The world's 40% of the population lives in coastal areas (<150 km from the sea), and this is set to increase in upcoming years. This urban sprawl leads to the proliferation of artificial coastal defence structures along the coasts to save the populace from coastal erosion, storms, and hurricanes. Deployment of artificial coastal defence structures has direct or indirect impacts on the local and global scenario, but the ecology of artificial habitats was studied poorly. Therefore, the current study aimed to focus on the role of artificial coastal defence structures in enhancing the coastal biodiversity. A total of 228 epibiotic species associated with the artificial coastal defence structures were identified. The study recorded high species richness and diversity of epibenthos in artificial habitats compared to natural habitats. Among various types of artificial habitats, assemblage pattern of epibiotic species in sandstone surfaces differs from non-sandstone surfaces. Apart from the structure surface, local epibenthic biodiversity also plays a significant role in determining the artificial structure assemblages. The length, vertical height, and age of the structures are the major deciding factors in species composition of the structures. The overall study concluded that the artificial coastal defence structures could act as a surrogate surface for epibiotic assemblages. The input of coastal biodiversity component while designing the artificial coastal defence structures can be an added advantage.

世界上 40% 的人口生活在沿海地区（距海洋 <150 公里），而且这一数字在未来几年还会增加。这种城市扩张导致沿海人工海岸防御结构的扩散，以保护民众免受海岸侵蚀、风暴和飓风的侵害。人工海防结构的部署对当地和全球情景有直接或间接的影响，但对人工栖息地的生态研究却很少。因此，目前的研究旨在关注人工海防结构在增强沿海生物多样性方面的作用。总共确定了 228 种与人工海岸防御结构相关的外生物种。该研究记录了与自然栖息地相比，人工栖息地中底栖生物的物种丰富度和多样性。在各种类型的人工栖息地中，砂岩地表附生物种的组合模式与非砂岩地表不同。除了结构表面，局部底栖生物多样性在确定人工结构组合方面也起着重要作用。结构的长度、垂直高度和年龄是结构物种组成的主要决定因素。总体研究得出的结论是，人工海岸防御结构可以作为外生组合的替代表面。在设计人工海岸防御结构时输入海岸生物多样性成分可以是一个额外的优势。当地的底栖生物多样性在确定人工结构组合方面也发挥着重要作用。结构的长度、垂直高度和年龄是结构物种组成的主要决定因素。总体研究得出的结论是，人工海岸防御结构可以作为外生组合的替代表面。在设计人工海岸防御结构时输入海岸生物多样性成分可以是一个额外的优势。当地的底栖生物多样性在确定人工结构组合方面也发挥着重要作用。结构的长度、垂直高度和年龄是结构物种组成的主要决定因素。总体研究得出的结论是，人工海岸防御结构可以作为外生组合的替代表面。在设计人工海岸防御结构时输入海岸生物多样性成分可以是一个额外的优势。总体研究得出的结论是，人工海岸防御结构可以作为外生组合的替代表面。在设计人工海岸防御结构时输入海岸生物多样性成分可以是一个额外的优势。总体研究得出的结论是，人工海岸防御结构可以作为外生组合的替代表面。在设计人工海岸防御结构时输入海岸生物多样性成分可以是一个额外的优势。