Does Sand Beach Nourishment Enhance the Dispersion of Non-Indigenous Species?—The Case of the Common Moon Crab, <i>Matuta victor</i> (Fabricius, 1781), in the Southeastern Mediterranean
Sand beach nourishment (BN) is one of the commonest “soft solutions” for shore protection and restoration. Yet it may have ecological consequences. Can this practice enhance the introduction and dispersal of non-indigenous species (NIS)? There has been little research on the impacts of nourishment o...
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/8/911 |
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| author | Dov Zviely Dror Zurel Dor Edelist Menashe Bitan Ehud Spanier |
| author_facet | Dov Zviely Dror Zurel Dor Edelist Menashe Bitan Ehud Spanier |
| author_sort | Dov Zviely |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sand beach nourishment (BN) is one of the commonest “soft solutions” for shore protection and restoration. Yet it may have ecological consequences. Can this practice enhance the introduction and dispersal of non-indigenous species (NIS)? There has been little research on the impacts of nourishment on NIS, especially in the southeastern Mediterranean, a region considered most affected by invading biota. However, so far only one study referred to the possible interaction between BN and the success of invading species. It reports increasing numbers and densities of the aggressive, omnivorous Indo-Pacific moon crab, <i>Matuta victor</i> (Fabricius, 1781) in Haifa Bay (northern Israel) between 2011 and 2017. This research suggests a possible role of anthropogenic disturbance in the outbreak of <i>M. victor</i> and blames the Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection for authorizing a (rather small scale) BN in Haifa Bay in 2011 as an alleged cause for this outbreak. Circumstantial indirect evidence is not sufficient to establish the role of nourishment in promoting the establishment and dispersal of NIS. There are plenty of examples of successful settlement and rapid and large-scale distribution of NIS (including another member of the genus <i>Matuta</i>), especially in the eastern Mediterranean, without any BN in the region. Furthermore, the location where the <i>M. victor</i> specimens were sampled was exposed to more prevailing and frequent anthropogenic marine stressors than BN, such as eutrophication, pollution, fishing activities and particularly port construction. To firmly establish an assumed role of nourishment in the invasion of NIS, assessments must be based on solid and orderly planned scientific research to be designed well before the beginning of any BN. It is suggested that direct communication between environmental regulators and scientists is crucial for improving both scientific research and environmental management policies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:41:09Z |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:41:09Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-9341151b793c44eeb7928840ff0a95ea2023-11-22T08:16:12ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122021-08-019891110.3390/jmse9080911Does Sand Beach Nourishment Enhance the Dispersion of Non-Indigenous Species?—The Case of the Common Moon Crab, <i>Matuta victor</i> (Fabricius, 1781), in the Southeastern MediterraneanDov Zviely0Dror Zurel1Dor Edelist2Menashe Bitan3Ehud Spanier4Faculty of Marine Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek-Hefer 4025000, IsraelIsrael Ministry of Environmental Protection, Marine and Coastal Protection Division, 15-a Pal-Yam. St., Haifa 3309519, IsraelDepartment of Maritime Civilizations and the Leon Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies, The Leon H. Charney School for Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, IsraelDepartment of Maritime Civilizations and the Leon Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies, The Leon H. Charney School for Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, IsraelDepartment of Maritime Civilizations and the Leon Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies, The Leon H. Charney School for Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, IsraelSand beach nourishment (BN) is one of the commonest “soft solutions” for shore protection and restoration. Yet it may have ecological consequences. Can this practice enhance the introduction and dispersal of non-indigenous species (NIS)? There has been little research on the impacts of nourishment on NIS, especially in the southeastern Mediterranean, a region considered most affected by invading biota. However, so far only one study referred to the possible interaction between BN and the success of invading species. It reports increasing numbers and densities of the aggressive, omnivorous Indo-Pacific moon crab, <i>Matuta victor</i> (Fabricius, 1781) in Haifa Bay (northern Israel) between 2011 and 2017. This research suggests a possible role of anthropogenic disturbance in the outbreak of <i>M. victor</i> and blames the Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection for authorizing a (rather small scale) BN in Haifa Bay in 2011 as an alleged cause for this outbreak. Circumstantial indirect evidence is not sufficient to establish the role of nourishment in promoting the establishment and dispersal of NIS. There are plenty of examples of successful settlement and rapid and large-scale distribution of NIS (including another member of the genus <i>Matuta</i>), especially in the eastern Mediterranean, without any BN in the region. Furthermore, the location where the <i>M. victor</i> specimens were sampled was exposed to more prevailing and frequent anthropogenic marine stressors than BN, such as eutrophication, pollution, fishing activities and particularly port construction. To firmly establish an assumed role of nourishment in the invasion of NIS, assessments must be based on solid and orderly planned scientific research to be designed well before the beginning of any BN. It is suggested that direct communication between environmental regulators and scientists is crucial for improving both scientific research and environmental management policies.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/8/911invasive speciesLessepsian migrationcoastal processesdredgingLevantHaifa Bay |
| spellingShingle | Dov Zviely Dror Zurel Dor Edelist Menashe Bitan Ehud Spanier Does Sand Beach Nourishment Enhance the Dispersion of Non-Indigenous Species?—The Case of the Common Moon Crab, <i>Matuta victor</i> (Fabricius, 1781), in the Southeastern Mediterranean Journal of Marine Science and Engineering invasive species Lessepsian migration coastal processes dredging Levant Haifa Bay |
| title | Does Sand Beach Nourishment Enhance the Dispersion of Non-Indigenous Species?—The Case of the Common Moon Crab, <i>Matuta victor</i> (Fabricius, 1781), in the Southeastern Mediterranean |
| title_full | Does Sand Beach Nourishment Enhance the Dispersion of Non-Indigenous Species?—The Case of the Common Moon Crab, <i>Matuta victor</i> (Fabricius, 1781), in the Southeastern Mediterranean |
| title_fullStr | Does Sand Beach Nourishment Enhance the Dispersion of Non-Indigenous Species?—The Case of the Common Moon Crab, <i>Matuta victor</i> (Fabricius, 1781), in the Southeastern Mediterranean |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does Sand Beach Nourishment Enhance the Dispersion of Non-Indigenous Species?—The Case of the Common Moon Crab, <i>Matuta victor</i> (Fabricius, 1781), in the Southeastern Mediterranean |
| title_short | Does Sand Beach Nourishment Enhance the Dispersion of Non-Indigenous Species?—The Case of the Common Moon Crab, <i>Matuta victor</i> (Fabricius, 1781), in the Southeastern Mediterranean |
| title_sort | does sand beach nourishment enhance the dispersion of non indigenous species the case of the common moon crab i matuta victor i fabricius 1781 in the southeastern mediterranean |
| topic | invasive species Lessepsian migration coastal processes dredging Levant Haifa Bay |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/8/911 |
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