EFFECTS OF BEACH REPLENISHMENT ON INTERTIDAL SPECIES

An Analysis of the Effects of Beach

Replenishment on Intertidal Species

Bella Yedman

2 November 2018
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Sea level rise and coastal erosion are two results of climate change that are affecting low-

lying areas worldwide. The two main causes of sea level rise are thermal expansion due to the

warming of the ocean and increased melting of glaciers and ice sheets (NOAA, 2018). Due to

fossil fuel consumption, higher concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are causing

the ocean to absorb large quantities of heat (IUCN, 2018). Similarly, steadily increasing

temperatures are causing land-based ice to melt, resulting in a net gain of water to the ocean

(National Geographic, 2017). Because of sea level rise, coastal erosion has become a prevalent

global issue. In fact, approximately $500 million is lost in coastal property every year in the U.S.

because of coastal erosion (U.S. Climate, 2016). As a response to coastal erosion, many beach

communities are looking for ways to protect their coastlines, mainly for economic and property

value. Two methods of stabilizing coastlines are using structures to harden the shoreline, or the

temporary solution of beach nourishment, or replenishment. Hardening structures, such as

groins, lead to a greater loss of intertidal beach to erosion (Peterson, Hickerson & Johnson,

2000). Additionally, hardening structures affect natural currents and interrupt the natural process

of longshore transport (U.S. Climate, 2016). Because of their negative reputation, hardening

structures are prohibited in some areas and are generally looked down upon as a solution to

coastal erosion.

As an alternative to hardening structures, many coastal areas opt to replenish their

shorelines with additional sediment. Because of its less permanent presence, beach nourishment

is seen as an ecologically-conscious method, when in reality it has a large impact over several

trophic levels (Wooldridge, Henter & Kohn, 2016). Sources of sand for replenishment projects

include nearby beaches and sandbars, dredge sites from inlets, mining quarries from inland, or an

offshore borrow site (NJDEP, 2012). During replenishment, these sediments are added to the
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beach to extend it seaward (Peterson & Bishop, 2005). Before beginning a beach replenishment

project, the initial grain size distribution must be taken into account. For effective results, the

grain size of the source sediment should be coarser than the native material (Haney et. al., 2007).

Though beach replenishment is a more natural solution to coastal erosion, it can detrimentally

affect the beach ecosystem. While beaches are being replenished, heavy machinery and large

volumes of sediment are unloaded on top of communities of intertidal species. Depending on the

time of year, beach nourishment can have major initial impacts if these species have not yet

moved offshore. Additionally, if the grain size of the source material is a poor match to the

native sediment it can have lasting effects on the recovery of intertidal species.

Several studies have been conducted to determine the effects of beach replenishment on

coastal species. Different species exhibit varying reactions to replenishment, in both the initial

and recovering stages. Three groups of species that have been impacted by beach replenishment

projects include polychaetes, Donax spp., and Emerita spp. Additionally, seagrass species, such Commented [1]: This may require a citation

as Posidonia oceanica, or Mediterranean tapeweed, have shown sensitivity to adjustments

resulting from beach nourishment. In several studies, polychaetes have been used as an indicator

species to observe the effects of beach replenishment. As one of the most abundant species found

in benthic samples, polychaetes are a common indicator species for various comparisons;

additionally, they are relatively inert as adults and live in sediments or attached to hard surfaces

(Dean, 2008). In a California-based study, densities of polychaetes were reduced after

replenishment, and rose to a density of about one-third of the control site’s density after 15

months (Wooldridge, Henter & Kohn, 2016). Possibilities for this decline involve polychaete-

lacking sand being thickly deposited onto beaches, most likely smothering the living polychaetes
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below (Wooldridge, Henter & Kohn, 2016). As a result, the population of polychaetes suffered a

major setback that may take it years to recover.

Another common invertebrate used in many beach replenishment studies is the Donax

species, or the bean clam. Donax spp. are typically studied because of their sedentary lifestyle,

which allows them to retain an imprint of disturbance, and because they are the base of the food

chain for the entire beach system, making them an indicator of the responses of higher trophic

levels (Peterson, Hickerson & Johnson, 2000). The response of Donax spp. to beach nourishment

has been shown to vary among different circumstances. In one study, conducted on a Florida

beach in the early 1980s, the populations of both Donax parvula and Donax variablis were not

significantly affected by beach replenishment (Gorzelany & Nelson, 1987). This was attributed

to Donax spp. moving offshore during the winter, a close grain size match of source material to

natural sediment, and a lack of fill material moving into offshore areas (Gorzelany & Nelson,

1987). On the other hand, a study conducted in North Carolina demonstrated a negative response

of Donax spp. to beach replenishment. In North Carolina, an 86% decline of Donax spp.

compared to the control was observed 5-10 weeks after the nourishment project had ended

(Peterson, Hickerson & Johnson, 2000). Unlike the beach replenishment in Florida, the poor

grain size match and extension of nourishment into the warm season resulted in a major impact

on the survival and recovery of intertidal species (Peterson, Hickerson & Johnson, 2000).

