ORCID
- Hosegood, Philip: 0000-0002-4415-7152
- Attrill, Martin: 0000-0002-4039-031X
- Sheehan, Emma: 0000-0002-1066-8237
Abstract
Expansion of bivalve aquaculture offshore reports lower environmental impacts compared to inshore farms. Taking a Before-After Control-Impact approach, this study presents the first functional diversity analysis and long-term Biological Trait Analysis (BTA) of infauna functional traits following the development of the United Kingdom's first large-scale, offshore longline mussel farm. Located in an area historically impacted by mobile fishing gear, farm sites had the greatest number of taxa and abundance compared to control sites. Functional diversity varied significantly across treatments (farm, near control, far control); while Functional Diversity, Richness, Divergence and Dispersion increased over time within the farm, Functional Evenness and Redundancy decreased. Bioturbation, body size, diet, feeding mode, life span, motility, sediment position, sensitivity and substrate type were chosen for Community-level Weighted Mean analysis, depicting the most frequently affected biological traits by shellfish farming. Farm sites developed a wider range of traits enhancing ecosystem function and habitat recovery after years of seabed damage. Outcomes support the use of functional diversity and BTA analysis to perform ecosystem assessment, supporting decision-makers implement policy and management.
DOI
10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115556
Publication Date
2023-09-15
Publication Title
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume
195
ISSN
0025-326X
Embargo Period
2023-11-03
Organisational Unit
School of Biological and Marine Sciences
Recommended Citation
Mascorda-Cabre, L., Hosegood, P., Attrill, M., Bridger, D., & Sheehan, E. (2023) 'Detecting sediment recovery below an offshore longline mussel farm: A macrobenthic Biological Trait Analysis (BTA)', Marine Pollution Bulletin, 195. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115556
