Estuaries are important coastal systems offering nursery and foraging grounds for many species. With the increasing threat from climate change and sea-level rise, the armouring of coastlines, to withstand coastal erosion, has become common practice. The transformation of soft sediment habitats to hard, artificial habitats can lead to changes in species diversity, composition and distribution. As there is limited information regarding the ecological impacts of using Reno mattresses (wire mattresses filled with rocks) to combat erosion, this study investigated the faunistic differences of these structures compared to natural eelgrass (Zostera capensis) habitat in the Keurbooms estuary, South Africa. Benthic macroinvertebrate and fish abundances and assemblages were assessed seasonally from winter 2018 to spring 2019. Macroinvertebrates were assessed using standard core and suction sampling whereas the non-destructive method of mini Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVs) was used to sample fish. Fish assemblages differed significantly between habitats and across seasons with greater abundances and diversity at the artificial structures compared to eelgrass habitat. Invertebrate taxa displayed some overlap between habitats, however, three higher taxonomic groups were only recorded within Reno mattress habitat with only one taxon unique to the eelgrass habitat. This study provides new information on the ecological efficacy of Reno mattress structures used in coastal management which can inform future coastal erosion control practices.

河口是重要的沿海系统，可为许多物种提供苗圃和觅食场所。随着气候变化和海平面上升的威胁越来越大，承受海岸侵蚀的海岸线铠装已成为普遍做法。将软质沉积物生境转变为坚硬的人工生境会导致物种多样性，组成和分布发生变化。由于关于使用Reno床垫（填充有岩石的金属床垫）对侵蚀的生态影响的信息有限，因此本研究调查了这些结构与天然鳗草（Zostera capensis）相比的真菌学差异。）栖息于南非Keurbooms河口。从2018年冬季到2019年春季，季节性评估了底栖大型无脊椎动物和鱼类的丰度和种类。使用标准取芯和抽吸采样法对大型无脊椎动物进行了评估，而使用微型诱饵远程水下视频系统（BRUV）的无损方法则对鱼类进行了采样。与鳗草栖息地相比，生境之间和不同季节的鱼类组合差异显着，人工结构的丰度和多样性更高。无脊椎动物类群在生境之间显示出一些重叠，但是，仅在里诺床垫生境中记录了三个较高的分类学类别，只有一个分类群是鳗草生境唯一的。