Ecosystem services provided by a non-cultured shellfish species: the common cockle Cerastoderma edule

Carss, David N.; Brito, Ana C.; Chainho, Paula; Ciutat, Aurélie; de Montaudouin, Xavier; Fernández Otero, Rosa M.; Filgueira, Mónica Incera; Garbutt, Angus ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9145-9786; Goedknegt, M. Anouk; Lynch, Sharon A.; Mahony, Kate E.; Maire, Olivier; Malham, Shelagh K.; Orvain, Francis; van der Schatte Olivier, Andrew; Jones, Laurence ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4379-9006. 2020 Ecosystem services provided by a non-cultured shellfish species: the common cockle Cerastoderma edule. Marine Environmental Research, 158, 104931. 10, pp. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104931

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104931

Abstract/Summary

Coastal habitats provide many important ecosystem services. The substantial role of shellfish in delivering ecosystem services is increasingly recognised, usually with a focus on cultured species, but wild-harvested bivalve species have largely been ignored. This study aimed to collate evidence and data to demonstrate the substantial role played by Europe's main wild-harvested bivalve species, the common cockle Cerastoderma edule, and to assess the ecosystem services that cockles provide. Data and information are synthesised from five countries along the Atlantic European coast with a long history of cockle fisheries. The cockle helps to modify habitat and support biodiversity, and plays a key role in the supporting services on which many of the other services depend. As well as providing food for people, cockles remove nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon from the marine environment, and have a strong cultural influence in these countries along the Atlantic coast. Preliminary economic valuation of some of these services in a European context is provided, and key knowledge gaps identified. It is concluded that the cockle has the potential to become (i) an important focus of conservation and improved sustainable management practices in coastal areas and communities, and (ii) a suitable model species to study the integration of cultural ecosystem services within the broader application of ‘ecosystem services’.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104931
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-) Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0141-1136
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	bivalve, ecosystem engineer, European coastal biodiversity management, nutrient removal, carbon sequestration, cultural services
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	12 May 2020 13:43 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/527688

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104931

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-)
Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0141-1136

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

bivalve, ecosystem engineer, European coastal biodiversity management, nutrient removal, carbon sequestration, cultural services