Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41787460›Full record

ReviewEnvironmental evidence2026

Global evidence for the ecological effects of greening of grey infrastructure: a systematic review protocol.

Jessica R Allen, Louise B Firth, Melanie J Bishop, Katherine A Dafforn, Ferrante Grasselli, Mick E Hanley, Antony M Knights, Mariana Mayer-Pinto, Abigail McQuatters-Gollop, Kathryn A O'Shaughnessy and 4 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Environmental evidence, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Jessica R AllenSchool of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK. jessica.allen-25@plymouth.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-0335-3812
Louise B FirthSchool of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Distillery Fields, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6620-8512
Melanie J BishopSchool of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8210-6500
Katherine A DaffornSchool of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8848-377X
Ferrante GrasselliARC marine Ltd, 3-4 Vaughan Parade, Torquay, TQ2 5EG, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3584-0910
Mick E HanleySchool of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3966-8919
Antony M KnightsSchool of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Distillery Fields, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3977-3417
Mariana Mayer-PintoCentre of Marine Science and Innovation, School of BEES, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9679-7023
Abigail McQuatters-GollopSchool of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6043-9563
Kathryn A O'ShaughnessyDauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8587-4473
Francesca PorriSouth African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB), Makhanda, 6139, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8247-4506
Rebecca K SmithDepartment of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3294-7592
Elisabeth M A StrainInstitute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2165-9544
Anaëlle J LemassonSchool of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5158-0610

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe presence of artificial structures in our marine environments is increasing rapidly, with negative impacts for biodiversity. Greening of grey infrastructure (GGI) - an eco-engineering method applied to the marine context - aims to increase the ecological value of traditional grey infrastructure, while still allowing it to perform its primary human-centric function. GGI is a rapidly increasing field of research, being tested and implemented worldwide by academics, private practitioners, governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), amongst others, using a variety of methods. Outcomes vary widely, and results are communicated across a range of peer-reviewed and grey literature, rendering the evidence base for the effectiveness of GGI fragmented. To inform future decision-making regarding GGI application, it is critical to consolidate and evaluate existing research. To do so, we propose a systematic review and meta-analysis that will answer the following primary question: "What are the effects of GGI interventions applied to marine structures on the diversity, abundance, biomass, composition, and functional diversity of species on or around these ecologically enhanced structures?". Additionally, we will answer a series of secondary questions relating to intervention type, material use, geographic variations and other relevant associated variables.

methodsThis systematic review will follow the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence Guidelines and Standards for Evidence Synthesis in Environmental Management. Using a defined search string, literature searches will be run in English in at least five databases, three repositories and 10 websites, gathering both peer-reviewed and grey literature. Returns will be screened at title, abstract, and full text levels against defined inclusion criteria. Relevant metadata and effect data will be extracted from each study and used to write a narrative review and, where data allow, a meta-analysis of quantified effects. This review will provide a robust, up to date, consolidated and evaluated evidence base to inform future decision-making regarding the implementation of greening of grey infrastructure methods.

Indexed as

Biodiversity enhancementEco-engineeringEnvironmental evidenceEnvironmental interventionEvidence synthesisNature-based solutionsUrban ecology

Identifiers

PMID41787460
PMCPMC13072617

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.