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1.
We evaluated nekton habitat quality at 5 shallow-water sites in 2 Rhode Island systems by comparing nekton densities and biomass,
number of species, prey availability and feeding, and abundance of winter flounderPseudopleuronectes americanus. Nekton density and biomass were compared with a 1.75-m2 drop ring at 3 sites (marsh, intertidal, and subtidal) in Coggeshall Cove in Narragansett Bay and two subtidal sites (eelgrass
and macroalgae) in Ninigret Pond, a coastal lagoon. We collected benthic core samples and examined nekton stomach contents
in Coggeshall Cove. We identified 16 species of fish, 16 species of crabs, and 3 species of shrimp in our drop ring samples.
A multivariate analysis of variance indicated differences in total nekton, invertebrates, fish, and winter flounder across
the five sites. Relative abundance of benthic invertebrate taxa did not match relative abundance of prey taxa identified in
the stomachs. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling plots showed groupings in nekton and benthic invertebrate prey assemblages
among subtidal, intertidal, and marsh sites in Coggeshall Cove. Stepwise multiple regression indicated that biomass of macroalgae
was the most important variable predicting abundance of nekton in Coggeshall Cove, followed by elevation and depth. In Rhode
Island systems that do not experience chronic hypoxia, macroalgae adds structure to unvegetated areas and provides refuge
for small nekton. All sites sampled were characterized by high abundance and diversity of nekton pointing to the importance
of shallow inshore areas for production of fishes and decapods. Measurements of habitat quality should include assessment
of the functional significance of a habitat (this can be done by comparing nekton numbers and biomass), some measure of habitat
diversity, and a consideration of how habitat quality varies in time and space. 相似文献
2.
Alan T. Hitch Kevin M. Purcell Shannon B. Martin Paul L. Klerks Paul L. Leberg 《Estuaries and Coasts》2011,34(3):653-662
Increases in relative sea level are fragmenting the emergent vegetation of Louisiana’s coastal marshes. Nekton abundance is
likely impacted by salinity and whether emergent vegetation is replaced by submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) or open water.
To assess these effects, we sampled nekton densities along a salinity gradient (categorized as freshwater, intermediate, and
brackish marsh) in fragmented and non-fragmented areas. Total nekton density increased strongly with SAV in brackish marsh
but only weakly in freshwater marsh (F
2,238 = 10.03, p < 0.0001). Freshwater and intermediate marshes had higher nekton densities when fragmented than when non-fragmented; this
relationship was reversed in brackish marsh (F
2,238 = 8.89, p = 0.0002). Fragmentation, SAV, and salinity interacted to affect the densities of Gambusia affinis, Poecilia latipinna, Cyprinodon variegates, and Lucania parva. Our results suggest that the presence of both emergent vegetation and SAV was necessary for maintaining high nekton densities,
with this combination being especially important in brackish marshes. 相似文献
3.
Nekton abundance and water quality were examined over 8 yr (1986–1993) in Isaac Creek, a small (2.5 km long), shallow (1–2 m), estuarine creek draining to Adams Creek (Neuse River system), North Carolina, United States. Water quality and nekton were sampled at 8 to 12 stations at 2–3 wk intervals from April to October (76 dates). The nekton assemblage, sampled by trawl, included 42 taxa but was dominated by 11 species (7 fish and 4 decapod crustaceans). Nekton and water quality (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen [DO], salinity gradient) data were grouped and analyzed by three (upper, middle, and lower) creek zones to determine if estimated abundance was correlated with water quality. Potentially stressful water quality conditions for salinity (<5 ppt), temperature (>30°C in morning), and DO (<2 mg 1−1) mainly occurred in the upper and middle zones. The most frequent occurrence of potentially stressful conditions for salinity was in the spring and for dissolved oxygen and temperature in middle to late summer. The frequency of potentially stressful conditions increased during a 3-yr period following timber harvest of a large portion of the watershed. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) suggested little correlation between the top 11 species and water quality and indicated an assemblage with regular seasonal changes. Comparison of nekton use of the middle and upper zones of the creek for 3-yr pre- and post-harvest periods showed an increase in proportion of nekton caught in those zones, despite the higher frequency of potentially stressful water quality conditions. This observation suggests that a complex set of factors, including water quality, influence the pattern of nekton use in Isaac Creek. 相似文献
4.
