A 20-Year Snapshot of Life Along Nature’s Coastal Defenses
A new, comprehensive dataset published in *Ecology* provides a critical long-term look at how “living shorelines”—hybrid coastal defenses that combine restored habitats like salt marsh with engineered structures—function as ecosystems. Harmonizing two decades of data from North Carolina, the study cataloged 62 species groups of crustaceans, mollusks, and fish across living shorelines, natural reference marshes, and traditional bulkheads. The data reveal that living shorelines and natural marshes support a comparable and rich biodiversity (49 species groups each), starkly contrasting with the depauperate communities found on bulkheads (5 species groups). This work offers vital empirical evidence for evaluating living shorelines not just as erosion control measures but as effective tools for biodiversity enhancement and habitat provision in coastal management.
Why it might matter to you: For professionals focused on ecosystem services and conservation biology, this dataset provides the robust, long-term evidence needed to advocate for nature-based solutions over gray infrastructure. It directly informs decisions in coastal restoration and wildlife management by quantifying the tangible biodiversity benefits of living shorelines, supporting strategies that align habitat resilience with sustainable development goals.
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