Monogram of epibiota on coastal defense structures

Artificial coastal defense structures are proliferating in response to various coastal processes such as tidal inundation sea level rise land subsidence erosion and sedimentation. The current practice of installing coastal defense structures like rock fills; revetments groinsetc. have transformed the naturally dynamic erosive and depositional soft shore coastlines into artificially static hard-substrates. However these structures provide habitat for many species and support lower biodiversity than natural habitats. It is observed that these zones are colonized by epibiotic organisms such as algae and sessile marine invertebrates that are native to natural rocky habitats while providing refuge and nursery grounds for fish and crustaceans (Duffy-Anderson et al. 2003).