| one publication added to basket [26840] | Macrofaunal succession and community structure in Salicornia marshes of southern California
Talley, T.S.; Levin, L.A. (1999). Macrofaunal succession and community structure in Salicornia marshes of southern California. Est., Coast. and Shelf Sci. 49(5): 713-731. https://dx.doi.org/10.1006/ecss.1999.0553
In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. Academic Press: London; New York. ISSN 0272-7714; e-ISSN 1096-0015, more
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| Keywords |
Ecological succession
Water bodies > Inland waters > Wetlands
Water bodies > Inland waters > Wetlands > Marshes > Salt marshes
Salicornia L. [WoRMS]
INE, USA, California [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal; Brackish water |
| Abstract |
Lack of basic understanding of ecosystem structure and function forms a major impediment to successful conservation of coastal ecosystems. This paper provides a description of the fauna and examines faunal succession inSalicornia -vegetated sediments of southern California. Environmental attributes (vegetation and sediment properties) and macrofaunal (animals ≥0·3 mm) community structure were examined in sediments of five natural, southern CaliforniaSalicornia spp. marshes (Tijuana Estuary, San Diego Bay, Mission Bay, Upper Newport Bay and Anaheim Bay) and in createdSalicornia marshes 16 months to 10 years in age, located within four of the bays. Oligochaetes and insects were the dominant taxa in both natural (71 to 98% of total fauna) and created (91 to 97%) marshes. In San Diego, Newport and Anaheim Bays, macrofaunal densities were generally higher in the created marshes (88 000 to 290 000 ind m−2) than in their natural counterparts (26 000 to 50 000 ind m−2). In the youngest system, Mission Bay, the reverse was true (natural: 113 000 vs created: 28 000 ind m−2). Similar species numbers were recorded from the created and adjacent natural marshes. Insects, especially chironomids, dolichopodids, and heleids, as well as the naidid oligochaete, Paranais litoralis, characterize early successional stages. Enchytraeid and tubificid oligochaetes reflect later succession evident in natural and older created marshes. Sediment organic matter (both combustible and below-ground plant biomass) was the environmental variable most commonly associated with densities of various macrofaunal taxa. These relationships were generally negative in the natural marshes and positive in the created marshes. Within-bay comparisons of macrofauna from natural Salicornia- vs Spartina -vegetated habitat in San Diego and Mission Bays revealed lower macrofaunal density (San Diego Bay only), proportionally fewer oligochaetes and more insects, and no differences in species richness in the Salicornia habitat. The oldest created Salicornia marsh (San Diego Bay) exhibited an assemblage intermediate in composition between those of the natural Salicornia- and Spartina- vegetated marshes. These results suggest: (a) faunal recovery following Salicornia marsh creation can require 10 or more years, (b) high macrofaunal variability among bays requires marsh creation reference site selection from within the same bay, and (c)Spartina -based research should not be used for Salicornia marsh management decisions. |
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