Increased benthic grazing: An alternative explanation for low phytoplankton biomass in northern San Francisco Bay during the 1976–1977 drought

Nichols, Frederic H.

doi:10.1016/0272-7714(85)90018-6

Cited by 127 publications

(100 citation statements)

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“…Depletion of phytoplankton standing stocks due to bivalve feeding has been reported in many ecosystems (e.g. Nichols 1985;Dame 1993). Additionally, bivalves can be instrumental in regenerating nutrients for phytoplankton production in coastal waters (Kelly et al 1985).…”

Section: Acknowledgmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assimilation of trace elements and carbon by the mussel Mytilus edulis: Effects of food composition

Wang¹,

Fisher²

1996

Limnology & Oceanography

230

190

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Assimilation efficiency (AE) is an important physiological parameter in determining trace element influx from food sources into aquatic animals. We used radiotracer techniques to examine the influence of diet [seven species of algae (two diatoms, two chlorophytes, a prasinophyte, and two dinoflagellates) and glass beads] on the assimilation of seven trace elements (Ag, Am, Cd, Co, Cr, Se, Zn) and C in the mussel Mytilus edulis. Trace element assimilation was related to C assimilation and cytoplasmic distribution in the algae and to gut passage time in the mussels. Mussels displayed different C AEs for the different algal diets; the chlorophytes, which had highly refractory cell walls, were the least digestible food. Assimilation of Cd, Se, and Zn was directly correlated with C assimilation; for Am, Ag, and Cr, no relationship with C assimilation was apparent. For each species except the chlorophytes, AEs of all elements significantly correlated with their cytoplasmic distribution within each algal cell. Among all species, AEs of Am, Co, and Se also increased with elemental penetration into the cytoplasm; however, this relationship was not statistically significant for Ag, Cd, or Zn. With the exception of Cr, AEs of elements increased with gut passage time, implying more efficient digestion-absorption when the element was retained longer in the digestive tract. In waters containing large mussel populations, unassimilated particle-reactive elements should be removed from suspension and enriched in biodeposits in sediments, whereas assimilated metals should be enriched in mussel tissues.For bivalve molluscs, both dissolved and particulate sources can contribute to metal accumulation in tissues. Uptake of metals from the dissolved phase occurs primarily across the gills, after which metals are transported into various organs. Accumulation of metals from particulate sources occurs by ingesting and assimilating metals from particulate sources. Metal influx from particles is a direct function of the assimilation efficiency (AE) of metals, the metal concentration in the ingested particles, and the ingestion activity of the animal (Thomann 198 1;Luoma et al. 1992). Assimilation represents a first-order physiological process that can be compared among different metals, food types, and environmental conditions, and AE can be used to measure metal bioavailability from specific foods.l Corresponding author.

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Section: Acknowledgmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assimilation of trace elements and carbon by the mussel Mytilus edulis: Effects of food composition

Wang¹,

Fisher²

1996

Limnology & Oceanography

230

190

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“…Nichols (1985) suggested that the absence of the summer diatom bloom in 1977 was a direct result of the upstream migration of marine suspension-feeding bivalves (primarily Mya arenaria) during the drought, with the result that the balance between phytoplankton production and consumption was disrupted. Our study was motivated by this hypothesis and by the occurrence of a similar event that began in 1986 with the invasion and rapid population growth of another clam species-P. amurensis (see Nichols et al 1990 for a description of this invasion). Our objective was to repeat the preinvasion measurement program of 1980 (Cloern et al 1985) in order to compare spatial distributions of phytoplankton biomass and productivity when benthic grazers were scarce (1980) and abundant (1988).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2 and 3), when phytoplankton biomass remained low even under hydrologic conditions that promote biomass accumulation in the upper estuary. These anomalous years may exemplify the additional control of phytoplankton populations by trophic interactions, because the upper estuary was colonized by large populations of bivalve suspension feeders during 1977 (Nichols 1985) and 1987-1990(Nichols et al 1990Hymanson 199 1). Less severe declines in phytoplankton biomass occurred during summer-autumn 1985, when benthic grazers colonized the upper estuary but only very late in the year (Nichols et al 1990).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These subtidal shoals were regions of maximum phytoplankton biomass (50 mg Chl a mm3 during 1980) in the summerautumn season of years when benthic grazer populations were small. However during 1988 (Table 1) During 1987-1990 the estuary was colonized rapidly by P. amurensis (Nichols et al 1990). At annual mean densities > 2,000 individuals mm2 (Hymanson 199 I), this species alone has the potential to remove algal biomass faster than phytoplankton population growth in northern San Francisco Bay (based on laboratory feeding measurements of P. amurensis by Cole et al 1992).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, the in-106 +28 g C rnp2 (mean +-SD) compared vasion of San Francisco Bay by P. amuren-sis has led to a redirection of our research er heterotrophs, during years when phytoplankton primary production is very low? Has this invasion led to a permanent restructuring of the bay ecosystem or simply a temporary disturbance facilitated by the anomalous hydrologic condition of the 1987-l 990 drought (see Nichols et al 1990)?…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trophic interactions and direct physical effects control phytoplankton biomass and production in an estuary

1992

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The recent invasion of San Francisco Bay by the suspension-feeding clam Putamocorbula amurensis has provided an opportunity to document the ecological consequences of a major biological disturbance. Previous work over the last two decades has shown that phytoplankton biomass in the upper estuary is low (2-3 mg Chl a m-3) during seasonal periods of high river flow and short residence time, and it is usually high (peak > 30 mg Chl a m-3) during the summer-autumn seasons of low river flow and long residence time. However since P. amurensis became widespread and abundant in 1987, the summer phytoplankton biomass maximum has disappeared, presumably because of increased grazing pressure by this newly introduced species. For the period 1977-l 990, mean estimated primary production was only 39 g C mm2 yr-' during years when bivalve suspension feeders were abundant (>2,000 mm2), compared to 106 g C m-2 yr-' when bivalves were absent or present in low numbers. These observations support the hypothesis that seasonal and interannual fluctuations in estuarine phytoplankton biomass and primary production can be regulated jointly by direct physical effects (e.g. river-driven transport) and trophic interactions (episodes of enhanced grazing pressure by immigrant populations of benthic suspension feeders).

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Estuarine Phytoplankton

Paerl

Justić

2012

Estuarine Ecology

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Increased benthic grazing: An alternative explanation for low phytoplankton biomass in northern San Francisco Bay during the 1976–1977 drought

Cited by 127 publications

References 10 publications

Assimilation of trace elements and carbon by the mussel Mytilus edulis: Effects of food composition

Assimilation of trace elements and carbon by the mussel Mytilus edulis: Effects of food composition

Trophic interactions and direct physical effects control phytoplankton biomass and production in an estuary

Estuarine Phytoplankton

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