Fish communities in tidal tributaries have received considerable attention, but the relative value of nontidal tributaries (having a tidal amplitude of <?5 cm) may represent an under-valued habitat. A multi-gear sampling approach was used to collect fish and macroinvertebrates from one tidal and two nontidal tributaries to describe and compare the respective nekton communities and habitat use patterns. Nekton communities in tidal and nontidal tributaries were markedly different even though habitats were similar (e.g., temperature, DO, depths, shoreline vegetation). While catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) of estuarine-dependent species (e.g., red drum, spot, common snook) was lower in nontidal tributaries, the overall nekton CPUE was twice that of the tidal tributary, and the community was comprised mostly of freshwater marsh species (e.g., eastern mosquitofish, sailfin molly, bluefin killifish). Based on the life histories of the fishes that differed between tributary types, the proximity of coastal inlets and availability of effective larval transport mechanisms for estuarine-dependent species may be greater determinants of community differences than factors related to tributary size or shoreline habitat type. These results recognize smaller nontidal tributaries as undervalued nursery habitats and suggest the function as secondary nursery habitats is a critical service to the overall estuarine community. 相似文献
5.
To test whether invasive Spartina alterniflora marshes were functionally equivalent to native Scirpus mariqueter marshes, the present study used bottomless lift nets (20 m2) during 12 high-tide events from August to October 2008 to compare nekton densities and biomass between the two marsh types
in the Dongtan wetland. A total of eight species of fish, two species of shrimp, and three species of crab were collected.
So-iny mullet Chelon haematocheilus, keeled mullet Liza carinata, Asian freshwater goby Acanthogobius ommaturus, and ridge-tail prawn Exopalaemon carinicauda dominated samples from the two marsh types and accounted for over 90% of the total catch. There were significantly greater
densities and biomass (p < 0.05) of total nekton (all species combined) and two mullets (C. haematocheilus and L. carinata) in S. alterniflora marshes than in S. mariqueter marshes in August 2008, while no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the two marsh types were observed for densities and biomass of any species or total nekton in September and
October 2008. Non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination did not show clear separation of samples between the two marsh
types (r = 0.071, p = 0.159). Furthermore, there were no habitat-specific differences (p > 0.05) in the size distributions of the three numerically dominant species (C. haematocheilus, L. carinata, and A. ommaturus). We concluded that S. alterniflora marshes were utilized by nekton in a fashion similar to their utilization of native S. mariqueter marshes under similar physical conditions. 相似文献
6.
We compared nekton densities over a range of measured flooding conditions and locations withinPhragmites australis andSpartina alterniflora (salt marsh cordgrass) at the Charles Wheeler Salt Marsh, located on the lower Housatonic River estuary in southwestern Connecticut.
Nekton were sampled on nine spring high tide events from May to October 2000 using bottomless lift nets positioned between
0–5 and 10–20 m from the creek edge. Flooding depth, duration, and frequency were measured from each vegetation type during
each sampling month. Benthic macroinvertebrate density was also measured within each vegetation type in May, July, and September.
Frequency of flooding was 52% lower and flooding depth and duration were also significantly reduced inP. australis relative toS. alterniflora. A total of 4,197 individuals representing 7 species, mostlyPalaemonetes pugio (dagger-blade grass shrimp) andFundulus heteroclitus (common mummichog), were captured.P. pugio densities were significantly greater inS. alterniflora as were benthic macroinvertebrate density and taxa richness during May, but not during June or October. Total fish density
was not significantly different betweenP. australis andS. alterniflora and was independent of location on the marsh. Significantly more juvenileF. heteroclitus were collected withinS. alterniflora relative toP. australis in June and July, suggesting that recruitment of this species may be lower inP. australis habitat. Fish density generally did not vary predictably across the range of flooding depth and duration; there was a positive
relationship between flooding depth and fish density inS. alterniflora. The measured reduction in flooding frequency (52%) withinP. australis at the Housatonic site would result in an average total monthly fish use, expressed as density, of 447 ind m−2 forP. australis and 947 ind m−2 forS. alterniflora. WhenP. australis expansion results in reduction of flooding frequency and duration, nekton community composition can change, access to the
marsh surface is reduced twofold, and nursery habitat function may be impaired. 相似文献
7.
