A Climate-Mediated Shift in the Estuarine Habitat Mosaic Limits Prey Availability and Reduces Nursery Quality for Juvenile Salmon

Davis, Micheal A.; Woo, Isa; Ellings, Christopher S.; Hodgson, Sayre; Beauchamp, David A.; Nakai, Glynnis; Cruz, Susan E. W. De La

doi:10.1007/s12237-021-01003-3

Cited by 12 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 98 publications

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“…Allochthonous contributions to the pelagic food web were lower in 2015 than in 2011, and the river-to-sea habitat gradient was less obvious. This reflects how juvenile salmon move among habitats to avoid elevated temperatures and lower water levels in the river and estuary [ 16 , 91 , 93 , 94 ]. Furthermore, it supports existing literature that shows how drought conditions can reduce inputs of terrestrial organic matter from the surrounding marsh into the estuary by shifting vascular plant biomass availability and prey community structure [ 20 , 95 – 97 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Allochthonous marsh subsidies enhances food web productivity in an estuary and its surrounding ecosystem mosaic

Davis,

Woo,

De La Cruz

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Terrestrial organic matter is believed to play an important role in promoting resilient estuarine food webs, but the inherent interconnectivity of estuarine systems often obscures the origins and importance of these terrestrial inputs. To determine the relative contributions of terrestrial (allochthonous) and aquatic (autochthonous) organic matter to the estuarine food web, we analyzed carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur stable isotopes from multiple trophic levels, environmental strata, and habitats throughout the estuarine habitat mosaic. We used a Bayesian stable isotope mixing model (SIMM) to parse out relationships among primary producers, invertebrates, and a pelagic and demersal fish species (juvenile Chinook salmon and sculpin, respectively). The study was carried out in the Nisqually River Delta (NRD), Washington, USA, a recently-restored, macrotidal estuary with a diverse habitat mosaic. Plant groupings of macroalgae, eelgrass, and tidal marsh plants served as the primary base components of the NRD food web. About 90% of demersal sculpin diets were comprised of benthic and pelagic crustaceans that were fed by autochthonous organic matter contributions from aquatic vegetation. Juvenile salmon, on the other hand, derived their energy from a mix of terrestrial, pelagic, and benthic prey, including insects, dipterans, and crustaceans. Consequently, allochthonous terrestrial contributions of organic matter were much greater for salmon, ranging between 26 and 43%. These findings demonstrate how connectivity among estuarine habitat types and environmental strata facilitates organic matter subsidies. This suggests that management actions that improve or restore lateral habitat connectivity as well as terrestrial-aquatic linkages may enhance allochthonous subsidies, promoting increased prey resources and ecosystem benefits in estuaries.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Allochthonous marsh subsidies enhances food web productivity in an estuary and its surrounding ecosystem mosaic

Davis,

Woo,

De La Cruz

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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“…The loss of suitable habitats could also have resulted in P. platessa losing access to certain prey types in coastal zones. At the same time, by gaining access to suitable habitats in the depths, Boreal species may have also gained access to new prey (Davis et al., 2022; Selden et al., 2018; Tunney et al., 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Boreal and Lusitanian species display trophic niche variation in temperate waters

Amelot,

Robert,

Mouchet

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Climate change has non‐linear impacts on species distributions and abundance that have cascading effects on ecosystem structure and function. Among them are shifts in trophic interactions within communities. Sites found at the interface between two or more biogeographical regions, where species with diverse thermal preferenda are assembled, are areas of strong interest to study the impact of climate change on communities' interactions. This study examined variation in trophic structure in the Celtic Sea, a temperate environment that hosts a mixture of cold‐affiliated Boreal species and warm‐affiliated Lusitanian species. Using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios, trophic niche area, width, and position were investigated for 10 abundant and commercially important demersal fish species across space and time. In general, the niches of Boreal species appear to be contracting while those of Lusitanian species expand, although there are some fluctuations among species. These results provide evidence that trophic niches can undergo rapid modifications over short time periods (study duration: 2014–2021) and that this process may be conditioned by species thermal preferenda. Boreal species displayed spatial variation in trophic niche width and seem to be facing increased competition with Lusitanian species for food resources. These findings underscore the need to utilize indicators related to species trophic ecology to track the ecosystem alterations induced by climate change. Such indicators could reveal that the vulnerability of temperate ecosystems is currently being underestimated.

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“…Estuaries of the Pacific Northwest are generally geographically restricted by steep and rocky hillslopes, which will limit vertical marsh migration as sea levels rise (Thorne et al, 2018). Forecasting compositional and distribution shifts of TFM and tidal marsh plant communities under different sea level rise scenarios is of increasing importance to land managers, especially to quantify the effects of reduced habitat on salmonid population dynamics (Davis et al, 2021). Identifying where to anticipate preferential recruitment niches for key community-forming species will help land managers plan to accommodate habitat transitions.…”

Section: Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using marsh organs to test seed recruitment in tidal freshwater marshes

Lane

2022

Appl Plant Sci

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Premise Seed recruitment niches along estuarine elevation gradients are seldom experimentally field‐tested under tidal regimes of the Pacific Northwest of North America. Addressing this knowledge gap is important to better understand estuary restoration and plant community response to sea level rise. Methods Germination was tested in marsh organ mesocosms across an elevation gradient (0.5–1.7 m above mean sea level). Seeds were sown on sterile peat moss, and the tops of pipes were secured with horticultural “frost cloth” to ensure no experimental seeds were washed out and no new seeds were introduced. The trials tested artificial and overwinter chilling regimes, as well as the presence and/or absence of a near‐neighbor transplant. Results Carex lyngbyei had significant elevation‐driven germination after overwinter and artificial chilling. Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani had near‐significant germination across elevation after overwinter chilling, and germination in the absence of competition was significantly greater than with a near‐neighbor transplant. Discussion Carex lyngbyei had the highest germination rate at higher elevations, which suggests restricted seed recruitment potential and required clonal expansion to extend into lower marsh elevations. Identifying species‐specific recruitment niches provides insight for restoration opportunities or invasive species monitoring, as well as for estuary migration under sea level rise.

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A Climate-Mediated Shift in the Estuarine Habitat Mosaic Limits Prey Availability and Reduces Nursery Quality for Juvenile Salmon

Cited by 12 publications

References 98 publications

Allochthonous marsh subsidies enhances food web productivity in an estuary and its surrounding ecosystem mosaic

Allochthonous marsh subsidies enhances food web productivity in an estuary and its surrounding ecosystem mosaic

Boreal and Lusitanian species display trophic niche variation in temperate waters

Using marsh organs to test seed recruitment in tidal freshwater marshes

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