Surface complexity enhances early invertebrate recruitment on novel substrates for coral reef restoration
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15517/qhtgzx44Keywords:
artificial reefs; carbonate-based substrates; surface topography; early colonization; Mexican Pacific.Abstract
Introduction: Coral reefs are increasingly threatened by climate change and local anthropogenic stressors, prompting the development of artificial substrates for reef restoration. Although substrate material is often considered a key design variable, the relative influence of surface topography on early benthic colonization remains insufficiently resolved.
Objective: To evaluate the effects of experimental substrate material and surface topography on early benthic community assembly at Islote Zacatoso reef, Mexican Pacific.
Methods: Eighteen experimental plates (20 × 20 × 2 cm) representing three substrate materials: Net-Zero AragoReef (aragonite-enriched formulation), aragonite-enriched ceramic, and conventional Portland concrete, were manufactured with either flat or relief-added surfaces (n = 3 per material × relief combination) and deployed at 6 m depth from March to September 2023. Invertebrate abundance and morphospecies composition were analyzed using Bayesian hierarchical modeling, permutational multivariate analysis of variance, non-metric multidimensional scaling, diversity indices, and rarefaction analyses.
Results: A total of 316 morphospecies were recorded after six months of deployment. Relief-added plates supported 2.7–5.7 times higher invertebrate abundance than flat plates across all materials. Bayesian modeling confirmed a strong positive effect of surface topography on abundance, whereas substrate material showed no consistent influence. Community composition differed significantly by surface topography, with clear separation in multivariate space between flat and relief-added treatments, while material effects were not significant. Diversity indices and rarefaction curves consistently indicated higher morphospecies richness and evenness on relief-added plates. Morphospecies accumulation curve did not reach an asymptote, and Chao1 estimated 629 morphospecies (95% CI: 497–761), suggesting substantial undetected diversity.
Conclusions: Surface topography is the primary driver of early benthic colonization, exerting stronger and more consistent effects than substrate composition during initial succession. Carbonate-based substrates supported benthic communities comparable to those observed on conventional concrete, supporting their viability as sustainable alternatives for artificial reef construction. Integrating pronounced surface relief with environmentally compatible materials may enhance early community development and promote long-term ecological integration in reef restoration contexts.
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