A primary goal of many coastal restoration programs is to increase nekton habitat in terms of both quantity and quality. Using
shallow water ponds rehabilitated with a technique called marsh terracing, we examined the quality of nekton habitat created,
using and comparing several metrics including nekton density and diversity, functional group composition, and weight-length
relationships as indirect measures of habitat quality. We examined three paired terraced and unterraced marsh ponds in southwest
Louisiana. Nekton, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), and soil and water quality variables were sampled bimonthly from April
2004 through April 2005 at four subtidal habitat types: terraced nearshore, terraced open water, unterraced nearshore, and
unterraced open water. Results indicate that terraced ponds had increased the habitat value of degrading unterraced ponds
over open water areas for estuarine nekton; nekton density and richness were similar between terraced and unterraced nearshore
habitat types, but greater at all nearshore as compared to open water sites. Analysis of the distribution of nekton functional
groups and weight:length ratios indicates the terraced and unterraced pond habitats were not functioning similarly: distribution
of nekton functional groups differed significantly between habitat types with greater percentages of benthic-oriented species
at unterraced open water habitats and higher percentage of open water species in terraced ponds as compared to unterraced
ponds, and two of the six numerically dominant fish species had greater weight-length relationships in unterraced ponds as
compared to terraced ponds. This lack of functional equivalency may be attributed to environmental differences between terraced
and unterraced ponds such as water depth or SAV biomass, or the relatively young age of the terraces studied, which may not
have allowed for the development of some critical habitat variables, such as soil organic matter that was found to be significantly
lower in terraced versus unterraced ponds (p < 0.05). To properly assess the ecological equivalency of restored or rehabilitated
sites for nekton requires that we move beyond measures of nekton density, biomass, and diversity and incorporate measures
of functional equivalency, including habitat measures. 相似文献
8.
Large-scale marsh restoration efforts were conducted to restore normal salt marsh structure and function to degraded marshes
(i.e., former salt hay farms) in the mesohaline lower Delaware Bay. While nekton response has been previously evaluated for
the marsh surface and subtidal creeks in these marshes, little effort has been focused on intertidal creeks. Nekton response
in intertidal creeks was evaluated by sampling with seines to determine if restored (i.e., former salt hay farms restored
in 1996) and reference (i.e., natural or relatively undisturbed) salt marshes were utilized by intertidal nekton in a similar
manner. The overall nekton assemblage during June–October 2004–2005 was generally comprised of the same species in both the
restored and reference marshes. Intertidal creek catches in both marsh types consisted primarily ofFundulus heteroclitus andMenidia menidia, with varying numbers of less abundant transient species present. Transient nekton were more abundant at restored marshes
than reference marshes, but in insufficient numbers to cause differences in nekton assemblages. In both marsh types, low tide
stages were characterized by resident nekton, dominated byF. heteroclitus, while high tide stages were characterized by a variable mix of transient and resident nekton. Assemblage level analyses
indicated that intertidal creeks in restored and reference marshes were generally utilized in a similar manner by a similar
nekton assemblage, so restoration efforts were deemed successful. This is in agreement with multiple comparative studies from
the ame marshes examining fish, invertebrates, and vegetation in different marsh habitats. 相似文献
9.
Once viewed as an inexhaustible fishery resource, eastern oyster reefs (Crassostrea virginica) have been dramatically depleted. In North Carolina alone, eastern oyster harvests have declined by 90% since the early 1900s. However, eastern oyster restoration and management efforts have substantially increased since the 1970s. Oyster reefs provide habitat and refuge for organisms, improve water quality, and decrease erosion. Oyster restoration projects aim to construct reefs that function similarly to their natural counterparts. Therefore, post-creation monitoring of these reefs is crucial in determining restoration success. However, monitoring is often lacking or focused only on oyster density and size rather than ecosystem functions such as nekton utilization. This study examines nekton utilization among created reefs compared to natural reefs in an estuary in Wilmington, North Carolina. The objective was to determine whether the created reefs function similarly to the natural reefs in abundance, species richness, and fish size. Using seine nets and Breder traps, reefs were sampled over a 5-month period. No significant difference was detected among reefs for nekton abundance, species richness, and standard length. This is a promising result for future management, indicating that created and natural reefs can support similar communities of fishes and shrimp. 相似文献
10.
