Reefense: Living shoreline mosaics can achieve ecological and engineering outcomes with interdisciplinary design

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2026 Open access

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Authors: Rebecca L. Morris, Jaden E. Akers, Sandra M. Casas, Justin Geldard, Alex Goad, Marco Ghisalberti, Ximing Guo, Reid Holland, Hongyue Jin, Kelly M. Kibler, Danielle A. Kreeger, Brendan S. Lanham
+23 more Jérôme F. La Peyre, Ryan Joseph Lowe, Cynthia E. M. Lupton, Hani Nassif, William Mather, Andrew W.M. Pomeroy, Ella R. Rothermel, Michael Ruszala, Madhuwanthi Rupasinghe, F. Scott Rikard, Richard E. Riman, Rackel San Nicolas, Jenny P. Shinn, Prashansa Shrestha, Eric Sparks, Stephen E. Swearer, Jyotismita Taye, Nigel A. Temple, Manisha Thenuwara, Peter B. Vien, Zhenwei Wang, M. A. Williams, David Bushek
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2516197123
Cited by: 1
References: 89

Abstract

Living shorelines that comprise oyster reefs within a mosaic of multiple coastal habitats can be a resilient and adaptive coastal protection alternative to conventional engineered structures. The success of an oyster reef living shoreline depends on the evolution of a stable base substrate that provides initial short-term coastal protection, to the growth of a living oyster reef and associated habitats in the longer-term, which can enhance protection and provide other ecosystem services. Interdisciplinary global teams that include ecologists, biologists, engineers, techno-economists, and industry are leading the development and implementation of innovative reef-based coastal protection ("Reefense") solutions that can be scaled to face the challenges of climate change.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Coastal and Marine Management Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies

Publication details

Journal / source
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Volume
123
Issue
15
Pages
e2516197123–e2516197123
Publication date
3 April 2026
Language
EN