Recurrent and Persistent Brown Tide Blooms Perturb Coastal Marine Ecosystem

Cosper, Elizabeth M.; Dennison, William C.; Carpenter, Edward; Bricelj, V. Monica; Mitchell, James G.; Kuenstner, Susan H.; Colflesh, David E.; Dewey, Maynard M.

doi:10.2307/1351885

Cited by 189 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Surveys from this study found seagrass present at only 14% of the sites in Shinnecock and Quantuck Bays. One factor contributing to eelgrass decline within this system has been light limitation (Cosper et al 1987). A strong natural light gradient existed across the estuary, with highest light at the inlet (K d = 0.88) and light levels decreasing with distance from the ocean inlet (Quantuck Bay K d = 2.05).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since that time, levels of suspended algal biomass have remained high (Suffolk County Department of Health Services, SCDHS 1976-2005, likely due in part to the low current abundances of hard clams and other filter feeders (Cerrato et al 2004). As such, the majority of eelgrass beds in LISSE currently subsist under subsaturating light (Cosper et al 1987).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Resource-restricted growth of eelgrass in New York estuaries: light limitation, and alleviation of nutrient stress by hard clams

Carroll

Gobler²,

Peterson³

2008

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Globally, anthropogenic activities have degraded many estuarine habitat types, including seagrass meadows. The objective of this study was to identify the degree to which light and nutrients limit the productivity of eelgrass Zostera marina in Long Island estuaries (NY, USA) while concurrently assessing the ability of hard clams Mercenaria mercenaria to influence Z. marina growth and production. Field surveys were conducted to quantify the extent of eelgrass beds, along with environmental factors potentially constraining eelgrass growth. Experimental studies were conducted to determine the extent to which eelgrass is light-or nutrient-limited within the system, and to determine the capacity of hard clams to enhance eelgrass growth in situ. Eelgrass was found in only 14% of the sites sampled, but hard clams were found in 67% of sites with eelgrass. There was a strong longitudinal light gradient in Shinnecock Bay, with an extinction coefficient of 0.88 at the ocean inlet and 2.05 in the most remote regions. Pelagic light levels were inversely correlated with water column chlorophyll levels (p = 0.0027) and eelgrass productivity was strongly correlated with light levels (p < 0.0004), with both being maximal near the ocean inlet. In estuarine regions with high light levels but significantly lower sediment nitrogen (N) content (near ocean inlet), hard clam or sediment nutrient additions yielded significantly higher eelgrass productivity and leaf N content (p < 0.001) compared to control plots. Combined with prior research, this study demonstrates that restoration of bivalves may benefit the expansion of eelgrass beds in shallow estuaries by relieving light and/or nutrient limitation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resource-restricted growth of eelgrass in New York estuaries: light limitation, and alleviation of nutrient stress by hard clams

Carroll

Gobler²,

Peterson³

2008

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…This may be partly attributed to the former's higher flushing rate and less eutrophic condition (Mahoney, Olsen, and Jeffress, 2006). Nannochloris and Stichococcus genera have a wide salinity tolerance (Ryther, 1954), whereas A. anophagefferens grows best at relatively high salinities, ranging from 24 to 33 (LaRoche et al, 1997) and shows optimal growth at~30 (Cosper et al, 1987).…”

Section: Brown Tidementioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Coverage by Benthic Seaweed Mats on (Northern Quahog = Hard Clam) Mercenaria Mercenaria in a Eutrophic Estuary

Tyler¹

2007

Journal of Shellfish Research

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“…This stage is followed by permanent relocation to the bottom, where scallops live unattached, generally, but not exclusively, within eelgrass beds (Thayer & Stuart 1974). Spawning of the northern subspecies Argopecten irradians irradians in Long Island (USA) waters occurs primarily in early June (Bricelj et al 1987) and the peak of larval settlement takes place in early July (Eckman 1987). The period of settlement and attachment thus coincides with the annual peak in eelgrass biomass at this latitude (Adamson 1982).…”

Section: Contribution No 802 From the Marine Sciences Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…comm.). Recent recruitment failure of bay scallop populations due to unusual phytoplankton blooms (Cosper et al 1987, Summerson & Peterson 1990) have stimulated such stock enhancement efforts. Optimization of reseeding attempts, however, requires improved understanding of this species' habitat requirements for post-settlement survivorship.…”

Section: Contribution No 802 From the Marine Sciences Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

The eelgrass canopy an above-bottom refuge from benthic predators for juvenile bay scallops Argopecten irradians

Pohle¹,

Bricelj²,

García-Esquivel³

1991

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

111

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Juvenile bay scallops Argopecten irradians commonly attach to shoots of eelgrass Zostera marina using byssal threads. Although this behavior has long been recognized, its adaptive value is poorly understood. This study examined (1) the size-specif~c nature of scallop attachment on eelgrass, and (2) the possible role of vertical attachment in providing refuge from benthic predators. Laboratory experiments using artificial eelgrass showed strong, inverse relationships between scallop size (over the range 6 to 20 mm) and several measures of attachment performance (percent attachment, rate of attachment, and height-above-bottom attained). Field experiments in which 10 to 15 mm scallops were tethered to natural eelgrass in Lake Montauk, Long Island, New York (USA), demonstrated a dramatic, highly significant enhancement of scallop survival at greater heights of attachment. Scallops tethered at 20 to 35 cm above bottom experienced > 59 O/ O survival over 4 d, compared to < l 1 O/O sunrival near the sediment surface. A similar pattern was observed in laboratory tethering experiments using transplanted natural eelgrass and 3 crab predators common in mid-Atlantic embayments: Carcinus maenas, Libinia dubia, and Dyspanopeus sayi. The refuge value of vertical attachment was found, however, to b e less with D. sayi than with the other predators tested, since individuals of t h s species climbed eelgrass to feed on scallops in the upper canopy. These data demonstrate that vertical attachment on eelgrass functions as an effective predator-avoidance mechanism for juvenile bay scallops by placing them out of reach of many benthic predators. It has also been previously shown that scallop predatory risk decreases with scallop size, with a partial size refuge attained at about 40 mm. It is therefore suggested that scallops undergo a n ontogenetic shift from a spatial to a size refuge from predation a s they move from the eelgrass canopy to the sediment surface over the course of their post-settlement life history. We hypothesize that this shift may result in a critical window of high predatory risk between ca 15 and 40 mm, when scallops are expected to be most susceptible to benthic predators.

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Recurrent and Persistent Brown Tide Blooms Perturb Coastal Marine Ecosystem

Cited by 189 publications

References 16 publications

Resource-restricted growth of eelgrass in New York estuaries: light limitation, and alleviation of nutrient stress by hard clams

Resource-restricted growth of eelgrass in New York estuaries: light limitation, and alleviation of nutrient stress by hard clams

Effects of Coverage by Benthic Seaweed Mats on (Northern Quahog = Hard Clam) Mercenaria Mercenaria in a Eutrophic Estuary

The eelgrass canopy an above-bottom refuge from benthic predators for juvenile bay scallops Argopecten irradians

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