Impacts of coastal armouring on rubble mobile cryptofauna at shallow coral reefs in Okinawa, Japan

Shoreline armouring has progressively affected the coastal landscapes of countries all over world, and construction will increase in coming years as a consequence climate change. Armouring potential to affect environments induce changes abundance diversity marine communities, its effects might by increased wide adoption. Moreover, compared with temperate locations, have been less studied tropical subtropical areas. Okinawa Island, largest most populated island Ryukyu Archipelago southern Japan, numerous civil military engineering works. After decades development, than 40% coastline remains natural, yet impacts from on local communities overlooked until recent years. The aim this research was evaluate near-shore surrounding environment comparing coral rubble mobile cryptofauna benthic between armoured control sites. Across six different geographic sampled front subtidal breakwaters at nearby Armoured sites were associated lower abundances reduced richness higher taxonomic levels (phylum class). Reduction spatial complexity could be plausible reason for observed patterns. Impacts mitigated combining technical innovations, habitat restoration, use natural spaces buffers protection. Since half Island’s state, environmental conservation should prioritized.