We examined the distribution of nekton across the marsh landscape using a 1-m2 drop sampler to compare nekton densities across three different salinity zones (intermediate, brackish, saline), three pond
sizes (diameter <40 m = small, ∼250–300 m = medium, >750 m = large), and two habitat types (pond, adjacent marsh) in the Barataria
Bay Estuary, Louisiana. Nekton assemblages of ponds and the adjacent marsh appeared to be structured by the responses of individual
species to the estuarine salinity gradient at the landscape scale and to pond habitat attributes locally. Our results indicate
that ponds in the brackish and saline zones are more important nursery areas for most fishery species than ponds in the intermediate
zone. Medium and large ponds supported higher densities of most species than small ponds. Most species of nekton were associated
with vegetation structure, and individuals of these species were either concentrated among plant stems at the marsh edge or
within submerged aquatic vegetation in ponds. 相似文献
11.
P. Sheridan 《Estuaries and Coasts》2004,27(5):781-792
Structural equivalence between seagrass restoration sites and adjacent natural seagrass beds on the mid Texas coast was assessed
six times between April 1995 and May 1997. Throw traps and corers were used for quantitative sampling. Restoration sites were
2.7 to 6.6 yr old when first sampled and 3.7 to 8.2 yr old when last sampled. There were few significant differences in water
column, seagrass, or sediment characteristics, in fish and decapod (nekton) densities, or in nekton and benthos community
compositions between restored and natural seagrass habitats at any time during the study period. Differences in densities
of dominant benthic invertebrates were regularly observed, with greater densities of more taxa observed in natural seagrasses
than in restored beds. Densities of Class Oligochaeta and the polychaetePrionospio heterobranchiata are proposed as potential indicators of structural equivalence in restored seagrasses. This study indicates that seagrass
restorations in the vicinity of Corpus Christi, Texas, exhibit minimal quantitative differences in community structure (except
for benthos) relative to adjacent natural seagrass beds after 3 to 5 yr. 相似文献
12.
Geoffrey R. Hosack Brett R. Dumbauld Jennifer L. Ruesink David A. Armstrong 《Estuaries and Coasts》2006,29(6):1150-1160
The complexity of habitat structure created by aquatic vegetation is an important factor determining the diversity and composition
of soft-sediment coastal communities. The introduction of estuarine organisms, such as oysters or other forms of aquaculture,
that compete with existing forms of habitat structure, such as seagrass, may affect the availability of important habitat
refugia and foraging resources for mobile estuarine fish and decapods. Fish and invertebrate communities were compared between
adjacent patches of native seagrass (Zostera marina), nonnative cultured oyster (Crassostrea gigas), and unvegetated mudflat within a northeastern Pacific estuary. The composition of epibenthic meiofauna and small macrofaunal
organisms, including known prey of fish and decapods, was significantly related to habitat type. Densities of these epifauna
were significantly higher in structured habitat compared to unstructured mudflat. Benthic invertebrate densities were highest
in seagrass. Since oyster aquaculture may provide a structural substitute for seagrass being associated with increased density
and altered composition of fish and decapod prey resources relative to mudflat, it was hypothesized that this habitat might
also alter habitat preferences of foraging fish and decapods. The species composition of fish and decapods was more strongly
related to location within the estuary than to habitat, and fish and decapod species composition responded on a larger landscape
scale than invertebrate assemblages. Fish and decapod species richness and the size of ecologically and commercially important
species, such as Dungeness crab (Cancer magister), English sole (Parophrys vetulus), or lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus), were not significantly related to habitat type. 相似文献
13.
In Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (Grand Bay NERR), Mississippi, we used quantitative drop sampling in three
common shallow estuarine habitats—low profile oyster reef (oyster), vegetated marsh edge (VME), and nonvegetated bottom (NVB)—to
address the dearth in research comparing nekton utilization of oyster relative to adjacent habitats. The three habitats were
sampled at two distinct marsh complexes within Grand Bay NERR. We collected a total of 633 individual fishes representing
41 taxa in 22 families. The most diverse fish family was Gobiidae (seven species) followed by Blennidae and Poeciliidae (three
species each). We collected a total of 2,734 invertebrates representing 24 taxa in 11 families. The most diverse invertebrate
family was Xanthidae (six species) followed by Palaemonidae (five species). We used ordination techniques to examine variation
in species relative abundance among habitats, seasons, and sampling areas, and to identify environmental gradients correlated
with species relative abundances. Our resulted indicated that oyster provided a similarly complex and important function as
the adjacent VME. We documented three basic trends related to the importance of oyster and VME habitats: 1) Oyster and VME
provide habitat for significantly more species relative to NVB, 2) Oyster and VME provide habitat for rare species, and 3)
Several species collected across multiple habitats occurred at higher abundances in oyster or VME habitat. We also found that
salinity, temperature, and depth were associated with seasonal and spatial shifts in nekton communities. Lastly, we found
that the relative location of the two marsh complexes we studied within the context of the whole estuary may also explain
some of the temporal and spatial differences in communities. We conclude that oyster habitat supported a temporally diverse
and spatially distinct nekton community and deserves further attention in research and estuarine conservation efforts. 相似文献
14.
Subsidence and erosion of intertidal salt marsh at Galveston Island State Park, Texas, created new areas of subtidal habitat
that were colonized by seagrasses begining in 1999. We quantified and compared habitat characteristics and nekton densities
in monospecific beds of stargrassHalophila engelmanni and shoalgrassHalodule wrightii as well as adjacent nonvegetated substrates. We collected 10 replicates per habitat type during April, July, October, and
December 2001. Most habitat characteristics varied with season. Water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen were similar
among habitat types. Turbidity and depth were greatest inH. engelmanni beds and least inH. wrightii beds.H. engelmanni exhibited shorter leaves and higher shoot density and biomass core−1 thanH. wrightii. Densities of almost all dominant species of nekton (fishes and decapods) were seasonally variable, all were higher in seagrass
habitats than in nonvegetated habitats, and most were higher in one seagrass species than the other. Naked gobyGobiosoma bosc, code gobyGobiosoma robustum, bigclaw snapping shrimpAlpheus heterochaelis, and blue crabCallinectes sapidus, were most abundant inH. engelmanni. Brown shrimpFarfantepenaeus aztecus, brackish grass shrimpPalaemonetes intermedius, and daggerblade grass shrimpPalaemonetes pugio were most abundant inH. wrightii. PinfishLagodon rhomboides and pink shrimFarfantepenaeus duorarum were equally abundant in either seagrass. Most dominant nekton varied in size by month, but only two (L. rhomboides andC. sapidus) exhibited habitat-related differences in size. Nekton densities in these new seagrass habitats equaled or exceeded densities
associated with historical and current intertidal smooth cordgrassSpartina alterniflora marsh. Continued seagrass expansion and persistence should ensure ecosystem productivity in spite of habitat change. 相似文献
15.
This study evaluated the use by fish of restored tidal wetlands and identified links between fish species composition and habitat characteristics. We compared the attributes of natural and constructed channel habitats in Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, San Diego Bay, California, by using fish monitoring data to explore the relationships between channel environmental characteristics and fish species composition. Fishes were sampled annually for 8 yr (1989–1996) at eight sampling sites, four in constructed marshes and four in natural marshes, using beach seines and blocking nets. We also measured channel habitat characteristics, including channel hydrology (stream order), width and maximum depth, bank slope, water quality (DO, temperature, salinity), and sediment composition. Fish colonization was rapid in constructed channels, and there was no obvious relationship between channel age and species richness or density. Total richness and total density did not differ significantly between constructed and natural channels, although California killifish (Fundulus parvipinnis) were found in significantly higher densities in constructed channels. Multivariate analyses showed fish assemblage composition was related to channel habitat characteristics, suggesting a channel’s physical properties were more important in determining fish use than its restoration status. This relationship highlights the importance of designing restoration projects with natural hydrologic features and choosing proper assessment criteria in order to avoid misleading interpretations of constructed channel success. We recommend that future projects be designed to mimic natural marsh hydrogeomorphology and diversity more closely, the assessment process utilize better estimates of fish habitat function (e.g., individual and community-based species trends, residence time, feeding, growth) and reference site choice, and experimental research be further incorporated into the restoration process. 相似文献
16.
