title: Impact of prolonged storm activity on the Ecological Status of intertidal benthic habitats within oyster (Crassostrea gigas) trestle cultivation sites.
abstract: The Ecological Status (ES; sensu the Water Framework Directive) of intertidal benthic communities within six oyster trestle cultivation sites was found to be negatively impacted along the access routes to trestles in a 2013 study. All cultivation sites occur within Natura 2000 sites. The current study revisited four of the 2013 cultivation sites in February 2014 one month after the storm activity of winter 2013/14 to test if the compaction effect along access routes persisted after the storms. Three levels of the fixed factor treatment were sampled; immediately below the trestles, along the access route and 300m away from any anthropogenic activity. The compaction effect at the Access treatment persisted in spite of the major storm activity. The current study showed the IQI to be effective for assessing the impacts of aquaculture and highlights the IQI as a tool for monitoring Conservation Status of intertidal communities under the Habitats Directive.
authors.affiliation: Marine Ecosystems Research Laboratory, Zoology, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Rd., Galway, Ireland. Electronic address: j.ocarroll3@nuigalway.ie.
authors.forename: Jack P J
authors.initials: JPJ
authors.lastname: O'Carroll
authors.affiliation: Marine Ecosystems Research Laboratory, Zoology, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Rd., Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.affiliation: RPS Group, Lyrr 2, IDA Business and Technology Park, Mervue, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forde
authors.affiliation: Marine Ecosystems Research Laboratory, Zoology, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Rd., Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: Benthos Ecology, Marine Environment and Food Safety Services, Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Francis X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: O'Beirn
authors.affiliation: Marine Ecosystems Research Laboratory, Zoology, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Rd., Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D059001:Aquatic Organisms; D049896:Crassostrea / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D007448:Invertebrates; D007494:Ireland; D008386:Marine Biology; D014887:Weather
keywords: Ecological Status assessment; Ecological impact; Infaunal Quality Index (IQI); Intertidal oyster cultivation; Macrobenthic community composition; Severe storm activity