Ecotone or Ecocline: Ecological Boundaries in Estuaries

Attrill, Martin J.; Rundle, Simon D.

doi:10.1006/ecss.2002.1036

Cited by 301 publications

(177 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Such an inventory shows that the region is highly diversified: 1485 taxa of aquatic invertebrates were encountered, including 77 genera, five families, and one sub class. The compiled data show that the distribution of the invertebrate species in the Seine River estuary follows a two ecocline model, as proposed by Attrill and Rundle (2002).…”

Section: Macroinvertebratesmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…, DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-374711-2.00 1 10 Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science, 162, 9-1 125- (Remane, 1934). In addition, Attrill and Rundle (2002) intro duced the concept of ecocline (gradient of change) for estuarine ecosystems. They suggested that the estuary represents a two ecocline model, with a first ecocline from sea to mid-estuary where there is a salinity decrease overlapping with an ecocline from river to mid-estuary where salinity increases.…”

Section: Macroinvertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the mesohaline stretch, but mainly in the oligohaline zones, only the marine-derived spe cies live at the edge of their range along the sea-estuary ecocline and freshwater-derived species at the limit of the river-estuary ecocline. Such organisms were considered the 'true estuarine organisms' represented in the Remane's diagram (Figure 2), but if the estuary is seen as a two-ecocline system, this category of organisms disappears to be replaced by two gradients, run ning from river or sea into the mid-estuary (Figure 2) (Attrill and Rundle, 2002). The oligohaline zone appears as the poor est, whereas the mesohaline shows intermediate values; the polyhaline zone shows generally high species richness more or less impoverished from the marine surrounding zone (de Paz et al, 2008b).…”

Section: Macroinvertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Classifying Ecological Quality and Integrity of Estuaries

Borja¹,

Basset²,

Bricker³

et al. 2011

Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science

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There is an increasing need in assessing ecological quality and integrity of estuaries and lagoons. This chapter shows the most recent efforts in assessing individual biological elements (from phytoplankton to fishes), together with the integrative tools developed in different geographical areas worldwide. However, reducing complex information from multiple ecosystem elements to a single color or value is a substantial challenge to marine scientists, and requires the integration of different disciplines (chemists, engineers, biologists, ecologists, physics, managers, etc.), to reach agreement on the final assignment of ecological status. Hence, in the near future, emphasis needs to be directed at understanding the complexities of estuarine system functioning rather than simplifying and scaling down the system into smaller components. Provided for non-commercial research and educational use.Not for reproduction, distribution or commercial use.This chapter was originally published in Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science, published by Elsevier, and the attached copy is provided by Elsevier for the author's benefit and for the benefit of the author's institution, for noncommercial research and educational use including without limitation use in instruction at your institution, sending it to specific colleagues who you know, and providing a copy to your institution's administrator.All other uses, reproduction and distribution, including without limitation commercial reprints, selling or licensing copies or access, or posting on open internet sites, your personal or institution's website or repository, are prohibited.For exceptions, permission may be sought for such use through Elsevier's permissions site at: Author's personal copy AbstractThere is an increasing need in assessing ecological quality and integrity of estuaries and lagoons. This chapter shows the most recent efforts in assessing individual biological elements (from phytoplankton to fishes), together with the integrative tools developed in different geographical areas worldwide. However, reducing complex information from multiple ecosystem elements to a single color or value is a substantial challenge to marine scientists, and requires the integration of different disciplines (chemists, engineers, biologists, ecologists, physics, managers, etc.), to reach agreement on the final assignment of ecological status. Hence, in the near future, emphasis needs to be directed at understanding the complexities of estuarine system functioning rather than simplifying and scaling down the system into smaller components.

