Effects of restoration management on the estuarine isopod Cyathura carinata: mediation by trematodes and habitat change

Ferreira, S.M.; Brandão, Anabela; Baeta, Alexandra; Neto, João M.; Lillebø, Ana I.; Jensen, Kaj Frank; Pardal, Miguel Ângelo

doi:10.1007/s00227-006-0455-5

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The increase in these species has contributed to the general increase in the mean estuarine biomass during the post-mitigation period. Cyathura carinata maintained its dominance in the eutrophic area, where it is tolerant to macroalgal blooms and floods (Ferreira et al, 2007). Also, there is the possibility of higher parasite pressure in the Z. noltii area, inhibiting C. carinata reproduction and making the population more erratic, which might also explain the lower production in the area and the higher P =B ratios registered, especially in the pre-mitigation period (Ferreira et al, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic and natural disturbance effects on a macrobenthic estuarine community over a 10-year period

Dolbeth

Cardoso

Ferreira

et al. 2007

Marine Pollution Bulletin

122

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

For some decades, the Mondego estuary has been under severe ecological stress, mainly caused by eutrophication. The most visible effect was the occurrence of macroalgal blooms and the concomitant decrease of the area occupied by Zostera noltii beds. Since the end of 1998, mitigation measures were implemented in the estuary to promote the recovery of the seagrass beds and the entire surrounding environment. The present study offers a unique opportunity to evaluate the impact of disturbance and the success of the initial recovery process (before and after implementation of the management measures), over a 10-year period, having secondary production as the descriptor. Before the implementation of the mitigation measures, in parallel with the decrease of the Z. noltii beds, species richness, mean biomass and production also decreased, lowering the carrying capacity of the whole Mondego's south arm. Yet, after the introduction of management measures, the seagrass bed seemed to recover. Consequently, the biomass and production also increased substantially, for the whole intertidal area. Nevertheless, even after the mitigation measures implementation, natural-induced stressors, such as strong flood events induced a drastic reduction of annual production, not seen before the implementation of those measures. This shows that the resilience of the populations may have been lowered by a prior disturbance history (eutrophication) and consequent interactions of multiple stressors.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic and natural disturbance effects on a macrobenthic estuarine community over a 10-year period

Dolbeth

Cardoso

Ferreira

et al. 2007

Marine Pollution Bulletin

122

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This led to a decline of overall environmental quality and, consequently, to reduction of the beds of the seagrass Zostera noltii. In 1998, implementation of a restoration programme improved environmental quality, by ameliorating water transparency, reducing water residence time, and reducing nutrient loading (for more details see Lillebø et al, 2005;Dolbeth et al, 2007;Ferreira et al, 2007;Cardoso et al, 2010). This also resulted in recovery of the seagrass beds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…This anthurid isopod reaches high abundances in this system and contributes greatly to the overall production of the estuary (Dolbeth et al, 2007;Ferreira et al, 2007). It is a euryokous, tubedwelling predator, regarded as a key macrobenthic species in estuarine trophic webs (Bamber, 1985;Olafsson & Persson, 1986;Ferreira et al, 2004Ferreira et al, , 2007. Being a typical estuarine species, it tolerates fluctuating environmental conditions, and is thus capable of succeeding in this naturally variable ecosystem (Jazdzewski, 1969;Burbanck & Burbanck, 1979;Bamber, 1985).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Resilience of an isopod population (Cyathura carinata) to multiple stress factors in a temperate estuarine system

et al. 2011

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Mondego Estuary (Portugal) underwent major modifications in the late 1980s, because of eutrophication, for which it was developed a restoration programme that has been effective in recovering seagrass beds. Recently, this system has been affected by successive weather extremes: floods, droughts, and heat waves. The effect of these multiple stressors on a Cyathura carinata (Isopoda) population has been evaluated, through a long-term data series (16 years) in a seagrass bed, an intermediate area, and a sand flat. A well age-structured and abundant population of C. carinata was observed in the sand flat, in contrast with the seagrass bed and intermediate area. After introducing the restoration measures, C. carinata's abundance increased even in the stations where it was formerly scarce. This recovery was compromised by successive extreme events. C. carinata declined severely in terms of total abundance and growth production during the 2003 summer heat wave, at the sand flat, also endangering its reproductive success. Floods and droughts affected dispersion of the individuals, which was reflected in the population's density and production. Nevertheless, this isopod had great resilience, recovering successfully after disturbances. In contrast, the population of C. carinata had less resilience in the seagrass bed and intermediate area, being unable to recover after a succession of disturbances, which may threaten the success of this species in the system. Because the frequency and intensity of weather extremes are expected to continue to increase in a scenario of global climate change, their repercussions will affect such populations, which will have difficulty surviving. This will have severe implications on the functioning of the whole ecosystem.

