Mimicry of emergent traits amplifies coastal restoration success

Ralph J.M. Temmink*, Marjolijn J.A. Christianen, Gregory S. Fivash, Christine Angelini, Christoffer Boström, Karin Didderen, Sabine M. Engel, Nicole Esteban, Jeffrey L. Gaeckle, Karine Gagnon, Laura L. Govers, Eduardo Infantes, Marieke M. van Katwijk, Silvija Kipson, Leon P.M. Lamers, Wouter Lengkeek, Brian R. Silliman, Brigitta I. van Tussenbroek, Richard K.F. Unsworth, Siti Maryam YaakubTjeerd J. Bouma, Tjisse van der Heide

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Restoration is becoming a vital tool to counteract coastal ecosystem degradation. Modifying transplant designs of habitat-forming organisms from dispersed to clumped can amplify coastal restoration yields as it generates self-facilitation from emergent traits, i.e. traits not expressed by individuals or small clones, but that emerge in clumped individuals or large clones. Here, we advance restoration science by mimicking key emergent traits that locally suppress physical stress using biodegradable establishment structures. Experiments across (sub)tropical and temperate seagrass and salt marsh systems demonstrate greatly enhanced yields when individuals are transplanted within structures mimicking emergent traits that suppress waves or sediment mobility. Specifically, belowground mimics of dense root mats most facilitate seagrasses via sediment stabilization, while mimics of aboveground plant structures most facilitate marsh grasses by reducing stem movement. Mimicking key emergent traits may allow upscaling of restoration in many ecosystems that depend on self-facilitation for persistence, by constraining biological material requirements and implementation costs.

Original languageEnglish
Article number3668
Number of pages9
JournalNature Communications
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Jul 2020

Funding

The authors thank all the volunteers for assistance in the field. R.J.M.T., G.S.F., K.D., and W.L. were funded by NWO/TTW-OTP grant 14424, in collaboration with private and public partners: Natuurmonumenten, STOWA, Rijkswaterstaat, Van Oord, Bureau Waardenburg, Enexio, and Rodenburg Biopolymers. M.J.A.C., S.K. and K.G. were funded by EU-H2020 project MERCES grant 689518. M.J.A.C. was funded by NWO-Veni grant 181002. T.H. was funded by NWO/TTW-Vidi grant 16588. B.R.S. was funded by a grant from the Lenfest Ocean Program and from Duke Restore. C.B. was funded by the Åbo Akademi University Foundation SR.

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