Post on 20-Mar-2022
Theme: Biodiversity and Conservation Dr Mick Hanley, Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth University
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What’s the problem?
NE Atlantic experiencing much more ‘extreme weather’
Most dramatic manifestation is storm surge
Increased storminess
Warming and Elevated SSTs increase energy in the atmosphere
Increased frequency of low-pressure anti-cyclones is coupled with sea-level rise
Flooding risk to low-lying ecosystems
Predicted to increase in frequency & severity
Flooding with Plymouth University?
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• Assessing Impacts Ecological and agricultural ramifications?
• Mitigating Impacts Ecological fixes and opportunities
Flood Impacts Well known effects for freshwater floods:
• soil anoxia & oxygen deficiency
• soil toxicity
But does salt pose added problems?
Responses vary with species Plantain Hawkbit Clover
Key effect seen in mixed assemblages
Increased flood duration Increased flood duration Increased flood duration
Changes in species composition likely?
Species number/identity affects ecosystem function
Impacts on food?
Plenty of coastal agriculture
White clover also shows reduced growth
Reduced oilseed rape yield (varies with cultivar)
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Assessing Impacts • Shift in ecosystem composition (loss of key species); reduced
ecosystem function and ability to contribute to coastal defence? • Reduced agricultural productivity; need to develop flood-
resistant cultivars?
Mitigating Impacts Ecological fixes and opportunities
Sustainable Earth 2016: A global forum for connecting research with action
Hold the line – familiar problems?
Very Expensive
Immigration
Sustainable Earth 2016: A global forum for connecting research with action
Hold the line – hard talk?
Plymouth is only UK partner
Combining ecological principles with the planning, design, & modification of marine artificial structures
Use natural & eco-friendly materials
Add structural features:
rock pools grooves ridges
Seed with native habitat-forming
species
Sustainable Earth 2016: A global forum for connecting research with action
Hold the line – soft options?
Salt marsh – 90% wave energy
attenuation over only 300m
Sand dune – part of dynamic sediment supply
Much less expensive to maintain and environmentally sustainable
Sustainable Earth 2016: A global forum for connecting research with action
Managed retreat?
Ecological transitions - linked to drainage and creek development…
….soil biogeochemistry….
….and micro-organisms
Sustainable Earth 2016: A global forum for connecting research with action
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Assessing Impacts
• Shift in ecosystem composition (loss of key species); reduced ecosystem function and ability to contribute to coastal defence?
• Reduced agricultural productivity; need to develop flood-resistant cultivars?
Mitigating Impacts • Encourage native biodiversity on hard structures to reduce opportunity
for non-natives • Explore ways to use cost-effective & sustainable natural defences
alongside hard engineering • Understand ecological processes and implications of managed retreat