T. S. Switzer B. L. Winner N. M. Dunham J. A. Whittington M. Thomas 《Estuaries and Coasts》2006,29(6):1011-1018
We examined nekton community-level responses to Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, which made landfall 20 d apart in the St. Lucie
estuary in southeastern Florida in 2004. The passage of these storms contributed to large freshwater discharges that exceeded
150 m3 s−1, as well as estuary-wide reductions in salinity and near-hypoxic conditions in the North Fork of the estuary that persisted
for several months. Although such environmental variations are not uncommon, seasonal patterns of community structure were
disturbed throughout much of the estuary, likely in response to uncharacteristically-rapid reductions in salinity. Immediately
following the hurricanes, abundances of several freshwater and oligohaline taxa (i.e., blue crabCallinectes sapidus, shadDorosoma spp., and ladyfishElops saurus) increased markedly in the inner estuary, while abundances of several other fishes (i.e., striped mulletMugil cephalus, white mulletM. curema, lookdownSelene vomer, pigfishOrthopristis chrysoptera, and pinfishLagodon rhomboides) declined. Nekton communities recovered quickly, and by spring, community structure throughout much of the estuary was indistinguishable
from pre-hurricane conditions. Although nekton communities were resilient to hurricane-related disturbances, projected increases
in Atlantic hurricane activity and associated freshwater discharges over the coming decades may test the resilience of estuarine
communities in Florida. 相似文献
17.
R. T. Kneib 《Estuaries and Coasts》1997,20(1):214-230
Variability in early life stages of species that are permanent residents of the estuarine nekton is poorly understood, especially in systems with extensive areas of emergent vegetation (e.g., salt marshes and mangroves). Sampling small mobile nekton in these shallow intertidal habitats presents a difficult methodological challenge. Simulated aquatic microhabitats (SAMs) were used to collect the early life stages of resident nekton that remained on the emergent marsh surface after it was exposed by the tide and could not be adequately sampled by traditional methods. Where the intertidal is a prominent areal component of the estuary, a large portion of young nekton could be overlooked using other common survey methods (e.g., plankton tows or block nets). Populations of young fishes and natant crustaceans were monitored for a year at 3-d to 6-d intervals from both low and high intertidal elevations within each of two marsh sites on Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA. Three species accounted for >99% of the 41,023 individuals collected. These were the killifishesFundulus heteroclitus (57.0%) andF. luciae (4.0%), and the daggerblade grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio (38.4%). YoungF. heteroclitus were used in field enclosure experiments to relate abundance data to actual areal densities. Average annual estimated density of young nekton on the surface of the intertidal marsh at low tide was 7.2 individuals m?2. Early life stages of estuarine resident species, particularly those with demersal young, are not affected by the same physical processes influencing larval supply and recruitment variability in marine-spawned species. In salt marshes, biotic factors (e.g., adult reproductive activity, predation, and food limitation) may be more important as proximate causes of variation during the early life histories of resident nekton. 相似文献
18.
