This document discusses the introduction of coastal infrastructure and its impact on marine environments. It begins by defining intertidal zones and nearshore areas. It then notes that urban growth along coasts has led to many hard structures being added to protect shores from erosion. These artificial structures can affect the normal assemblages of plants and animals and may introduce exotic species. They also impact adjacent natural habitats and can contribute to regional homogenization of species. The document advocates for more research on urbanization's effects and exploring alternatives to hard structures that consider habitat needs while still providing coastal protection.

1. The Introduction of coastal
infrastructure as a driver of change
in marine environments
Elvis Torres Delgado
September 11, 2013

2. Some Concepts
• Intertidial zone – part of the shore that is
above water at low tide and below the water
at high tide.
• Nearshore – area that extends seawards from
the low water line.

4. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/World_population_density_1994.png

5. Urban Growth
• High percentage of the population lives in the
coast and they receive a lot of tourism.
• Urbanization and coastal structures affect the
ecosystem.
• A lot of hard structures are added to “protect”
the shores of erosion.

6. Cancun, Mexico
http://viajesalcaribe.eu/wp
content/uploads/2013/08/I

7. Isla Verde, Puerto Rico
http://puertorico.co
m.pr/wp-
content/uploads/20
13/05/Isla-Verde-
Beach-01.jpg

8. Ecological consequences of the
introduction of artificial structure
• Artificial structures affect the normal epibiota
and fish assemblages. It’s worse with
unnatural materials.
• Sometimes the problem is not the material,
but the structural change what affects biota
development (ex. lack of rock pools).

9. Ecological consequences of the
introduction of artificial structure
• Unnatural structures may provide ideal
conditions for the establishments of exotic
species.
• Can also affect the species richness or
abundance.

10. SeawallsBreakwaters
Jetties
http://marineinsight.co
m/wp-
content/uploads/2010
/12/SeaWall_Japan.jpg
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/en
gineering/hydraulics/images
/h25_712.jpg
http://www.choctawtra
ns.com/ag7217c050016
/Breakwaters%20constr
ucted.JPG

11. Ecological consequences of the
introduction of artificial structure
• It is believed that some of these structures
may resemble better the natural ones after
many years of weathering.
• It has been shown that many of these artificial
structures don’t support natural assembly
even after many decades of exposition.

12. Effects on adjacent habitats
• Differences in diversity of species has been
found in rocky shores bordered by seawalls.
• Biota living in artificial structures may be a
food source for species nearby.
• Some structures favor a shift from consumers
domination to producers domination.

13. Regional or large-scale changes
• Urbanization contributes to species
homogenization.
• Artificial structures can help connect
separated populations. Reduces gene flow and
genetic diversity.

14. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/ex
plorations/03mex/logs/sept21/me
dia/dscn0011_600.jpg
http://static.progressivemedi
agroup.com/uploads/imageli
brary/Rigs_Reefs_Six.jpg

15. Alternative management options
• New solutions to fight coastal erosion without
using hard structures are being considered.
• In high wave energy a combination of natural and
artificial elements may be needed (hybrid
designs).
• Hard structures that consider suitable habitat for
species affected by urbanization processes,
fishing, recreation, and education are starting to
get used.

16. Intertidal seawalls
http://cristinabump.files.wordpres
s.com/2011/01/sydney_mcmahon
s_point_seawall.jpg
http://sydney.edu.au/science/bio/e
icc/images/content/p_seawalls_est
uaries2.jpg

17. Final thoughts
• More interdisciplinary research is needed to
understand the effects of urbanism on coastal
ecosystem.
• There is a need to explore new solutions to
protect coastal structures affecting the
ecosystem as less as possible.