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Section: Macroinvertebratesmentioning

confidence: 54%

Section: Macroinvertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Macroinvertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Classifying Ecological Quality and Integrity of Estuaries

Borja¹,

Basset²,

Bricker³

et al. 2011

Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science

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show abstract

“…In estuaries, this variable usually is salinity, but hydrodynamics, organic matter and mud content play important roles. Furthermore, estuaries differ from previously defined terrestrial ecoclines because they present two overlapping gradients in the major stressor: from river to mid-estuary for freshwater species and from sea to mid-estuary for marine species (ATTRILL & RUNDLE 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

The spatial distribution of the subtidal benthic macrofauna and its relationship with environmental factors using geostatistical tools: a case study in Trapandé Bay, southern Brazil

Souza¹,

Gilbert²,

Camargo³

et al. 2013

Zoologia (Curitiba)

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ABSTRACT. Modeling the distribution patterns of the estuarine macrobenthic community has revealed itself as a difficult task due to spatio-temporal heterogeneity. This study uses ordinary kriging and Poisson modeling to generate distribution maps of the subtidal benthic macrofauna in the Trapandé Bay (southeastern Brazil). Samples were taken in duplicate from 36 locations distributed along nine transects perpendicular to the main estuarine axis in October 2006 and March 2007. One-hundred and seventy taxa belonging to 12 phyla, were identified, with dominance of Annelida Polychaeta. Distribution maps were prepared to illustrate the total density, the number of species and the six most numerous taxa, as well as abiotic parameters. The general distribution pattern has revealed that the greatest number of species and the highest densities are at the estuary mouth, decreasing towards its inner areas. However the temporal and spatial changes observed at the estuary mouth have clearly shown the impact of environmental variations such as nutrients and freshwater input, attributed to increased rainfall in March. The increased flow in the Cananeia Sea, coming from the drainage basin, produces major changes in sediment and faunal composition. Ordinary kriging associated with Poisson modeling has proved to be a powerful and promising tool for modeling the macrofauna, despite the fact that it is not frequently used due to the scarcity of appropriate software.

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“…However, they have been subjected to a great variety of human impacts (e.g., pollution, overexploitation, loss of habitat and climate change), which have caused depletion of numerous formerly important species, destroyed or fragmented important estuarine habitats, such as seagrasses, oyster reefs and marshes, degraded water quality and introduced several non-indigenous species (NIS) (Kappel, 2005;Lotze et al, 2006). In recent years, there have been numerous studies on estuarine areas, addressing a multitude of ecological subdisciplines and focusing on a great variety of organisms (Attrill, 2002;Attrill and Rundle, 2002;Sousa et al, 2008a). Most of these studies focused on the lower estuarine areas, subjected to brackish water conditions, almost ignoring those upstream estuarine areas that still continue to be influenced by tides but are subjected to freshwater conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal changes in fish assemblages in the River Minho tidal freshwater wetlands, NW of the Iberian Peninsula

Мота

Sousa

Bio

et al. 2014

Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.

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-The ichthyofauna of the River Minho tidal freshwater wetlands (TFWs) was studied in a semienclosed area, between June 2007 and May 2010, to determine temporal patterns of abundance, biomass and species composition. Fish catches, standardized by the number of fyke nets and by the fishing effort, were analysed and related to river flow, water temperature and precipitation. In total, 21 fish species were identified including six non-indigenous species (NIS) which represented 15% of the total captures (yet 43% of the biomass). Regarding ecological guilds, 82% were freshwater species (61% of the biomass) which included all NIS, whereas 13% of the catches were catadromous species (31% biomass) corresponding to eels. Only 4% were estuarine species (1% biomass) and together marine estuarine opportunists and anadromous species accomplished 1% (2 and 6% biomass, respectively). The fish assemblage showed seasonal patterns with a clear distinction between autumn/winter and spring/summer periods. Significant differences in abundance and biomass were also detected between autumn/winter of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009, i.e., inter-annual variations, with the latter period with lower catches yet higher dominance of NIS. Besides, higher water temperature had a significant negative effect on the observed number of species, but a positive effect on the abundance and biomass of NIS. More attention has to be given to TFWs and their role in structuring fish assemblages, because this information is vital for a sound management, conservation and restoration of estuarine areas.

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Ecotone or Ecocline: Ecological Boundaries in Estuaries

Cited by 301 publications

References 28 publications

Classifying Ecological Quality and Integrity of Estuaries

Classifying Ecological Quality and Integrity of Estuaries

The spatial distribution of the subtidal benthic macrofauna and its relationship with environmental factors using geostatistical tools: a case study in Trapandé Bay, southern Brazil

Seasonal changes in fish assemblages in the River Minho tidal freshwater wetlands, NW of the Iberian Peninsula

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