MATURE MODULAR REEF

摘要

Methods of reef construction are disclosed that include exposing a man-made scaffold to environmental conditions such that bivalve organisms grow on the man-made scaffold for a duration sufficient to create a scaffold having two generations of bivalve attachment. Certain methods involve moving the biologically accreted scaffold to a second location to serve as a reef or breakwater after substantial growth of bivalve organisms has occurred.

主权项

1. A method of reef construction comprising:
a. preparing a scaffold comprising an exposed hard calcium containing material; b. exposing the scaffold to a first set of conditions in which a first group of bivalve organisms attach to the scaffold; c. allowing the first group of bivalve organisms to grow to sexual maturity such that a group of sexually mature bivalve organisms is present on the scaffold; and d. moving the scaffold and the group of sexually mature bivalve organisms from a first location having a first fetch to a second location having a second fetch; e. wherein the second location has a feature selected from:
i. a second fetch that is at least 50% longer than the first fetch andii. a second location that is higher than the first location by an elevation change that is greater than 20% of a distance equivalent to a mean range of tide at the second location; f. wherein upon moving the scaffold and the group of sexually mature bivalve organisms to the second location a first fraction of the group of sexually mature bivalve organisms are located above mean low water for the second location.