Journal of Coastal Zone Management

Melissa W Southwell

Publications

• Research Article
  Changes in Sediment Characteristics upon Oyster Reef Restoration, NE Florida, USA
  Author(s): Melissa W Southwell, Jessica J Veenstra, Charles D Adams, Elizabeth V Scarlett and Kristy B PayneMelissa W Southwell, Jessica J Veenstra, Charles D Adams, Elizabeth V Scarlett and Kristy B Payne
  
  As ecosystem engineers, oysters alter a host of physical and chemical characteristics of their environment. Oyster reef construction (or restoration) can therefore be expected to have wide ranging effects, from increased refuge for organisms, to lower turbidity. We measured changes in sediment characteristics and benthic nutrient fluxes near a constructed intertidal oyster reef in the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve in NE Florida, USA. Within one year of reef construction, particle size distribution shifted towards finer sediment, and organic matter content increased to 7.3% ± 2.1 (standard error) compared to 2.9% ± 0.8 (standard error) at control sites, where oysters were absent. After three years, up to 15 cm of this fine, organic-rich sediment had accreted immediately shoreward of the reef. In benthic flux exper.. View More»
  DOI: 10.4172/2473-3350.1000442

  Abstract PDF