Spatial distribution of zooplankton in the intertidal marsh creeks of the Yangtze River Estuary, China

Zhou, Shurong; Jin, Binsong; Guo, Li; Qin, Haiming; Chu, Tianjiang; Wu, Jihua

doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2009.09.002

Cited by 17 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Despite this critical role, however, zooplankton communities in tidal marsh ecosystems have rarely been the focus of study (e.g. Houser & Allen 1996, Mazumder et al 2009, Zhou et al 2009). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zooplankton of tidal marsh channels in relation to environmental variables in the upper San Francisco Estuary

Bollens

Breckenridge²,

Cordell³

et al. 2014

Aquat. Biol.

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Zooplankton are important trophic intermediaries between aquatic primary producers and higher level consumers such as fish, but to date they have been little studied in intertidal marshes. This is particularly true in the San Francisco Estuary (SFE), which is heavily impacted by human activities and is being targeted for restoration of its native wetland communities. As part of a multi-year field study investigating wetland dynamics in the upper SFE, we conducted approximately quarterly sampling of the mesozooplankton (> 73 µm) at 3 channels in each of 6 marshes. Here, we describe seasonal and regional variation in the composition and abundance of zooplankton, and relate these to variations in environmental conditions. Cluster analysis identified 6 different marsh zooplankton communities. The 66 taxa identified included both native and non-indigenous species (NIS), with NIS being particularly dominant in the summer and autumn. Ordination analyses indicated that salinity, temperature, and other freshwater-related variables such as freshwater flow and distance to the coastal ocean were the strongest environmental drivers of marsh zooplankton community composition and individual abundance. Zooplankton communities in intertidal marshes were similar to those of open water habitats of the SFE in many regards, although differences in some taxa were observed, e.g. higher abundances of the copepod Eury temora affinis and lower abundances of tintinnid ciliates in the marshes. Apparent differences in zooplankton between intertidal marsh and open water habitats, and between different regions of the estuary, could have important implications for young fish and other consumers.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zooplankton of tidal marsh channels in relation to environmental variables in the upper San Francisco Estuary

Bollens

Breckenridge²,

Cordell³

et al. 2014

Aquat. Biol.

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“…While descriptions of zooplankton use of intertidal marsh channels and their ecological roles are rare (S.M. Bollens, WSU, unpublished data, 2013), evidence from the Yangtze River estuary suggests that spatial variation among zooplankton communities corresponds to changes in salinity, while temporal variation results from shifts in water temperature, chlorophyll α concentration, and pH (Zhou et al 2009). Similarly, use of interior marsh channels by neustonic invertebrates is rarely described, but more general studies on salt-marsh arthropod communities indicate that salinity, vegetation assemblage, vegetation coverage, and inundation regime strongly influence the abundance and assemblage structure of these organisms (Stocks and Grassle 2003;Petillon et al 2008;Wu et al 2009;Reynolds and Boyer 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macroinvertebrate Prey Availability and Fish Diet Selectivity in Relation to Environmental Variables in Natural and Restoring North San Francisco Bay Tidal Marsh Channels

Howe¹,

Simenstad²,

Toft³

et al. 2014

SFEWS

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Tidal marsh wetlands provide important foraging habitat for a variety of estuarine fishes. Prey organisms include benthic/epibenthic macroinvertebrates, neustonic arthropods, and zooplankton. Little is known about the abundance and distribution of interior marsh macroinvertebrate communities in the San Francisco Estuary (estuary). We describe seasonal, regional, and site variation in the composition and abundance of neuston and benthic/epibenthic macroinvertebrates that inhabit tidal marsh channels, and relate these patterns to environmental conditions. We also describe spatial and temporal variation in diets of marsh-associated inland silverside, yellowfin goby, and western mosquitofish. Fish and invertebrates were sampled quarterly from October 2003 to June 2005 at six marsh sites located in three river systems of the northern estuary: Petaluma River, Napa River, and the west Delta. Benthic/epibenthic macroinvertebrates and neuston responded to environmental variables related to seasonal changes (i.e., temperature, salinity), as well as those related to marsh structure (i.e., vegetation, channel edge). The greatest variation in abundance occurred seasonally for neuston and spatially for benthic/epibenthic organisms, suggesting that each community responds to different environmental drivers. Benthic/epibenthic invertebrate abundance and diversity was lowest in the west Delta, and increased with increasing salinity. Insect abundance increased during the spring and summer, while Collembolan (springtail) abundance increased during the winter. Benthic/epibenthic macroinvertebrates dominated fish diets, supplemented by insects, with zooplankton playing a minor role. Diet compositions of the three fish species overlapped considerably, with strong selection indicated for epibenthic crustaceans-a surprising result given the typical classification of Menidia beryllina as a planktivore, Acanthogobius flavimanus as a benthic predator, and Gambusia affinis as a larvivorous surface-feeder. Fish diets were influenced by position along the estuarine gradient and season. Overall, our data show that local-scale site effects and marsh position within the estuary influence invertebrate community composition and abundance. Additionally, we show that restoring marsh ecosystems can subsidize fishes similarly to reference marshes. We thus recommend that managers focus on the ability of restoring marshes to produce food subsidies for target species when planning and designing tidal marsh restoration projects, especially those targeted for food web support.

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“…The freshwater discharge and sediment load of the Yangtze River accounts for over 90% of the total riverine input to the East China Sea (Zhou et al., ), providing plentiful nutrients to the estuary to maintain high primary and secondary productivity and serve many species as spawning and nursing grounds, mainly during spring and summer months (Wan et al., ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of inshore and offshore fish larval assemblages within the wider Yangtze River estuary (China)

Jiang

Shen

et al. 2015

J. Appl. Ichthyol.

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Summary It is hypothesized that fish larvae undertake vertical movements in estuarine waters. To test this hypothesis, a sampling period was selected during times when many spring‐spawning fish reach maximum abundance in coastal waters so that spring and summer variations in larval fish assemblages could be determined in the Yangtze River estuary. Six oceanographic surveys were conducted across the salinity gradient of an inshore (freshwater) and offshore area (brackish intersection) during spring (May) and summer (August) between 2010 and 2012. The fish larval community was dominated by species of Engraulidae, Gobiidae, Champsodontidae and Mugilidae. The pre‐flexion and flexion larval stages of euryhaline marine species, which are dependent on estuaries as nursery areas, were common. The brackish and marine larval assemblage was the most abundant with taxa such as Coilia mystus and Engraulis japonicus accounting for more than 57.3% of the total catch. Spatial differences in the taxonomic composition of larval fish assemblages were evident between the inshore and offshore areas. Additionally, the Yangtze River runoff regulatory functions as affected by the Three Gorges Reservoir operational mode (hydrological alternating operations) showed weak influences on fish and habitat environments. Low salinities from high freshwater inflow limited bay anchovy production in the inshore area.

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Spatial distribution of zooplankton in the intertidal marsh creeks of the Yangtze River Estuary, China

Cited by 17 publications

References 26 publications

Zooplankton of tidal marsh channels in relation to environmental variables in the upper San Francisco Estuary

Zooplankton of tidal marsh channels in relation to environmental variables in the upper San Francisco Estuary

Macroinvertebrate Prey Availability and Fish Diet Selectivity in Relation to Environmental Variables in Natural and Restoring North San Francisco Bay Tidal Marsh Channels

Comparison of inshore and offshore fish larval assemblages within the wider Yangtze River estuary (China)

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