PhD defence Caterina Coral
Caterina Coral (ConsEco)
Promotores: Prof. T. van der Heide, Prof. T.J. Bouma (UU), Prof. M.J.A. Christianen (WUR); Copromotor: Dr J. Coolen (WUR)
A walk on the wild side
Ecological importance of temperate reefs: lessons learnt from wild reefs in the North Sea
In this thesis, I investigated the ecological role of different geogenic and biogenic reefs in the North Sea, focusing on biodiversity, habitat use, food web structure and sediment dynamics. The results showed that reefs increase the biodiversity of benthic and mobile communities and enhance the complexity and connectivity of food webs. Biogenic reefs supported vertebrate species at different life stages and can therefore function as important fish habitats. In addition, intertidal shellfish reefs influenced sediment composition, with effects extending up to 200 m beyond their physical boundaries. The spatial extent of reef effects ranged from tens of metres to kilometres, depending on reef characteristics and environmental conditions. Overall, the results show that temperate reefs influence their surroundings well beyond their physical boundaries. These findings highlight the importance of targeted protection and restoration, including context-specific buffer zones. Future research should focus on how reef age and persistence influence biodiversity, food web structure and carbon cycling, as well as their role as nursery habitats for commercially important species.