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Rescue and relocation of benthic organisms during an urban‐port development project: Port of Manzanillo, case study
Author(s) -
LiñánRico Viridiana,
CruzRamírez Angélica,
MichelMorfín Jesús Emilio,
LiñánCabello Marco A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
aquatic conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1099-0755
pISSN - 1052-7613
DOI - 10.1002/aqc.3322
Subject(s) - relocation , port (circuit theory) , environmental science , habitat , benthic zone , ecology , environmental resource management , geography , environmental planning , engineering , biology , computer science , electrical engineering , programming language
Abstract The present study originated with the expansion of the boardwalk within the urban and port area of Manzanillo, México. Prior to civil works related to the placement of tetrapods, surveys of potential sites for the relocation of benthic organisms in alternative areas were carried out. Based on indicators of the physical–chemical environment and biotic factors, nine areas with potential for relocation were evaluated. The areas of greatest potential were associated with environments located away from the influence of the port environment. A total of 13,559 benthic organisms belonging to 68 species associated with three main substratum types (rocky, sandy, and mixed) were collected. There were no differences in the ecological indices between the three substrata. The proximity of the collection area to the influence of port traffic and sources of pollution associated with the physical environment could be an important factor that affects ecological indices and the reduction in the abundance of some protected species and species of commercial interest. The success of collection and relocation processes depends on minimizing possible errors, especially during transportation, when overcrowding, handling, and damage resulting from variable physico‐chemical conditions should be avoided. Through a scheme of actions based on ecological principles, management actions, and civil engineering technology, it was possible to carry out mitigation, conservation, and habitat improvement actions in coastal marine environments exposed to anthropogenic impacts.