ABSTRACT Oyster reefs are often referred to as the temperate functional equivalent of coral reefs. Yet evidence for this analogy was lacking for the European native species Ostrea edulis . Historical data provide a unique opportunity to develop a robust definition for this ecosystem type, confirm that O. edulis are large‐scale biogenic reef builders, and assess its current conservation status. Today, O. edulis occur as scattered individuals or, rarely, as dense clumps over a few m 2 . Yet historically, O. edulis reef ecosystems persisted at large scales (several km 2 ), with individual reefs within the ecosystems present at the scale of several hectares. Using the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Framework, we conclude the European native oyster reef ecosystem type is collapsed under three of five criteria (A: reduction in geographic distribution, B: restricted geographic range, and D: disruption of biotic processes and interactions). Criterion C (environmental degradation) was data deficient, and Criterion E (quantitative risk analysis) was not completed as the ecosystem was already deemed collapsed. Our assessment has important implications for conservation policy and action, highlighting that the habitat definitions on which conservation policies are currently based reflect a highly shifted baseline, and that the scale of current restoration efforts falls far short of what is necessary for ecosystem recovery.

Philine S. E. zu Ermgassen

Hannah McCormick

Alison Debney

José M. Fariñas‐Franco

Celine Gamble

Chris Gillies

Boze Hancock

Ane T. Laugen

Stéphane Pouvreau

Joanne Preston

William G. Sanderson

Åsa Strand

Ruth H. Thurstan

Conservation Letters

CONSERVATION LETTERS 是一本科学期刊，发表对保护生物多样性具有重要意义的实证和理论研究。该杂志欢迎生物和社会科学领域的投稿——尤其是跨学科投稿——推动务实的保护目标和科学理解。手稿将按快速沟通时间表发布，因此应该是最新的和热门的。研究文章应该清楚地阐明他们的发现对保护政策和实践的重要性。

Conservation Letters is a scientific journal dedicated to publishing empirical and theoretical research that is significant for the conservation of biodiversity. The journal welcomes submissions from the fields of biological and social sciences, particularly interdisciplinary studies, to advance practical conservation goals and scientific understanding. Manuscripts will be published on a rapid communication timeline, so they should be current and relevant. Research articles should clearly articulate the importance of their findings for conservation policy and practice.

《Conservation Letters》是一本科学期刊，专注于发表对保护生物多样性具有重要意义的实证和理论研究。该期刊欢迎生物科学和社会科学领域的投稿，尤其鼓励跨学科的研究，以推动务实的保护目标和科学理解。手稿将按照快速沟通的时间表发布，因此应确保内容是最新和热门的。研究文章需清晰阐明其发现对保护政策和实践的重要性。

European Native Oyster Reef Ecosystems Are Universally Collapsed

欧洲本土牡蛎礁生态系统普遍崩溃

Category	Quartile
环境科学与生态学	1
环境科学与生态学, 生物多样性保护	1

European Native Oyster Reef Ecosystems Are Universally Collapsed

ivySCI AI Smartly Parses PDF, Answers Researchers' Questions, and Helps You Understand Papers in Seconds

Journal Info