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Buried alive: Effects of beach nourishment on the infauna of an erosive shore in the North Sea

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Abstract

Artificial beach nourishment as a ‘soft’ means of protection has become the preferred method to combat shoreline erosion. However, the beach infauna may be affected by such a disturbance. Up to 3 m of sand have been piled upon beaches, followed by enhanced sediment dynamics. The impact of two nourishment operations of different magnitude (159,000 and 351,000 m3/2 km beach line) on meio- and macrofauna across a shore on the island of Sylt (North Sea) has been studied between 1999 and 2001. No significant effect on meiofauna was noticed after the smaller operation in 1999, while a decreased copepod abundance in the shallow subtidal and a reduced polychaete species density at mid shore occurred four months after the larger nourishment. In the macrofauna, a short-term reduction of the two species dominating the shallow subtidal, the isopodEurydice pulchra and the polychaeteScolelepis squamata, was noticed in 1999. A stronger and more lasting negative effect was caused by the larger operation in 2000. Macrofaunal abundance and species density in the deeper subtidal zone were lower than at the reference site even nine months after the nourishment. However, these infaunal responses to both beach nourishments are not considered as dramatic when compared to natural changes along the shore and between years. From an ecological perspective, sand replenishments may be regarded as an acceptable method for coastal protection, provided that intervals of at least three years are kept between successive operations at a given site.

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  1. Iris Menn

    Present address: Greenpeace, Große Elbstraße 39, 22767, Hamburg, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Wattenmeerstation Sylt, Hafenstraße 43, 25992, List/Sylt, Germany

    Iris Menn, Claudia Junghans & Karsten Reise

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  1. Iris Menn
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  2. Claudia Junghans
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Menn, I., Junghans, C. & Reise, K. Buried alive: Effects of beach nourishment on the infauna of an erosive shore in the North Sea. Senckenbergiana maritima 32, 125–145 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03043089

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