ecosystems, climate change affects multiple environmental factors, yet most predictive models are based on simple cause-and-effect relationships. Multiple stressor scenarios difficult to predict because they can create a ripple effect through networked ecosystem functions. Estuarine function relies an interconnected network of physical and biological processes. habitats play critical roles in service provision represent global hotspots for organic matter processing, nutrient...

Abstract The global loss of marine ecosystem engineers has caused an unprecedented decline in biodiversity. Although wild shellfish habitats have been shown to support biodiverse ecosystems, little is known about how biodiversity altered by restored habitats, particularly mussels. To explore the response mussel we deposited mussels on seafloor 1.5 × m plots across a gradient benthic environments. understand holistic community response, this study looks at three faunal classifications over 1...

Abstract Ecosystem restoration has proliferated across the globe to combat widespread ecosystem decline. Translocations of viable individuals into degraded habitats form a core component efforts, but selection source populations poses challenges because phenotypic differences between and depleted result in low post‐translocation survival. Intertidal mussel is typically reliant on subtidal despite their weaker shells, lighter weights, poorer respiratory abilities compared intertidal mussels....

Site selection is one of the biggest challenges affecting coastal restoration success, and can be particularly difficult in intertidal zone, where species are often living close to their physiological thermal limits. Climate change causing atmospheric marine heat waves, with summer 2023 having highest ever recorded global average temperatures. This changing climate, along other stressors, increases difficulty for managers choose locations zone. In this study, green‐lipped mussels ( Perna...

Globally, shellfish reefs have experienced unprecedented declines from historical levels, imperiling the surrounding ecosystems and services they provide. Shellfish conservation restoration projects emerged to combat reverse this decline but are hindered by a scattered knowledge base lack of evidence‐based best practice. To address concern, we conducted systematic review English‐language peer‐reviewed articles studying impacts conservation‐based actions on reef‐building bivalves. A...

Abstract Continental shelf sediments are considered hotspots for nitrogen (N) removal. While most investigations have quantified denitrification in shelves receiving large amounts of anthropogenic nutrient supply, we lack insight into the key drivers N removal on oligotrophic shelves. Here, measured rates through and anammox by revised‐isotope pairing technique (r‐IPT) along Northeastern New Zealand shelf. Denitrification dominated total 2 production at depths between 30 128 m with average...

Restoration is becoming an increasingly common management tool to aid in recovering degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems. Developing and adopting best practices are valuable for maximising restoration efficiency. This frequently includes using natural reference sites guide goals target setting, as well assessing success. Natural representative of ecosystem that has not experienced intense degradation provides a basis the conditions aspiring achieve. However, instance mussel reefs,...

Wild shellfish reefs have been decimated in many parts of the world over last century, diminishing their vital ecological roles as habitat generators and ecosystem services they provide, such water filtration. Over this same timescale, aquaculture has rapidly expanded to become an impressive global industry with annual worldwide production worth US$35.4 billion 2020. Both wild operations typically rely on abundant settlement levels maintain respective populations. At time, potential...

Providing benthic substrate is the most common method used for oyster reef restoration. The physical relief from seabed, increased habitat complexity, and attachment surfaces have been shown to improve health, recruitment, survival. While addition of shell material an effective restoration, its usefulness in mussel restoration has understudied. This study tested effectiveness adding two different types soft sediment adult green-lipped mussels. Over 10 t was create a cm layer on seabed...

Restoration of mussels typically focuses on either subtidal or intertidal habitats, although it is important to consider the full historical range a species. However, remains unclear how environmental changes can impact ability survive in tidal heights where they occurred historically. Additionally, there limited research viability reducing mussel stock size for restoration purposes. In this study, green-lipped Perna canaliculus 2 classes (80 and 60 mm) were assessed when transplanted as...

As plastic pollution continues to accumulate at the seafloor, concerns around benthic ecosystem functionality heightens. This research demonstrates systematic effects of polyester microfibers on seafloor organic matter consumption rates, an important function connected multiple reactions and processes. We used a field-based assay measure loss matter, both with without microfiber contamination. identified sediment content, mud mean grain size as main drivers consumption, however,...

Developing a framework to quantify the transformation, sequestration or connectivity of energy and matter across habitats is one most significant challenges faced by ecologists resource managers today. However, there are associated with quantifying ecosystem processes that connect interact habitats. These include movement nutrients can have substantial effects on structure dynamics adjacent functioning. Here, we use developed for populations inform our understanding in processes, how...

Benthic processes in coastal marine environments can enhance the natural removal of bioreactive nitrogen through denitrification (DNF), a valuable ecosystem service as nutrient over-enrichment intensifies globally. Enhancing services is an important justification for restoring ecosystems, and while it known that epifaunal bivalves (oysters or mussels) are capable influencing cycling, empirical measurement role particular species across range environmental conditions missing. Bivalves within...

Abstract Large macrofauna influence sediment erodibility via their activity and presence in the sediment. This article explores how depletion of large animals from macrobenthic communities influences across a natural grain size gradient poorly sorted habitats within an estuary. We sampled seven sites Mahurangi Harbour, New Zealand, to investigate heterogeneity among these stability. depleted determine changes community structure will affect ecosystem functioning context A core‐based erosion...