Despite these two accounts, a third study conducted in California revealed a fluctuating response

of Donax spp. to beach replenishment. In this analysis, the population of Donax spp. declined

initially at nourished locations, but recovered in 12 months to have slightly higher populations at

nourished sites as compared to control sites (Wooldridge, Henter & Kohn, 2016). Because the
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replenished sediment was coarser than the native sediment, Donax spp. was likely to establish

itself in the less compacted sand for ease of burrowing.

Emerita spp., or mole crabs, are a third species found in abundance in the intertidal zone

of beaches. Like Donax spp., Emerita spp. is a useful indicator of the response of the entire

beach system, as they make up the base of the food chain. In studies, Emerita spp. has been more

sensitive to the changes brought about by beach replenishment. For example, in the study

conducted in North Carolina, Emerita spp. demonstrated a 99% decline in population in the 5-10

weeks following the nourishment (Peterson, Hickerson & Johnson, 2000). The significantly

higher decline than present in Donax spp. has been attributed to Emerita spp. preference of larger

grained sediments than supplied by the source material. Emerita spp. is thought to prefer larger

grain size for burrowing purposes, or because finer grains result in turbidity that affects feeding

(Peterson, Hickerson & Johnson, 2000). Conversely, population densities of Emerita spp. in the

California study showed fluctuating values again, as populations at replenished beaches bloomed

after 4 months before returning to the same population density as control beaches (Wooldridge,

Henter & Kohn, 2016). However, this study contends that beach replenishment was not the

driving factor in this bloom; instead, the possibility of larvae coming in from passing currents is

more plausible for this circumstance (Wooldridge, Henter & Kohn, 2016). In this study, as

opposed to the North Carolina study, grain size match was not a problem, indicating that grain

size can be a determining factor in the survival of Emerita spp. after beach replenishment.

Just as intertidal species are affected by beach replenishment, submerged vegetation can

also suffer from the effects of unfamiliar sediments. One such species is Posidonia oceanica,

which is native to the Mediterranean Sea. P. oceanica is a natural buffer of wave energy,

provides habitat to calcareous organisms, and protects beaches against erosion (González-Correa
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et. al., 2009). After a study conducted in Spain, it was determined that covering of P. Oceanica

was significantly lower at the replenished sites after a natural recovery period of 18 years

(González-Correa et. al., 2008). The sediments at the nourished locations were high in silt and

clay amounts and organic matter load, and they had a lower pH level (González-Correa et. al.,

2008). Afterwards, the same team conducted a study to quantify the short-term effects of beach

nourishment on P. oceanica, where they determined that silt and clay smothering had led to a

decrease in filter-feeding epiphytes, and a decline in starch reserves, shoot surface, and shoot

biomass in the seagrass (González-Correa et. al., 2009). This study indicates that beach

replenishment on shorelines with buffering species may be a counterproductive solution to

coastal erosion.

Beach replenishment is variant in its overall success. In some cases, beach replenishment

can be effective for both the ecosystem and the engineers in charge, but this can only be done

with careful consideration for intertidal species and the native grain size. If beach nourishment

takes place during the winter, when intertidal species have moved offshore, it can impose little

effect on the balance of the beach system. With grain sizes slightly coarser than the native

material, intertidal species, such as Emerita spp., are able to burrow and eat without the stress of

turbidity. If beach replenishment is undergone without taking precautions, the entire beach

system could be at risk. When the base of the food chain, or small intertidal species, is removed,

the invertebrate prey of shore birds and surf fishes is nonexistent. Because of this, the transfer of

energy to higher trophic levels is dramatically reduced (Peterson & Bishop, 2005). In drastic

situations, populations of intertidal species may have difficulty recovering from beach

replenishment, therefore affecting countless other species for months or years in the future.
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As sea level continues to rise, investing in shorelines through beach nourishment will no

longer be worthwhile. After millions of dollars are put into a beach replenishment project, all the

hard work could be washed away in a single storm. Fortunately, alternative means of shoreline

protection are gaining popularity. Planting vegetation, for example, is a non-structural way to

reduce coastal erosion while supporting native plants. Native species, which are designed to

handle wave energy, are able to withstand storms and protect areas further inland. Similarly,

hybrid solutions, such as planting vegetation and implementing rock sills, are being used to

defend shorelines (Castellan, 2006). In addition to physical solutions, policies and planning tools

are also ways to reduce property loss due to coastal erosion (Castellan, 2006). By eliminating

properties on the shoreline and replacing them with natural buffering zones, the original dynamic

of coasts and vegetation can be restored (U.S. Climate, 2016). In a natural system, dunes, salt

marshes, and sea grasses all contribute to a stronger and less vulnerable coastline (Morris et. al.,

2018). These structures diffuse wave energy and trap sediments, which elevates land height to

reduce flooding (Morris et. al., 2018). With various ways to adapt these alternatives, all

coastlines can buffer themselves without contributing to coastal erosion. Overall, the issues of

sea level rise and coastal erosion have anthropogenic origins, and beach replenishment is an

anthropogenic response to these problems. By utilizing the natural structures that have already

been adapted to a coastal environment, it is possible to remediate and protect our coastlines

without devastating the ecosystem that thrives within it.

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