theme: biodiversity and conservation - university of plymouth

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

Storm Surge Hypothesis 1

If true – not much we can do about it!

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?



• 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)



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


Hold the line – familiar problems?

Very Expensive

Immigration


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


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


Managed retreat?

Ecological transitions - linked to drainage and creek development…

….soil biogeochemistry….

….and micro-organisms



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


Strategic thinking – with Plymouth University

Successful sustainable coastal defence is going to involve (ecological) understanding of all options

theme: biodiversity and conservation - university of plymouth

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