Author
Listed:
- Ruth H. Thurstan
(University of Exeter)
- Hannah McCormick
(Zoological Society of London)
- Joanne Preston
(University of Portsmouth)
- Elizabeth C. Ashton
(Marine Laboratory, Queen’s University Belfast)
- Floris P. Bennema
(MarHis)
- Ana Bratoš Cetinić
(University of Dubrovnik Ćira Carića)
- Janet H. Brown
(Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers)
- Tom C. Cameron
(University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park)
- Fiz Costa
(Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC))
- David W. Donnan
(NatureScot)
- Christine Ewers
(Zoological Museum of the Christian-Albrechts University)
- Tomaso Fortibuoni
(Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA))
- Eve Galimany
(Institut Català de Recerca per la Governança del Mar (ICATMAR) i Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC))
- Otello Giovanardi
(Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA)
Largo della Fiera)
- Romain Grancher
(Framespa UMR 5136)
- Daniele Grech
(Loc. Sa Mardini
National Biodiversity Future Center)
- Maria Hayden-Hughes
(Bangor University)
- Luke Helmer
(Blue Marine Foundation)
- K. Thomas Jensen
(Aarhus University)
- José A. Juanes
(IHCantabria - Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria)
- Janie Latchford
(University of Exeter)
- Alec B. M. Moore
(Bangor University
Trinity College Dublin)
- Dimitrios K. Moutopoulos
(University of Patras)
- Pernille Nielsen
(Technical University of Denmark)
- Henning Nordheim
(University of Rostock)
- Bárbara Ondiviela
(IHCantabria - Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria)
- Corina Peter
(Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)
- Bernadette Pogoda
(Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)
- Bo Poulsen
(Aalborg University)
- Stéphane Pouvreau
(Ifremer)
- Callum M. Roberts
(University of Exeter)
- Cordula Scherer
(Trinity College Dublin)
- Aad C. Smaal
(Wageningen University)
- David Smyth
(McClelland House)
- Åsa Strand
(IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute)
- John A. Theodorou
(University of Patras)
- Philine S. E. zu Ermgassen
(University of Edinburgh)
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities have impacted marine ecosystems at extraordinary scales. Biogenic reef ecosystems built by the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) typically declined before scientific monitoring. The past form and extent of these habitats thus remains unknown, with such information potentially providing valuable perspectives for current management and policy. Collating >1,600 records published over 350 years, we created a map of historical oyster reef presence at the resolution of 10 km2 across its biogeographic range, including documenting abundant reef habitats along the coasts of France, Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Spatial extent data were available from just 26% of locations yet totalled >1.7 million hectares (median reef size = 29.9 ha, range 0.01–1,536,000 ha), with 190 associated macrofauna species from 13 phyla described. Our analysis demonstrates that oyster reefs were once a dominant three-dimensional feature of European coastlines, with their loss pointing to a fundamental restructuring and ‘flattening’ of coastal and shallow-shelf seafloors. This unique empirical record demonstrates the highly degraded nature of European seas and provides key baseline context for international restoration commitments.
Suggested Citation
Ruth H. Thurstan & Hannah McCormick & Joanne Preston & Elizabeth C. Ashton & Floris P. Bennema & Ana Bratoš Cetinić & Janet H. Brown & Tom C. Cameron & Fiz Costa & David W. Donnan & Christine Ewers & , 2024.
"Records reveal the vast historical extent of European oyster reef ecosystems,"
Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 7(12), pages 1719-1729, December.
Handle:
RePEc:nat:natsus:v:7:y:2024:i:12:d:10.1038_s41893-024-01441-4
DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01441-4
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References listed on IDEAS
- Mads S. Thomsen & Andrew H. Altieri & Christine Angelini & Melanie J. Bishop & Fabio Bulleri & Roxanne Farhan & Viktoria M. M. Frühling & Paul E. Gribben & Seamus B. Harrison & Qiang He & Moritz Kling, 2022.
"Heterogeneity within and among co-occurring foundation species increases biodiversity,"
Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
- Jennifer M. Sunday & Katharina E. Fabricius & Kristy J. Kroeker & Kathryn M. Anderson & Norah E. Brown & James P. Barry & Sean D. Connell & Sam Dupont & Brian Gaylord & Jason M. Hall-Spencer & Terrie , 2017.
"Ocean acidification can mediate biodiversity shifts by changing biogenic habitat,"
Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 81-85, January.
Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)
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