Effect of restored freshwater inflow on macrofauna and meiofauna in upper Rincon Bayou, Texas, USA

Montagna, Paul A.; Kalke, Richard D.; Ritter, Christine

doi:10.1007/bf02692237

Cited by 95 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The impact of changes in salinity on marine ecosystems and their associated biotas can take various forms. Variations in the abundance and structure of meiobenthic assemblages were previously observed along salinity gradients in estuaries (Adão et al, 2009;Nozais et al, 2005) and areas influenced by freshwater run-off (Montagna et al, 2002) or brine disposal (Riera et al, 2011). Meiofaunal assemblages have also been used to monitor the impacts of pollution in coastal marine environments (Fraschetti et al, 2006;Mazzola et al, 2000;Warwick et al, 1990).…”

Section: Tablementioning

confidence: 95%

Submarine groundwater discharge to the Baltic coastal zone: Impacts on the meiofaunal community

Kotwicki

Grzelak

Czub

et al. 2014

Journal of Marine Systems

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The discharge of groundwater into the sea affects surrounding environments by changing the salinity, temperature and nutrient regimes. This work reports the spatial effects of a submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) on the abundance and structure of the meiofaunal community in the shallow area of Puck Bay (Baltic Sea). Several field expeditions in the years 2009 and 2010 found that low-saline groundwater escapes into the bay from permeable, sandy, near-shore sediments. The SGD literature has grown rapidly during the current decade; however, the effects of this type of disturbance on the shallow sandy bottom fauna have thus far been little studied. We provide evidence that the discharge of groundwater has a clear effect on meiofaunal assemblages in the research area. This effect was reflected in a significant decline of certain meiofaunal taxa, mainly nematodes and harpacticoids, as well as in altered patterns of temporal distribution and small-scale (vertical) zonation of meiofaunal assemblages. Overlooking submarine groundwater discharge processes may lead to serious misinterpretations of ecological data. It is clear that groundwater discharge phenomena should be considered in future scientific studies.

show abstract

Section: Tablementioning

confidence: 95%

Submarine groundwater discharge to the Baltic coastal zone: Impacts on the meiofaunal community

Kotwicki

Grzelak

Czub

et al. 2014

Journal of Marine Systems

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Salinities in the 0-15 ppt range are necessary to induce spawning, and embryos and early larvae survive only in the range of 2-15 ppt. Although there were large populations of Rangia in the past, the recent change in salinity resulted in complete loss of the population, as none were found in a recent 6-year study [11]. In October 1995, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation [8] constructed a demonstration project to open an overflow channel dug to a depth of 1.0 ft-msl from the Nueces River to Rincon Bayou, which is the main stem channel of the Nueces Delta marsh.…”

Section: Rincon Bayou Demonstration Projectmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…However, there is fossil evidence that the Nueces Delta was historically a very low salinity area. During earlier studies [11], large middens of the clam Rangia cuneata were found.…”

Section: Rincon Bayou Demonstration Projectmentioning

confidence: 91%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Role of science-based and adaptive management in allocating environmental flows to the Nueces Estuary, Texas, USA

Montagna¹,

Hill

Moulton

2009

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Nueces River System has been subject to adaptive management since construction of the Choke Canyon Reservoir in 1982. A special condition required the City of Corpus Christi to provide not less than 185 million cubic meters (151,000 ac-ft) of water per year to the Nueces Estuary through a combination of spills, releases, and return flows to maintain ecological health and productivity of living marine resources. However, no releases were made and salinities in Nueces Bay increased to hypersaline conditions during the drought period of 1988-1990 and the estuary was inverted where fresher water entered the delta on high tides. In contrast, the bay historically supported populations of shrimp and oysters generally requiring salinities in the range of 10-20 ppt. Beginning in May 1990, the Texas Water Commission issued a series of Orders requiring the City to meet the special conditions contained in their water right permit and provide for freshwater inflows to the estuary. Since 1990, a series of restoration activities, monitoring and experimental studies, and Order amendments has resulted in a stakeholder driven process that increased environmental health while providing a sustainable water supply to the region. However, with climate change and continued development, more changes are likely to occur in the future. The lesson learned is that the goal of achieving consensus can occur with a blend and balance of science and a stakeholder decision process.

show abstract

“…Salinity may affect an organism directly through its physiology and indirectly by altering its food, predators and habitat availability (Finney, 1979;Jassby et al, 1995;Montagna et al, 2002). The metabolic rates of an organism are affected with escalation in its activity level (Berger and Kharazova, 1997;Segnini de Bravo et al, 1998).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of salinity on the survival of the Brackwater mussel, <i>Brachidontes virgiliae</i>, in the St Lucia estuarine system, South Africa

Nel¹,

Perissinotto²,

Taylor³

2014

WSA

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

During drought periods, the razor clam Solen cylindraceus is the dominant bivalve in the St Lucia estuarine system, although restricted to its South Lake region. However, with the recent onset of a wet phase, the mussel Brachidontes virgiliae has become widespread and overwhelmingly dominant throughout the system. The salinity tolerance of B. virgiliae is here determined using both rapid and gradual changes in salinity. Mussels were collected at Esengeni in the Narrows (salinity ≈ 0) and Lister's Point in False Bay (salinity ≈ 20). Mortalities were recorded for animals exposed to a sudden change in salinity using 8 different treatments, ranging from 0 to 70. Additionally, animals were exposed to a gradual change in salinity, using treatments that exceeded the minimum and maximum salinities mussels were previously able to tolerate. In all four experiments, animals were able to tolerate salinity levels up to 20. However, a wider salinity tolerance, up to 50, was shown by animals collected from Lister's Point and those gradually acclimated to test conditions. With an increase in flood events predicted for this region, it is imperative to understand how key species may be affected. During wet phases B. virgiliae becomes ubiquitious throughout Lake St Lucia and it is unlikely that the species will disappear from the system, even if floods escalate in the future, as it has an ability to withstand near-freshwater conditions. During dry periods, however, the mussel will be concentrated in the Narrows (oligohaline to limnetic conditions), especially if an inverse salinity gradient with hypersaline conditions prevails within the system.

show abstract

Effect of restored freshwater inflow on macrofauna and meiofauna in upper Rincon Bayou, Texas, USA

Cited by 95 publications

References 20 publications

Submarine groundwater discharge to the Baltic coastal zone: Impacts on the meiofaunal community

Submarine groundwater discharge to the Baltic coastal zone: Impacts on the meiofaunal community

Role of science-based and adaptive management in allocating environmental flows to the Nueces Estuary, Texas, USA

Effects of salinity on the survival of the Brackwater mussel, <i>Brachidontes virgiliae</i>, in the St Lucia estuarine system, South Africa

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About