Molluscan Research 26(1):
51-60; published 22 May 2006
Copyright © The
Malacological Society of Australasia
Patterns of occurrence of grazing
molluscs on sandstone and concrete seawalls in
Sydney Harbour (Australia)
J. MOREIRA
Centre for Research on Ecological Impacts of Coastal Cities, Marine
Ecology Laboratories A11, University of Sydney, NSW 2006,
Australia
jmoreira@bio.usyd.edu.au
Abstract
Proliferation of artificial
structures is a common feature in urbanized environments. In Sydney
Harbour (NSW, Australia), much of the
coastline is composed of seawalls that have replaced natural habitats,
such as rocky shores. Many of these seawalls are
made of sandstone blocks or concrete, but the effects of the type of
substratum on assemblages living on seawalls has not been
documented. Nevertheless, differences in characteristics of substratum
have been shown to affect composition and devel-opment of
intertidal assemblages. Grazing molluscs are important agents in the
structuring of intertidal assemblages affecting numbers
and distribution of other organisms. This study compares species and
numbers of grazing molluscs at midshore levels between
concrete and sandstone seawalls across Sydney Harbour. The two
habitats supported a similar suite of species, although
in different numbers and frequencies of occurrence, particularly
higher on the shore. Therefore, concrete and sand-stone seawalls
provide different habitat for intertidal molluscs depending on tidal
height. Experimental work is needed to assess
properly the impact of construction of seawalls with different
materials on intertidal biodiversity.
Full article (PDF;
150 KB) Open access
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