show abstract

“…In Florida Bay, nutrients have driven the seagrass system from a clear to turbid state with frequent sediment resuspension and algal blooms as the positive feedback mechanisms by which this turbid state exists (Fourqurean & Robblee 1999). Opportunistic epiphytic overgrowth reduces light penetration to seagrass blades and limits successful seagrass recolonization (Ferreira et al 2007), thus increasing the resilience of this alternative turbid state as seagrasses are competitively excluded (Tomasko & Lapointe 1991). …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Herbivore and Nutrient Impact on Primary Producer Assemblages in a Tropical Marine Environment

Lacey¹

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Globally, human populations are increasing and coastal ecosystems are becoming increasingly impacted by anthropogenic stressors. As eutrophication and exploitation of coastal resources increases, primary producer response to these drivers becomes a key indicator of ecosystem stability. Despite the importance of monitoring primary producers such as seagrasses and macroalgae, detailed studies on the response of these benthic habitat components to drivers remain relatively sparse.Utilizing a multi-faceted examination of turtle-seagrass and sea urchinmacroalgae consumer and nutrient dynamics, I elucidate the impact of these drivers in Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico. In Yal Ku Lagoon, macroalgae bioindicators signified high nutrient availability, which is important for further studies, but did not consistently follow published trends reflecting decreased δ 15 N content with distance from suspected source. In Akumal Bay, eutrophication and grazing by turtles and fishes combine to structure patches within the seagrass beds. Grazed seagrass patches had higher structural complexity and productivity than patches continually grazed by turtles and fishes.v Results from this study indicate that patch abandonment may follow giving-up density theory, the first to be recorded in the marine environment. As Diadema antillarum populations recover after their massive mortality thirty years ago, the role these echinoids will have in reducing macroalgae cover and altering ecosystem state remains to be clear.Although Diadema antillarum densities within the coral reef ecosystem were comparable to other regions within the Caribbean, the echinoid population in Akumal Bay was an insufficient driver to prevent dominance of a turf-algal-sediment (TAS) state. After a four year study, declining coral cover coupled with increased algal cover suggests that the TAS-dominated state is likely to persist over time despite echinoid recovery. Studies on macroalgal diversity and nutrients within this same region of echinoids indicated diversity and nutrient content of macroalgae increased, which may further increase the persistence of the algal-dominated state.This study provides valuable insight into the variable effects of herbivores and nutrients on primary producers within a tropical coastal ecosystem. Results from this work challenge many of the currently accepted theories on primary producer response to nutrients and herbivory while providing a framework for further studies into these dynamics.vi Significant differences between winter and summer ungrazed samples were assessed with a student's t-test. Significant differences between summer ungrazed and turtle grazed were assessed with student's t-test (t-test) or Mann-Whitney t-test (M-W), depending on normality of data from the small sample size. Samples sizes are summer, winter: ungrazed (4, 11), fish grazed (0, 0) and turtle grazed (0, 4An additional driver is through herbivore grazing disturbance. In the absence of herbivory, areas experiencing high nutrient loads would be expected to shif...

show abstract

Effects of restoration management on the estuarine isopod Cyathura carinata: mediation by trematodes and habitat change

Cited by 8 publications

References 24 publications

Anthropogenic and natural disturbance effects on a macrobenthic estuarine community over a 10-year period

Anthropogenic and natural disturbance effects on a macrobenthic estuarine community over a 10-year period

Resilience of an isopod population (Cyathura carinata) to multiple stress factors in a temperate estuarine system

Herbivore and Nutrient Impact on Primary Producer Assemblages in a Tropical Marine Environment

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About