Colonisation of Gastropod Species on Artificial Coastal Structures in Penang Island, Malaysia
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Intertidal organisms, especially marine gastropods, endure harsh marine conditions daily. In tropical regions marked by heat and desiccation, the absence of complexities in Artificial Coastal Structures (ACS) undermines biodiversity and exposes gastropods to thermal risks despite their adaptive thermoregulating strategies. Several ecological engineering approaches employing biomimicry have been conducted. However, studies in tropical regions remain underexplored. To address this, we investigated the habitat panels’ performance by incorporating complexities mimicking natural habitats (e.g., grooves and crevices) on whether they promoted gastropod diversity and preferred eco-concrete (produced using a concrete blend composed of recycled materials) as the constructed material. 20 panels with five replicates per treatment: (1) Complex Portland cement habitat panels, (2) blank Portland cement panels (as control), (3) eco-concrete habitat panels, and (4) blank eco-concrete panels were installed onto a seawall at The Light Waterfront (TLW), Penang. Statistical analysis using repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) indicated that the complex habitat panels had a significantly higher gastropod diversity compared to blank panels (Wilk’s Lambda = 0.29, F (3, 8) = 6, p = 0.01), offering niche spaces. Whilst material differences between Portland cement concrete and eco-concrete did not significantly affect gastropod diversity, ACS construction utilising recycled materials has been proven beneficial for the environment.
Authors: Universiti Sains Malaysia, AMANDA KAR MUN CHONG, CHEE BAN CHEAH, Universiti Sains Malaysia, MOHD ALIF IKRAMI MUTTI, Universiti Sains Malaysia, JEAN CHAI YEE, Universiti Sains Malaysia, CHEE SU YIN, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Language: English
Subfield: Oceanography
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funder: Universiti Sains Malaysia
OpenAlex ID: W4412413504