Ecological Dynamics of Marine Invertebrates in Coastal Ecosystems

Marine invertebrates, encompassing taxa such as molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms and cnidarians, underpin the structure and function of coastal ecosystems worldwide. These organisms mediate nutrient cycling, sediment dynamics and trophic interactions, shaping habitats from intertidal zones to subtidal reefs. Larval dispersal and settlement govern population connectivity, while adult behaviour influences benthic complexity and carbon flux. Environmental drivers—temperature, salinity, hydrodynamics and ocean chemistry—interact with biotic factors such as competition, predation and mutualism to determine community composition and resilience. Human pressures, including coastal development, pollution and climate change, are altering these dynamics at unprecedented rates. An integrated understanding of ecological processes at multiple spatial and temporal scales is essential for forecasting ecosystem responses and informing conservation strategies such as marine protected areas, habitat restoration and adaptive fisheries management. Recent advances have illuminated mechanisms of larval transport, the role of ecosystem engineers in habitat modification and the sensitivity of calcifying invertebrates to acidification, emphasising both global significance and local management applications.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have shown that fine-scale mapping of coastal currents, combined with genetic markers, can predict larval dispersal pathways and recruitment hotspots for keystone invertebrate species. High-resolution oceanographic modelling revealed synchronised pulses of larval supply to estuarine nurseries, offering new insights into population connectivity and the design of protected corridors. Concurrently, investigations into benthic-pelagic coupling have demonstrated how invertebrate bioturbation in seagrass meadows enhances nutrient recycling and supports higher primary productivity. Experimental manipulations indicated that dense worm and bivalve aggregations increased nitrogen fluxes by up to 30%, highlighting the role of invertebrate assemblages in sustaining carbon sequestration and water quality in coastal bays.

Ecological Dynamics of Marine Invertebrates in Coastal Ecosystems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in ecological dynamics of marine invertebrates in coastal ecosystems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Larval dispersal: Movement of planktonic juvenile stages between spawning and settlement areas, determining population connectivity.

Benthic–pelagic coupling: Exchange of energy and nutrients between bottom-dwelling organisms and the overlying water column, influencing ecosystem productivity.

Recruitment: Addition of new individuals to a population through successful settlement and survival of juveniles.

Calcification: Biological process by which organisms produce calcium carbonate structures, sensitive to ocean acidification.

Ecosystem engineer: Species that physically modify habitats, altering resource availability and community structure.

References

1. Unusual coccolithophore blooms in Scottish waters. State of the Planet (2023).
2. Multiple Processes Regulate Long-Term Population Dynamics of Sea Urchins on Mediterranean Rocky Reefs. PLOS ONE (2012).