Difference between revisions of "Biogenic reefs of Europe and temporal variability"
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== European-scale distribution of biogenic reefs== | == European-scale distribution of biogenic reefs== | ||
| − | Biogenic reefs can be described as hard compact structures created by the activity of living organisms. They do not share a uniform structure and are found at variable spatial scales. Dense colonies of several species are widely considered to be reef in Europe. Only four of these species are described in this report due to their contribution to sediment entrainment, bed stability and potential wave energy attenuation, these are: ''Sabellaria alveolata'', ''Sabellaria spinulosa'', ''Modiolus modiolus'' and ''Mytilus edulis''. Many biogenic reef habitats are currently threatened and/or are in decline in Europe as a result of various natural and anthropogenic pressures (OSPAR 2010<ref>OSPAR, 2010. Quality Status Report 2010. OSPAR Commission. London. 176 pp. Available from [http://www.vliz.be/imis/imis.php?module=ref& | + | Biogenic reefs can be described as hard compact structures created by the activity of living organisms. They do not share a uniform structure and are found at variable spatial scales. Dense colonies of several species are widely considered to be reef in Europe. Only four of these species are described in this report due to their contribution to sediment entrainment, bed stability and potential wave energy attenuation, these are: ''Sabellaria alveolata'', ''Sabellaria spinulosa'', ''Modiolus modiolus'' and ''Mytilus edulis''. Many biogenic reef habitats are currently threatened and/or are in decline in Europe as a result of various natural and anthropogenic pressures (OSPAR 2010<ref>OSPAR, 2010. Quality Status Report 2010. OSPAR Commission. London. 176 pp. Available from: [http://www.vliz.be/imis/imis.php?module=ref&refid=198817] </ref>). Figure 1 illustrates the distribution of some biogenic reef habitats which are currently in decline around the coast of Europe. |
Revision as of 15:07, 4 July 2012
European-scale distribution of biogenic reefs
Biogenic reefs can be described as hard compact structures created by the activity of living organisms. They do not share a uniform structure and are found at variable spatial scales. Dense colonies of several species are widely considered to be reef in Europe. Only four of these species are described in this report due to their contribution to sediment entrainment, bed stability and potential wave energy attenuation, these are: Sabellaria alveolata, Sabellaria spinulosa, Modiolus modiolus and Mytilus edulis. Many biogenic reef habitats are currently threatened and/or are in decline in Europe as a result of various natural and anthropogenic pressures (OSPAR 2010[1]). Figure 1 illustrates the distribution of some biogenic reef habitats which are currently in decline around the coast of Europe.
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