Rhopalophthalmus tartessicus sp. nov. (Crustacea: Mysidacea), a new mysid species from the Guadalquivir estuary (SW Spain)

The first representative of the genus Rhopalophthalmus in European waters, Rhopalophthalmus tartessicus sp. nov., is described from specimens sampled in the Guadalquivir estuary (southwestern Spain). At first identified as the Algerian species Rhopalophthalmus mediterraneus Nouvel, 1960, the new mysid species can be distinguished from its closest relative by its higher number of articles on the carpopropodus of the third to seventh thoracic endopods, by the well hook-shaped eighth thoracic endopod of the male, by the slender eighth thoracic endopod of the female, and by the smaller antennal scale and telson. Its geographical distribution appears restricted to estuarine habitats in southwestern Spain. Its swimming behaviour, with the ventral side facing upwards, is unusual in mysids. An updated identification key for the 19 known species in the genus, including information on the respective geographical distribution and habitat, is presented.     

The Decapod Custacean Community of the Guadalquivir Estuary (SW Spain): Seasonal and Inter-Year Changes in Community Structure

Monthly samples were taken from May 1997 to March 2002 at three sampling sites within the last 32 km of the Guadalquivir Estuary. Twenty-four decapod crustacean species were recorded of which Crangon crangon (Linnaeus), Melicertus kerathurus (Forskal), and Palaemon spp. represented 99% of all collected individuals. These three dominant species showed a similar seasonal density pattern even though peaks in M. kerathurus were lower. Their densities were positively correlated (p < 0.01) with water temperature and salinity, but negatively with turbidity. The highest correlation corresponded to temperature in Palaemon spp. and to salinity in C. crangon and M. kerathurus. Therefore, the total estuarine decapod density also showed a regular seasonal pattern having the lowest figures in late autumn and winter and the highest in spring and summer. In addition, it was positively correlated with water temperature and salinity, but negatively with turbidity. Density decreased upstream, mainly due to the higher density of C. crangon and M. kerathurus in more saline waters. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling ordination of samples also indicated a regular seasonal change in the community, even though inter-year differences between dry and rainy winters were especially great. The first ordination axis was significantly correlated with environmental variables, while the second axis seemed to split samples up following seasonal community changes in species’ composition and dominance.     

Ecology of some Species of Thiobacillus and Sulfate-reducing Bacteria in the Middle Course of the River Guadalquivir (Spain)

During 1985, a study was made of the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the River Guadalquivir. At the same time, the density of certain microorganisms involved in the transformation of sulfur compounds in the water was studied. The results obtained give the following numerical order of density: T. thioparus >sulfate reducers > T. denitrificans > T. thiooxidans. Urban waste was found to increase density levels of these microorganisms. Their relationship with certain environmental parameters is discussed in this study. Regression equations have been obtained of bacteria numbers for three of the four groups studied, using water temperature and permanganate oxidability as dependent variables.     

Salinity and germination of annual Melilotus from the Guadalquivir delta (SW Spain)

The germination response to NaCl treatments has been studied in Melilotus seed populations collected from saline and non-saline soils in the Guadalquivir delta. The rank orders for salt tolerance and seed weight were the same in the threeMelilotus species living in this area:Melilotus messanensis>M. segetalis>M. indica. Within the species, differences in germination response to salinity were found inM. indica (6 populations) andM. segetalis (8 populations). The relationship between salt tolerance during germination and salinity of maternal habitat is discussed.     

Age and growth of yellow eels, Anguilla anguilla, in the estuary of the Guadalquivir river (south-west Spain)

A total of 1068 eels were examined from a population located in the Guadalquivir river estuary (37°N, 6°25'W). Maximum ages recorded were 4 + (males) and 7+ (females), and maximum lengths were 39-1 cm (males) and 54.1 cm (females). No growth was recorded between November and April, most occurring in May and, to a lesser extent, in June-October. Females grew to be larger than males. A classification analysis, based on 17 different European eel populations revealed that populations in brackish waters grew faster than those in fresh waters, but latitude also had an influence. Length-weight relationships obtained for three eel categories (males, females and undifferentiated) were used to estimate relative condition: condition cycles were similar between sexes, with increases in autumn and decreases in winter. There were monthly fluctuations in the sex ratio, and females dominated significantly in the combined catch (234 males/276 females).     

Length–weight relationships for 13 fish species collected in the Doñana marshlands (Guadalquivir estuary,SW Spain)

Length–weight relationships were determined for 13 species captured in the marshlands of the Doñana National Park (SW Iberian Peninsula). This is the first record of length–weight relationships for two of these species.     

