Measuring Organization of Large Surficial Clasts in Heterogeneous Gravel Beach Sediments

The natural stratification and interlocking “organization” of armored sediments in heterogeneous, coarse-grained, beaches provides protection and enhances habitat for borrowing sedentary megafauna and macrofauna such as hard-shelled clams. Here, we develop a novel metric for quantifying sediment org...

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Main Authors: Dennis C. Lees, Christopher J. Hein, Duncan M. FitzGerald
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-04-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/4/525
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author Dennis C. Lees
Christopher J. Hein
Duncan M. FitzGerald
author_facet Dennis C. Lees
Christopher J. Hein
Duncan M. FitzGerald
author_sort Dennis C. Lees
collection DOAJ
description The natural stratification and interlocking “organization” of armored sediments in heterogeneous, coarse-grained, beaches provides protection and enhances habitat for borrowing sedentary megafauna and macrofauna such as hard-shelled clams. Here, we develop a novel metric for quantifying sediment organization of large surficial beach clasts through sedimentologic and photogrammetric analyses of 37 lower intertidal heterogeneous gravel beaches in western Prince William Sound, Alaska (USA). Grain size, photogrammetric, and Wolman Pebble Count clast-size data from 64, ~1-m<sup>2</sup> study plots are combined into a clast-size-independent “Organization Metric” to quantify the degree of organization in the meshed arrangement of larger surficial sediments. This metric was validated through field manipulation experiments and comparisons of adjacent plots characterized by different clast sizes. Application of this metric to subsets of Prince William Sound beaches that underwent differential treatment following the <i>Exxon Valdez</i> oil spill reveals persistent physical effects of artificial beach disturbance even 21 years after the cleanup. This has important implications for beach management (e.g., cleaning or dredging) and for the diverse and productive sedentary megafaunal assemblages that live within these sediments. Overall, this study provides a new approach for quantifying organization of heterogenous coarse sediments in diverse natural settings; in particular, heterogenous gravel beaches.
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spelling doaj.art-5fc3da2d209d4fecb6fa261e5c153d552023-12-03T13:34:00ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122022-04-0110452510.3390/jmse10040525Measuring Organization of Large Surficial Clasts in Heterogeneous Gravel Beach SedimentsDennis C. Lees0Christopher J. Hein1Duncan M. FitzGerald2Littoral Ecological and Environmental Services, Leucadia, CA 92024, USAVirginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USADepartment of Earth & Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USAThe natural stratification and interlocking “organization” of armored sediments in heterogeneous, coarse-grained, beaches provides protection and enhances habitat for borrowing sedentary megafauna and macrofauna such as hard-shelled clams. Here, we develop a novel metric for quantifying sediment organization of large surficial beach clasts through sedimentologic and photogrammetric analyses of 37 lower intertidal heterogeneous gravel beaches in western Prince William Sound, Alaska (USA). Grain size, photogrammetric, and Wolman Pebble Count clast-size data from 64, ~1-m<sup>2</sup> study plots are combined into a clast-size-independent “Organization Metric” to quantify the degree of organization in the meshed arrangement of larger surficial sediments. This metric was validated through field manipulation experiments and comparisons of adjacent plots characterized by different clast sizes. Application of this metric to subsets of Prince William Sound beaches that underwent differential treatment following the <i>Exxon Valdez</i> oil spill reveals persistent physical effects of artificial beach disturbance even 21 years after the cleanup. This has important implications for beach management (e.g., cleaning or dredging) and for the diverse and productive sedentary megafaunal assemblages that live within these sediments. Overall, this study provides a new approach for quantifying organization of heterogenous coarse sediments in diverse natural settings; in particular, heterogenous gravel beaches.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/4/525heterogenous clastic beachgravel armoringsediment organization
spellingShingle Dennis C. Lees
Christopher J. Hein
Duncan M. FitzGerald
Measuring Organization of Large Surficial Clasts in Heterogeneous Gravel Beach Sediments
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
heterogenous clastic beach
gravel armoring
sediment organization
title Measuring Organization of Large Surficial Clasts in Heterogeneous Gravel Beach Sediments
title_full Measuring Organization of Large Surficial Clasts in Heterogeneous Gravel Beach Sediments
title_fullStr Measuring Organization of Large Surficial Clasts in Heterogeneous Gravel Beach Sediments
title_full_unstemmed Measuring Organization of Large Surficial Clasts in Heterogeneous Gravel Beach Sediments
title_short Measuring Organization of Large Surficial Clasts in Heterogeneous Gravel Beach Sediments
title_sort measuring organization of large surficial clasts in heterogeneous gravel beach sediments
topic heterogenous clastic beach
gravel armoring
sediment organization
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/4/525
work_keys_str_mv AT dennisclees measuringorganizationoflargesurficialclastsinheterogeneousgravelbeachsediments
AT christopherjhein measuringorganizationoflargesurficialclastsinheterogeneousgravelbeachsediments
AT duncanmfitzgerald measuringorganizationoflargesurficialclastsinheterogeneousgravelbeachsediments