Spatial and seasonal variations in the ecological characteristics of the free-living nematode assemblages in a large microtidal estuary

Hourston, M.; Potter, I. C.; Warwick, R.M.; Valesini, F.J.; Clarke, K.R.

doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2009.01.018

Cited by 48 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…In addition, two replicate cylindrical sediment cores (3.57 cm in diameter and 10 cm in depth) were collected at each site on each sampling occasion to determine the compositions of the sediment grain sizes and the amount of particulate organic matter (%POM) in the sediment in each core (see Hourston et al [2009] for a full description of the methodology). The percentage contributions to the sediment of the various Wentworth grain size fractions (Wentworth, 1922) are as follows; < 2,000 μm (gravel); 1,999-1,000 μm (very coarse sand); 999-500 μm (coarse sand); 499-250 μm (medium sand); 249-125 μm (fine sand); 124-63 μm (very fine sand) and < 63 μm (silt).…”

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confidence: 99%

The use of benthic macroinvertebrates to establish a benchmark for evaluating the environmental quality of microtidal, temperate southern hemisphere estuaries

Tweedley

Warwick

Valesini

et al. 2012

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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confidence: 99%

The use of benthic macroinvertebrates to establish a benchmark for evaluating the environmental quality of microtidal, temperate southern hemisphere estuaries

Tweedley

Warwick

Valesini

et al. 2012

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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“…The specimens used to describe the 10 species below were collected during the studies detailed by Hourston et al (2005Hourston et al ( , 2009. From those publications it is apparent that more than half of the species encountered could not be assigned to previously described species and in some cases, genera.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Taxonomic research is ongoing for the remaining unidentifi ed species encountered during recent ecological studies in Western Australia (Hourston et al 2005(Hourston et al , 2009). The present paper represents the fi rst of several taxonomic works required to complete this body of work.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New species of free-living aquatic nematodes from south-western Australia (Nematoda: Axonolaimidae and Desmodoridae)

Hourston¹,

Warwick²

2010

Rec West Aust Mus

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-Descriptions of 10 new species of free-living aquatic nematodes are presented. Four of the new species belong to the Axonolaimidae, i.e. Ascolaimus australis, Parascolaimus brevisetus, Odontophora serrata and Parodontophora aurata. The remaining six species belong to the Desmodoridae, i.e. Bolbonema spiralis, Onyx cephalispiculus, O. potteri, Eubostrichus otti, Catanema australis and Leptonemella peronensis. All 10 species were found in sediments taken from near-shore waters of either the Swan River Estuary or marine waters of the Perth region (Western Australia). Ascolaimus australis differs from its only congener A. elongatus in that its spicules are non-barbed and have rounded proximal cephalations. Parascolaimus brevisetus is different from its four other congeners by its short cephalic setae, which are less than one quarter the length of any other Parascolaimus, and the spicule cephalations are rounded rather than simple or spade-shaped. Parodontophora aurata is distinguished from six morphologically similar species by the unique arrangement ((4D-2V)2) and greater length (6 µm) of the opisthocephalic setation. Odontophora serrata is distinct from other Odontophora species in that each odontiuim bears seven dentate projections, which is more projections than similar species, O. bermudensis (5), O. villoti (3) and O. paravilloti (3). Bolbonema spiralis has spiral amphids with two turns, in contrast to those of B. longisetosum, which are only a single loop. Onyx cephalispiculus is most similar to O. sagittarius but has more robust spicules with large, bilobed cephalations. Onyx potteri is the only Onyx species to exhibit spicules with a distinct constriction and one of only two species with ten tubular precloacal supplements. The other, O. dimorphus, has sexually dimorphic amphids whereas O. potteri does not. Eubostrichus otti is most similar to E. topiarus but is only half the size. Cephalic setation is also divergent, with E. otti having two cephalic crowns, eight setae in the anterior, four in the posterior, whereas this arrangement is reversed for E. topiarus. Catanema australis is most similar to C. exilis but is distinguished from that species by the lack of prominent, tubular, postcloacal supplements and having only four pairs of normal setae on the tail. Leptonemella peronensis is most similar to L. granulosa but differs in its non-granular cephalic capsule, shorter tail and different circumcloacal setation (two precloacal, four postcloacal and one terminal double pair v. L. granulosa's seven postcloacal pairs).

