Substrate Addition - Artificial reef — Bal Harbour Artificial Reef, Florida

OPP-QHV9MQpermanent identifier · cite as oceanportfolio.org/p/OPP-QHV9MQ

Published as: Development of benthic and fish assemblages on artificial reef materials compared to adjacent natural reef assemblages in Miami-Dade County, Florida. | Technique: Substrate Addition - Artificial reef | Disturbance addressed: Construction | Genera: Not reported | Method: A long-term monitoring program was developed to evaluate the effectiveness of different artificial reef materials as mitigation for natural reef impacts. Benthic and fish assemblages on the modules, boulders, and two adjacent natural reefs were monitored and compared. | Post-restoration monitoring: 60 months | Authors' conclusion: The natural reef areas showed stable fish and benthic populations throughout the survey period. During the first 4 yrs, the benthic assemblages on the artificial reefs changed significantly, with increasing density and diversity, and increasing similarity to the natural reef areas. After 5 yrs, the the benthic assemblages on the artificial reef materials appear to be stabilizing. In contrast, fish assemblages differed significantly between the two different artificial reef materials as well as between the artificial and natural reefs. | Lessons reported: Differences in the physical characteristics between artificial and natural reef materials (i.e., shape, relief, cryptic space, etc.) have and will continue to affect the extent to which the reefs can become similar. | This record was compiled from a published source and has not been confirmed by the organisation that carried out the work. No contribution to the condition index is recorded: the source reports survival of transplanted material, which is not a measure of ecosystem condition.

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