Utilizing living shorelines and hybrid designs for coastal restoration

Nearshore habitats are highly recognized for ecological benefits; yet, are in peril. Restoration is the most effective way of curbing their degradation. Much effort has been directed towards restoration. Despite accelerated efforts, much remains to be known. My work aimed to fill in the gap. Firstly, I studied the impacts of created subtidal oyster reefs on adjacent seagrass patches. Results suggest that restored reefs may aid in seagrass expansion in a site-wide scale, rather than in a smaller scale. Secondly, I studied the effects of shoreline dynamics on fringing marsh density. Shorelines showed variable inter-annual lateral positions. Although shorelines advanced seaward in year 2, an overall net erosion was observed for the surveyed period. A general decline in marsh density was observed with more abrupt loss in low-elevation marshes. Finally, the effectiveness of a large-scale intertidal reefs was evaluated on expansion of emergent marsh vegetation and nektons. Intertidal reefs were highly efficacious on expanding emergent vegetation and nektons. Thus, it is concluded that subtidal and intertidal reefs have qualitatively similar and positive effects on adjacent habitats.