School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom; School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Mar Environ Res. 2018 Apr;135:18-28. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.01.009. Epub 2018 Feb 22.
The horse mussel Modiolus modiolus (L.) is a large marine bivalve that aggregates to create complex habitats of high biodiversity. As a keystone species, M. modiolus is of great importance for the functioning of marine benthic ecosystems, forming biogenic habitats used to designate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The present study investigates the condition of M. modiolus beds historically subjected to intense scallop fishing using mobile fishing gears. The study, conducted seven years after the introduction of legislation banning all forms of fishing, aimed to establish whether natural habitat recovery occurs after protection measures are put in place. Lower biodiversity and up to 80% decline in densities of M. modiolus were recorded across the current distributional range of the species in Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland. The decline in biodiversity in most areas surveyed was consistent with that observed in biogenic reefs impacted by mobile fishing gears elsewhere. Epifauna, including sponges, hydroids and tunicates, experienced the most substantial decline in biodiversity, with up to 64% fewer taxa recorded in 2010 compared with 2003. Higher variability in community composition and a shift towards faunal assemblages dominated by opportunistic infaunal species typical of softer substrata were also detected. Based on these observations we suggest that, for biogenic habitats, the designation of MPAs and the introduction of fishing bans alone may not be sufficient to reverse or halt the negative effects caused by past anthropogenic impacts. Direct intervention, including habitat restoration based on translocation of native keystone species, should be considered as part of management strategies for MPAs which host similar biogenic reef habitats where condition and natural recovery have been compromised.
贻贝(Modiolus modiolus (L.))是一种大型海洋双壳类动物,它们聚集在一起形成了具有高度生物多样性的复杂栖息地。作为关键物种,贻贝对于海洋底栖生态系统的功能非常重要,它们形成的生物栖息地被用来指定海洋保护区(MPA)。本研究调查了历史上使用移动渔具进行高强度扇贝捕捞的贻贝床的状况。这项研究是在禁止所有形式捕捞的立法出台七年后进行的,旨在确定在采取保护措施后是否会出现自然栖息地的恢复。在北爱尔兰的斯特兰福德湖,贻贝的生物多样性下降了 80%,密度也下降了 80%。在大多数调查区域,生物多样性的下降与在其他地方受移动渔具影响的生物礁中观察到的下降一致。包括海绵、水螅和被囊动物在内的附生动物的生物多样性下降幅度最大,与 2003 年相比,2010 年记录的分类群减少了 64%。群落组成的变异性增加,以及以更柔软底质为特征的机会性底栖物种为主的动物群组合的转变也被检测到。根据这些观察结果,我们认为,对于生物栖息地而言,仅仅指定海洋保护区和引入捕捞禁令可能不足以逆转或阻止过去人为影响造成的负面影响。直接干预,包括基于本土关键物种的转移进行栖息地恢复,应被视为管理具有类似生物礁栖息地的海洋保护区的管理策略的一部分,这些栖息地的状况和自然恢复已经受到损害。