Spatially Variable Effects of Artificially-Created Physical Complexity on Subtidal Benthos

In response to the environmental damage caused by urbanization, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are being implemented enhance biodiversity and ecosystem processes with mutual benefits for society nature. Although field of NbS is flourishing, experiments in different geographic locations contexts have produced variable results, knowledge particularly lacking subtidal zone. This study tested effects physical complexity on colonizing communities habitats two urban locations: (1) Plymouth, United Kingdom (northeast Atlantic) (2) Tel Aviv, Israel (eastern Mediterranean) 15- 12-months, respectively. At each location, was manipulated using experimental tiles that were either flat or had 2.5 5.0 cm ridges. biological also through seeding habitat-forming mussels. The manipulations taxon functional richness, community composition assessed at both locations, Plymouth survival size seeded mussels abundance recruited assessed. Effects differed between locations. Physical did not influence richness while there composition. found mussel reducing supporting larger mussels, influencing Our results suggest outcomes context-dependent highlight risk extrapolating findings outside context which they tested.