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“…The density, diversity and species composition of freeliving nematodes in estuaries have been shown to be related to the salinity regime and the characteristics of the sediment (e.g. Warwick, 1971;Austen and Warwick, 1989;Hodda, 1990;Soetaert et al, 1995;Ferrero et al, 2008;Hourston et al, 2009) and/or anthropogenic influences, such as those produced by pollutants (e.g. Austen et al, 1994;Kennedy andJacoby, 1997 Schratzberger et al, 2002) The number of species and diversity of the faunas in estuaries in the Northern Hemisphere are frequently reported to be less than in comparable habitats in nearshore coastal waters (Day et al, 1989;Boucher and Lambshead, 1995;McLusky and Elliott, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…downstream basin of the Swan River Estuary differ from those further upstream, where salinity declines to far lower levels and varies more markedly during the year (Hourston et al, 2009). …”

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The characteristics of the nematode faunas in subtidal sediments of a large microtidal estuary and nearshore coastal waters differ markedly

Hourston

Potter

Warwick

et al. 2011

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

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This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Keywords: free-living nematodes, estuary, coastal waters, species composition, trophic structure, environmental factors, Australia, Swan River Estuary. M A N U S C R I P T A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT2 AbstractThe present study examines traditional paradigms regarding the similarity between faunas in estuaries vs coastal waters. The ecological characteristics of the free-living nematode faunas of nearshore, subtidal sediments in downstream and upstream areas of the large, microtidal SwanRiver Estuary are compared with those similarly recorded seasonally in subtidal sediments along an adjacent part of the coast of temperate south-western Australia. Overall, the nematode species richness recorded in the upstream (38) and downstream estuarine areas (58) and from throughout the estuary (61) were substantially less than in marine waters (75). In addition, the value forSimpson's diversity index was marginally less in the estuary and the dominance of the most abundant species greater. In contrast, the mean nematode species richness and diversity in individual cores followed the reverse trend, reflecting a combination of less variability among the species compositions and far greater densities in the cores from estuarine sediments.Furthermore, the mean density (numbers 10 cm -2 ) was far higher in both upstream (341) and downstream (903) areas of the estuary than in marine waters (87). Although the compositions of the assemblages in upstream and downstream estuarine areas differed markedly from each other at the species, genus and family levels, these differences were less pronounced than those between either of these areas and marine waters. The trophic composition at the moderately sheltered and fully exposed marine sites differed from that in both areas of the estuary, whereas that at the most sheltered marine site was similar to that in the downstream estuarine area, with both containing substantial proportions of epistrate-grazing species. The variations among the species richness, diversity, densities and taxonomic and trophic compositions of nematode assemblages in the sediments of the two estuarine areas and nearby marine waters appear to reflect differences in i) salinity regimes, ii) extents of exposure to wave action and its related effects and iii) amounts and types of food available to nematodes.

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Spatial and seasonal variations in the ecological characteristics of the free-living nematode assemblages in a large microtidal estuary

Abstract: (2009) Spatial and seasonal variations in the ecological characteristics of the free-living nematode assemblages in a large microtidal estuary. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 82 (2). pp. 309-322.

Cited by 48 publications

References 38 publications

The use of benthic macroinvertebrates to establish a benchmark for evaluating the environmental quality of microtidal, temperate southern hemisphere estuaries

The use of benthic macroinvertebrates to establish a benchmark for evaluating the environmental quality of microtidal, temperate southern hemisphere estuaries

New species of free-living aquatic nematodes from south-western Australia (Nematoda: Axonolaimidae and Desmodoridae)

The characteristics of the nematode faunas in subtidal sediments of a large microtidal estuary and nearshore coastal waters differ markedly

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