Effects of seawall armoring on juvenile Pacific salmon diets in an urban estuarine embayment

Munsch, Stuart H.; Cordell, Jeffery R.; Toft, Jason D.

doi:10.3354/meps11403

Cited by 30 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Water-column-using fish formed larger schools in deeper water, potentially allowing them to occupy patches where safety was lower but foraging potential was greater. For example, schooling may facilitate forays by planktivorous forage fish (Penttila 2007) or juvenile salmon (Munsch et al 2015a) into deeper waters where plankton are more abundant and foraging spaces are larger. Others have demonstrated an analogous scenario in aquaria whereby fish in larger schools forgo predator refuge to occupy exposed foraging patches (Magurran & Pitcher 1983).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pacific herring Clupea pallasii, surf smelt Hypomesus pretiosus), which we refer to in functional groupings (see Table 2) based on similarities in morphology, life history, and habitat use. These fish primarily consume small invertebrates and are potential prey for larger fish, marine mammals, and birds (Buchanan 2006, Duffy & Beauchamp 2008, Lance et al 2012, Munsch et al 2015a. They are mobile and in some cases migratory; thus, it is unlikely to observe the same individuals in replicate surveys.…”

Section: Study Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fine-scale habitat use and behavior of a nearshore fish community: nursery functions, predation avoidance, and spatiotemporal habitat partitioning

Munsch

Cordell²,

Toft³

2016

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine-scale habitat use and behavior of a nearshore fish community: nursery functions, predation avoidance, and spatiotemporal habitat partitioning

Munsch

Cordell²,

Toft³

2016

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Similarly, natural beaches have more organic material and greater density and diversity of benthic invertebrates than armored beaches (Sobocinski et al 2010), and beach alteration can negatively impact nursery areas (Peterson & Bishop 2005). Munsch et al (2015b) also found reduced epibenthic prey in the water column at hardened shorelines when compared to beaches, which in turn affected the diets of some fish. Greater wave reflection at hardened shorelines may also decrease habitat quality for small-bodied fishes by increasing turbulence, scouring/damaging the benthos, and reducing water clarity through fine sediment resuspension (Pope 1997;Miles et al 2001).…”

Section: Local-scale Effects Of Shoreline Typementioning

confidence: 96%

Linking the Abundance of Estuarine Fish and Crustaceans in Nearshore Waters to Shoreline Hardening and Land Cover

Kornis

Breitburg

Balouskus

et al. 2017

Estuaries and Coasts

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Human alteration of land cover (e.g., urban and agricultural land use) and shoreline hardening (e.g., bulkheading and rip rap revetment) are intensifying due to increasing human populations and sea level rise. Fishes and crustaceans that are ecologically and economically valuable to coastal systems may be affected by these changes, but direct links between these stressors and faunal populations have been elusive at large spatial scales. We examined nearshore abundance patterns of 15 common taxa across gradients of urban and agricultural land cover as well as wetland and hardened shoreline in tributary subestuaries of the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Coastal Bays. We used a comprehensive landscape-scale study design that included 587 sites in 39 subestuaries. Our analyses indicate shoreline hardening has predominantly negative effects on estuarine fauna in water directly adjacent to the hardened shoreline and at the larger system-scale as cumulative hardened shoreline increased in the subestuary. In contrast, abundances of 12 of 15 species increased with the proportion of shoreline comprised of wetlands. Abundances of several species were also significantly related to watershed cropland cover, submerged aquatic vegetation, and total nitrogen, suggesting land-use-mediated effects on prey and refuge habitat. Specifically, abundances of four bottom-oriented species were negatively related to cropland cover, which is correlated with elevated nitrogen and reduced submerged and wetland vegetation in the receiving subestuary. These empirical relationships raise important considerations for conservation and management strategies in coastal environments.

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“…Some studies detected differential effects, such as on fish abundances in marshes but not subtidal areas (Gittman et al . ), on community integrity along seawall but not riprap shorelines (Bilkovic & Roggero ) or on diets of some but not all species (Munsch, Cordell & Toft ). Also, some studies found that certain fish species were more abundant along armoured shorelines (e.g.…”

Section: Documented Effects Of Shoreline Armouring On Fishmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of shoreline armouring and overwater structures on coastal and estuarine fish: opportunities for habitat improvement

Munsch

Cordell

Toft

2017

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Summary Nearshore ecosystems are increasingly recognized as critical habitats for fish of cultural, ecological and economic significance. These ecosystems are often densely inhabited by juvenile fish, highly productive and refuges from predation, leading ecologists to characterize them as nurseries. However, nearshore ecosystems are being transformed globally to support demands of growing coastal populations. Many shorelines are modified by armouring (e.g. seawalls, riprap) that minimizes erosion, and overwater structures (e.g. piers, docks) that facilitate waterfront use. These modifications affect the ecology of nearshore systems by restructuring, eliminating and shading shallow waters. Here, we review literature examining effects of armouring and overwater structures on coastal and estuarine fishes, and discuss how research and management can coordinate to minimize negative effects. Along armoured shorelines, fish assemblages differed from unarmoured sites, fish consumed less epibenthic and terrestrial prey, beach spawning was less successful and fish were larger. Under large overwater structures, visually oriented fish were less abundant and they fed less. Shade from overwater structures also interrupted localized movements of migratory fish. Thus, shoreline modifications impaired habitats by limiting feeding, reproduction, ontogenetic habitat shifts from shallow to deeper waters and connectivity. Research suggests that restoring shallow waters and substrate complexity, and minimizing shading underneath overwater structures, can rehabilitate habitats compromised by shoreline modifications. Synthesis and applications. Shoreline armouring and overwater structures often compromise fish habitats. These threats to nearshore fish habitats will become more severe as growing coastal populations and rising sea levels increase demands for shoreline infrastructure. Our ability to assess and rehabilitate nearshore fish habitats along modified shorelines will be enhanced by: focusing research attention on metrics that directly indicate fish habitat quality; implementing and evaluating shoreline features that repair compromised habitat functions within human‐use constraints; collating natural history knowledge of nearshore ecosystems; and embracing the socio‐ecological nature of habitat improvements by educating the public about conservation efforts and fostering appreciation of local nearshore ecosystems. Actions to reduce impacts of shoreline modifications on fish are particularly feasible when they align with societal goals, such as improving flood protection and providing spaces that facilitate recreation, education, and connections between people and nature.

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Effects of seawall armoring on juvenile Pacific salmon diets in an urban estuarine embayment

Cited by 30 publications

References 54 publications

Fine-scale habitat use and behavior of a nearshore fish community: nursery functions, predation avoidance, and spatiotemporal habitat partitioning

Fine-scale habitat use and behavior of a nearshore fish community: nursery functions, predation avoidance, and spatiotemporal habitat partitioning

Linking the Abundance of Estuarine Fish and Crustaceans in Nearshore Waters to Shoreline Hardening and Land Cover

Effects of shoreline armouring and overwater structures on coastal and estuarine fish: opportunities for habitat improvement

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