The use of artificial reefs is on the rise worldwide. While their fish aggregating effects are well known,
the epibenthic assemblages have been poorly investigated. Two types of artificial reefs (pyramids of
concrete slabs and bundles of concrete tubes) have been deployed out of the Po River Delta in 2006 and
2010. The epibenthic assemblages were investigated in 2009 and 2012. Benthic assemblages on both
structure typologies were dominated by species tolerating high sedimentation rates. Dissimilarities were
found among assemblages with different ages, and, in less extend, between reef typologies. Colonisation
by Mytilus galloprovincialis and other major space occupiers did not follow a clear succession pattern and
was not affected by reef typology. Species colonisation was likely driven by variability in environmental
conditions and recruitment processes rather than by reef typology. This study suggests that environmental
features of the deployment sites should be carefully considered in planning and designing
artificial reefs, especially in eutrophic and turbid coastal waters, exposed to high river loads.
© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights r
The use of artificial reefs is on the rise worldwide. While their fish aggregating effects are well known,the epibenthic assemblages have been poorly investigated. Two types of artificial reefs (pyramids ofconcrete slabs and bundles of concrete tubes) have been deployed out of the Po River Delta in 2006 and2010. The epibenthic assemblages were investigated in 2009 and 2012. Benthic assemblages on bothstructure typologies were dominated by species tolerating high sedimentation rates. Dissimilarities werefound among assemblages with different ages, and, in less extend, between reef typologies. Colonisationby Mytilus galloprovincialis and other major space occupiers did not follow a clear succession pattern andwas not affected by reef typology. Species colonisation was likely driven by variability in environmentalconditions and recruitment processes rather than by reef typology. This study suggests that environmentalfeatures of the deployment sites should be carefully considered in planning and designingartificial reefs, especially in eutrophic and turbid coastal waters, exposed to high river loads.© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights r
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