FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is an artificial reef?
Artificial reefs are man-made, hard structures that are sunk into the ocean. They are normally placed in areas with soft bottoms. Artificial reefs include oil rigs, docks, piers, and even sunken vessels. These reefs have some features that mimic natural reefs and are often placed to promote marine life.
Why are artificial reefs important?
By placing new, hard structures on the soft bottom seafloor, artificial reefs allow organisms to colonize. When these bottom-dwellers start to inhabit the area, fish will follow. Fish gather at the reefs to feed and find protection from predators, in turn providing humans with better fishing opportunities. Artificial reefs have also become popular diving and snorkeling attractions which means they can contribute greatly to local economies.
What are ocean and coastal acidification?
The ocean absorbs about a quarter of the carbon dioxide humans emit into the atmosphere. This results in chemical reactions that lower the pH, making seawater more acidic. Coastal acidification is a change in chemistry that results in pH changes due to the localized additions of freshwater riverine inputs, nutrient inputs, algal blooms or other regional changes. An increase in acidity can negatively affect marine organisms. For example, species that have hard structures made of calcium carbonate (e.g. shells, skeletons, etc.) are sensitive to increased acidity. These conditions can limit the availability of the building blocks needed to develop and grow.
What is an invasive species?
Invasive species are organisms that are foreign to an area and cause harm or are a nuisance. Invasive species often have the ability to grow and reproduce quickly in a variety of water conditions. In their new home, they can be free of predators, so they continue to grow their numbers undeterred and sometimes undetected. Invasives can be introduced in several ways including transfer through ship ballast water, aquarium releases, travel through man-made structures (i.e. range expansions), or escape from aquaculture.
What value do artificial reefs provide to humans?
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Habitat: Reefs support fisheries by providing unique habitat for prey species such as bivalves, crabs, and algae.
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Shelter: Reef structures can provide homes for fishes and increase their ability to spawn.​​
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Water Quality: Reefs foster suspension feeders which can improve water quality.
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- Recreation: Reefs create recreational fishing and diving opportunities that support local tourism and generate economic value.
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- Management: Artificial reefs are used in management to promote vulnerable or desired species.
What threatens artificial reefs?
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Global Changes: Global changes such as warming can impact the growth and reproduction of vulnerable organisms living on reefs.
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Ocean Acidification: Changes in the chemistry of the ocean impacts the growth and reproduction of vulnerable animals, particularly those with calcium carbonate in their shells or skeletons, with potential to alter food webs and cause declines in fisheries.
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Overfishing: If reefs are not managed well, they can attract fishes from natural habitats to make them more vulnerable to overfishing.
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Invasive Species: Reefs may be stepping stones for invasive species on their journey to colonizing the Gulf of Mexico. A newly established invasive reef species can harm native animals, algae, and plants that live there. Nuisance species can also cause undesirable consequences to the ecology of the area.
RESOURCES
Below are some handy resources for learning even more about artificial reef systems and the organisms that live on them. Click on the titles to learn more on their website.
This webpage is a great resource for learning more about ocean acidification and the effects scientists are researching.
The American Fisheries Society is a great resource for looking into the management side of fisheries.
The Alabama Marine Resources Division (AMRD) manages more artificial reef systems than any other department in the US.
The Rigs-to-Reefs program maintains de funk oilrig's artificial reef systems.
National Geographic looks at the effects of ocean acidification on coarl reefs.
This 2013 document from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) reviews Artificial Reefs in the Gulf of Mexico.
In this article from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, they explore the importance of fouling communities and the misconceptions of the organisms critical to their waterways.
The Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment program studies and advocates for management of reef ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Coastal Benthic Lab at the University of New Orleans focuses on how humans affect nearshore estuarine and marine organisms that live on the shallow seafloor.
Other Researchers
Check out some of the other current research work on artificial reefs around the globe.
Scientific Literature
Use keywords like artificial reef, and ocean acidification in your favorite literature search engine.
