M1.4 Shellfish beds and reefs

M1. Marine shelf biome

M1

Profile summary

Full profile at https://global-ecosystems.org/explore/groups/M1.4

Brief description

These productive intertidal or subtidal biogenic ecosystems are formed and dominated by sessile molluscs like mussels or oysters, around temperate or tropical coasts and estuaries globally. They filter plankton from the water column, acting as carbon sinks and modifying local physical environments by changing currents and dampening wave action. Distribution is limited by available rocky substrates on low-energy coastlines, as well as requirements for high water quality and oxygen availability. Many organisms are adapted to the extreme range of conditions typical of the intertidal zone (e.g. shellfish closing valves to avoid adverse desiccation).

Key features

Intertidal or subtidal three-dimensional stuctures, formed primarily by oysters and mussels, and supporting algae, invertebrates and fishes..

Overview of distribution

Tropical to temperate estuarine and coastal waters.

Map description

Major and minor occurrences of shellfish beds and reefs were identified by overlaying a global map of oyster reefs (Beck et al. 2011) on marine ecoregions (Spalding et al. 2008), and then clipping to the extent of the marine ‘shelf’ base layer as mapped by Harris et al. (2014b). Occurrences were converted to 30 arc second spatial resolution..

Map code and version: M1.4.web.orig v1.0. DOI

Version history

Profile versions

  • v2.1 (2022-04-06): MJ Bishop; SE Swearer; SN Porter; AH Altieri; DA Keith.1
  • v2.01 (NA): NA.
  • v2.0 (2020-06-15): MJ Bishop; SE Swearer; SN Porter; AH Altieri; DA Keith.
  • v1.0 (2020-01-20): MJ Bishop; DA Keith.

Available maps

Read more details about the current map versions here.

  • Web navigation (code: M1.4.web.orig, version v1.0)
  • Indicative Map (code: M1.4.IM.orig, version v1.0)

Read more details about older or alternative versions of maps for this functional group.

References

Main references

References used in the different versions of the profiles.

  • Beck MW, Brumbaugh RD, Airoldi L, Carranza A,. Coen LD, Crawford C, Defeo O, Edgar GJ, Handcock B, Kay MC, Lenihan HS, Luckenbach M, Toropova CL, Zhang G, Guo X (2011) Oyster reefs at risk and recommendations for conservation, restoration, and management BioScience 61: 107-116 DOI:10.1525/bio.2011.61.2.5
  • Dame RF, Patten BC (1981) Analysis of energy flows in an intertidal oyster reef Marine Ecology Progress Series 5:115-124 DOI:10.3354/meps005115

Map references

References used in the different versions of the maps (current and discarded).

  • Beck MW, Brumbaugh RD, Airoldi L, Carranza A,. Coen LD, Crawford C, Defeo O, Edgar GJ, Handcock B, Kay MC, Lenihan HS, Luckenbach M, Toropova CL, Zhang G, Guo X (2011) Oyster reefs at risk and recommendations for conservation, restoration, and management BioScience 61: 107-116 DOI:10.1525/bio.2011.61.2.5
  • Harris PT, Macmillan-Lawler M, Rupp J, Baker EK (2014) Geomorphology of the oceans. Marine Geology 352: 4-24. 10.1016/j.margeo.2014.01.011
  • Spalding MD, Fox HE, Allen GR, Davidson N, Ferdaña ZA, Finlayson M, Halpern BS, Jorge MA, Lombana A, Lourie SA, Martin KD, McManus E, Molnar J, Recchia CA, Robertson J (2007) Marine ecoregions of the world: a bioregionalization of coastal and shelf areas. Bioscience 57: 573–583. DOI:10.1641/B570707

Footnotes

  1. This is the current version available at official site.↩︎