The Estuarine Ecosystem

McLusky, Donald S.; Elliott, Michael

doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198525080.001.0001

Cited by 443 publications

(104 citation statements)

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“…Biotypes with mobile substrata occur in intertidal and subtidal areas and comprise areas close to the riverbanks, inlets which form small bays and as marsh existing on the various islands found in the lower part of the estuary and on the north bank (Sousa, 2003). The few biological studies carried out in this estuary (performed in the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s) described the ecology of some species and characterized the main physical and chemical, biological and human processes which modify the structure and dynamic of the biological communities (Fontoura, 1984;Fontoura & Moura, 1984;Guimara˜es & Galhano 1987, 1989Valente & Alexandrino, 1988;Da Silva, 1990;Coelho, 1997).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Estuaries are normally recognized as transitional areas of distinct biological importance, where salinity varies between fresh water and seawater (McLusky, 1989;Little, 2000). These estuarine areas are used temporarily as a nursery ground for many commercially and ecologically important species of marine and migrating fishes, shellfish, crustaceans and shorebirds (Day et al, 1989;Raffaelli, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial Subtidal Macrobenthic Distribution in Relation to Abiotic Conditions in the Lima Estuary, NW of Portugal

Sousa

Dias²,

Antunes³

2006

Hydrobiologia

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During the summer of 2002, sampling was carried out in the Lima estuary in order to compare the pattern of the macrobenthic community's distribution in relation to physical and chemical variables. A total of 54 macrobenthic taxa were identified. Abundance, biomass and specific diversity varied among the twenty stations. Abundance ranged from 212 to 9856 ind./m 2 , with an average of 1581 ind./m 2 . Abra alba presented the highest density corresponding to 39.1% of the total specimens gathered, followed by Hediste diversicolor with 31.5%. Biomass ranged from 0.12 to 264.62 g AFDW/m 2 , with an average of 17.58 g AFDW/m 2 . Cerastoderma edule and A. alba were the species with a clear predominance in the total biomass, contributing 75.3 and 13.8%, respectively. The multivariate techniques used revealed a macrobenthic community with five distinct groups, particularly related to the sedimentological characteristics and salinity. These results demonstrated significant differences in macrobenthic assemblage's composition along an estuarine gradient. For the first time the presence of the nonindigenous invasive species Corbicula fluminea was described in this estuary.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Subtidal Macrobenthic Distribution in Relation to Abiotic Conditions in the Lima Estuary, NW of Portugal

Sousa

Dias²,

Antunes³

2006

Hydrobiologia

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“…Estuaries are particularly influenced by tidal cycles, which include periodic variations in depth, direction, current speed, salinity, temperature and availability of flooded areas (McLusky and Elliott 2004). Fish and crustaceans often modify their distributions and behaviours in response to variation in these environmental factors (Reis-Filho et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tidal and seasonal influences in dolphin habitat use in a southern Brazilian estuary

2017

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Summary:In this study we describe how franciscana and Guiana dolphin habitat use is influenced by tidal cycles and seasonality in Babitonga Bay. The franciscanas use a greater area in winter and a smaller area in summer, but the extent of the area used did not vary with the tide. Guiana dolphins did not change the extent of the area used within seasons or tides. Franciscanas remained closer to the mouth of the bay and the islands during ebb tide, moving to the inner bay areas and closer to the mainland coast during flood tide. Guiana dolphin used areas closer to the mainland coast during the flood tide. Guiana dolphin patterns of movement do not seem to be related to the tidal current. Franciscanas used sandier areas while Guiana dolphins preferred muddy areas, with some seasonal variation. We suggest that these dolphins modify their distributions based on habitat accessibility and prey availability. This study enhances our knowledge of critical habitat characteristics for franciscana and Guiana dolphins, and these factors should be considered when planning local human activities targeting species conservation.Keywords: tide cycles; survey method; franciscana dolphin; Guiana dolphin; critical habitat; Babitonga Bay; SW Atlantic Ocean. Influencia de las mareas y las estaciones en el uso de hábitat de delfines en un estuario del sur de BrasilResumen: En este estudio describimos como el uso del hábitat del delfín franciscana y delfín costero es influenciado por los ciclos de mareas y las estaciones en la bahía Babitonga. Las franciscanas utilizan áreas mayores en invierno y menores en verano, pero el tamaño del área utilizada no varió con las mareas. El área de uso del delfín costero no varió entre estaciones ni con las mareas. Las franciscanas permanecieron más próximas a la boca de la bahía e islas durante la marea baja, moviéndose hacia áreas más internas cercanas al margen del continente durante la marea alta. Del mismo modo, el delfín costero utilizó áreas cercanas al margen del continente durante la marea alta. Los patrones de movimiento del delfín costero no presentaron relación con las corrientes de marea. Las franciscanas utilizaron áreas con más arena mientras que los delfines costeros prefirieron áreas lodosas; esta preferencia varió estacionalmente para ambas especies. Sugerimos que estos delfines modifican su distribución en base a la accesibilidad del hábitat y la disponibilidad de presas. Este estudio aumenta nuestro conocimiento sobre las características del hábitat crítico para la franciscana y el delfín costero, y estos factores deben ser considerados en la planificación de las actividades humanas locales orientadas a la conservación de estas especies.Palabras clave: ciclos de mareas; método de barrido; delfín franciscana; delfín costero; hábitat crítico; bahía Babitonga; Océano Atlántico SO.

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“…Techniques that measure growth structures are unsuitable for use on intertidal oyster populations in the southeast because of the sensitivity of this species to extreme changes in the environment (russo, 1991). Changes in water temperature and salinity, storm events, and even spawning may cause deposition of multiple growth breaks throughout the year (Kent, 1992;Shumway, 1996;Andrus and Crowe, 2000;McLusky and Elliott, 2004). Previous studies of oyster seasonality in the southeast used shell length measurements of the impressed odostome, a predatory gastropod found among oyster reefs of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts (russo, 1991;Fradkin, 2008).…”

Section: Current State Of Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

“…oysters are adapted to a wide range of salinities. optimal salinity ranges exist though these vary geographically (Van Sickle et al, 1976;McLusky and Elliott, 2004). lowered salinity in the estuary can invoke a number of physical and physiological responses in different classes of organisms, but for bivalves, particularly sessile ones like oysters, the response is typically to seal themselves within their shell.…”

Section: Morphometric Analysis Of Oyster Shell Shapementioning

confidence: 99%