Cedar Bayou, a natural tidal inlet, was recently dredged to allow for direct water exchange between the Gulf of Mexico and Mesquite Bay, TX, USA. We quantified changes in densities of juvenile nekton (fish, shrimps, and crabs) and community structure in Mesquite Bay after Cedar Bayou was reopened by collecting samples at both control and impact sites using an epibenthic sled 1 year before (October 2013–April 2014) and after (October 2014–April 2015) opening. Significantly higher densities of total nekton were observed at the impact sites after opening using a before-after control-impact design. Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), post-larval penaeid shrimps (Farfantepenaeus aztecus, F. duorarum, and Litopenaeus setiferus), and Blue Crabs (Callinectes sapidus) were significantly more abundant at impact sites after Cedar Bayou was opened. Multivariate analysis showed a significant change in impact site communities after opening and was driven by an increased presence of estuarine-dependent species. Overall, this study demonstrates that opening tidal inlets, such as Cedar Bayou, and reconnecting Mesquite Bay to the Gulf of Mexico increased the presence of numerous estuarine-dependent species, many of which were not present or occurred at very low densities prior to reopening. Thus, reestablishing the historical connectivity between a productive estuary and the open Gulf of Mexico via Cedar Bayou should reinstitute natural nekton recruitment processes important to the Aransas, Mesquite, and San Antonio Bay regions. 相似文献
19.
The US Army Corps of Engineers recently dredged and permanently reopened Packery Channel, historically a natural tidal inlet,
to allow water exchange between the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre, TX, USA. The main objective of this study was to
characterize estuarine-dependent recruitment and community structure in seagrass habitats adjacent to Packery Channel pre-
and post-channel opening. We sampled fish and crustacean abundance using an epibenthic sled in Halodule wrightii seagrass meadows in both control and impact locations over 2 years, 1 year before the opening of Packery Channel (October
2004–May 2005) and 1 year after (July 2005–April 2006). Using the before–after control–impact design, we found significantly
fewer nekton post-channel opening. However, we found significantly higher mean densities of newly settled estuarine-dependent
species (Sciaenops ocellatus, Micropogonias undulatus, Lagodon rhomboides, Callinectes sapidus, and penaeid shrimp) post-opening. Multivariate analyses showed significant community assemblage changes post-opening with
increased contribution of estuarine-dependent species post-opening. Our results show that estuarine-dependent nekton are using
Packery Channel as a means of ingress into areas of the upper Laguna Madre’s seagrass meadows that were previously inaccessible,
which may lead to higher fisheries productivity for some of these economically and ecologically important fishery species. 相似文献
20.
Michael T. League Erin P. Colbert Denise M. Seliskar John L. Gallagher 《Estuaries and Coasts》2006,29(2):269-276
Phragmites australis (common reed), a clonal grass, has expanded from a minor component of the mid-Atlantic wetlands to a dominant species. It
has been suggested that invasive populations ofPhragmites are an exotic haplotype responsible for the dramatic increase in the distribution of the species. We used field observations
and measurements and a greenhouse assay to compare native (haplotype F) and exotic (haplotype M) populations, growing adjacent
to one another in a brackish marsh near Odessa, Delaware. In the marsh, shoots of the exotic strain emerged from the rhizomes
earlier than those of the native and by March there was an order of magnitude more new shoots of the exotic strain than the
native. In August, the exotic strain was 30% taller than the native, had twice the leaf biomass, and twice the total biomass.
Nine of ten morphological and biomass characteristics measured differed significantly between the native and exotic strains.
A greenhouse assay was conducted by planting rhizomes collected in March in shallow trays and growing them for 70 d followed
by shoot harvest (Harvest 1). Rhizomes were measured, replanted, and grown for 35 d after which time they were measured and
shoots were harvested (Harvest 2). At Harvest 1, shoot height was approximately 80% greater in the exotic strain, shoot biomass
was three times higher, aboveground to belowground biomass ratio was twice as high, and rhizome internode length was 50% greater
in the exotic strain than the native. These traits, in addition to number of shoots, were also greater in the exotic strain
at Harvest 2. The number of rhizome buds at Harvest 1 was three times greater in the native than in the exotic strain. The
greater number of rhizome buds in the native would seem to be an advantage, but it did not result in more shoot production.
Buds were maintained in an inactive state that does not allow this strain to compete well in a wetland environment inhabited
by a more efficient spreader. The earlier emergence of new shoots from the rhizomes, the greater aboveground structure, the
greater rhizome internode length, and the quick transition of rhizome buds to shoot or rhizome explain in part the exotic
strain's advantage over the native and the mechanisms for its invasive nature. 相似文献