Life-history patterns of the mosquito-fish, Gambusia affinis, in the estuary of the Guadalquivir river of south-west Spain

SUMMARY. 1. The age, growth and reproduction of the small, introduced fish Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard, 1853) were studied in the estuary of the Guadalquivir river.
2. The life-span was very short, the stock contained only two age groups: with annulus (1+ group; 10–12 months old) and without annulus (0+ group).
3. In both sexes growth restarted in April when the annulus appeared, but whilst 1+ males stopped growth, 1+ females grew steadily to June. Growth of 0+ spawners was only evident in September, the last month of the reproductive period. A differential growth rate between sexes was also evident.
4. 1+ specimens reproduced during May and June and their offspring from July to September. In both age groups somatic condition progressively declined during the spawning period.
5. The loss of condition and the disappearance of 1 + and the larger 04-specimens after reproduction may indicate the cost of a prolonged high level of reproductive effort.
6. The total fecundity (taken as the number of embryos) of 1 + females was represented by the formula: Fec=5.08 T.L. (mm) -170.07 and that of 0+ specimens by: Fec=2.23 T.L. (mm) -42.92. The maximum average monthly fecundity was reached in June when the length of the mother was at its greatest.
7. Length at first maturity was smaller in 0+ group than in the 1 + group; the difference between the two groups was greater in males (≅5 mm, T.L.) than in females (≅3 mm, T.L.). Also the average total length of 14-spawners was greater than 0+ spawners. There were significant differences in the overall sex ratio of 956 males to 2057 females.
8. The differences found in growth and reproduction between the two age groups suggest that life-history tactics may vary not only between different stocks but also within the same stock among its different components.     

Composition,distribution and biomass of meiobenthos in the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands)

Meiofauna composition, abundance, biomass, distribution and diversity were investigated for 31 stations in summer. The sampling covered the whole Oosterschelde and comparisons between the subtidal — intertidal and between the western-central — eastern compartment were made.Meiofauna had a community density ranging between 200 and 17 500 ind 10 cm^–2, corresponding to a dry weight of 0.2 and 8.4 gm^–2. Abundance ranged between 130 and 17 200 ind 10 cm^–2 for nematodes and between 10 and 1600 ind 10 cm^–2 for copepods. Dry weight biomass of these taxa was between 0.5–7.0 gm^–2 and 0.008–0.3 gm^–2 for nematodes and copepods respectively.The meiofauna was strongly dominated by the nematodes (36–99%), who's abundance, biomass and diversity were significantly higher intertidally than subtidally and significantly higher in the eastern part than in the western part. High numbers were positively correlated with the percentage silt and negatively with the median grain size of the sand fraction. The abundance and diversity of the copepods were highest in the subtidal, but their biomass showed an inverse trend being highest on the tidal flats.The taxa diversity of the meiofauna community and species diversity of both the nematodes and the copepods were higher in subtidal stations than on tidal flats. In the subtidal, the meiofauna and copepod diversity decreased from west to east, whereas nematode diversity increased.The vertical profile clearly reflected the sediment characteristics and could be explained by local hydrodynamic conditions.Seasonal variation was pronounced for the different taxa with peak abundance in spring, summer or autumn and minimum abundance in winter.Changes in tidal amplitude and current velocity enhanced by the storm-surge barrier will alter the meiofauna community structure. As a result meiofauna will become more important in terms of density and biomass, mainly due to increasing numbers of nematodes, increasing bioturbation, nutrient mineralisation and sustaining bacterial growth. A general decrease in meiofauna diversity is predicted. The number of copepods is expected to decrease and interstitial species will be replaced by epibenthic species, the latter being more important in terms of biomass and as food for the epibenthic macrofauna and fishes.     

Life history patterns of the common carp,Cyprinus carpio,in the estuary of the Guadalquivir river in south-west Spain

We examined 1567 carp caught in rice field drainage canals in the estuary of the Guadalquivir river (37° N, 6° 25 W). The stock was comprised of a small number of age groups, among which 0+ and 1+ were dominant. Growth was divided in four periods: rapid (June–July); slow (August–November), no growth (December–March), and resumed growth in April when an annulus was formed. A classification based on 12 wild carp populations revealed that growth depends on latitude, and that growth of the studied stock was mediocre, probably due to high salinity. A decrease in somatic condition coincided with an increase in gonadosomatic index (GSI). Specimens of the same stock, age and/or length showed considerable difference in development of the gonads. Gonadal activity began in September and by late Autumn some gonads had reached up to 20% of body weight. The situation remained static during Winter till April, when most reproduction occurred. Later, GSI values decreased to reach a minimum in September.Maximum average GSI values in females were twice those in males. Both sexes achieved maturity during the third growing season (2+ age-group) at a minimum fork length (F.L.) of 110 mm. Fecundity, before reproduction, was expressed by Fec = 241.701 F.L. (mm) – 26776.2. The sex ratio did not differ significantly from 1 : 1.     

Nitrogen dynamics in the Westerschelde estuary (SW Netherlands) estimated by means of the ecosystem model MOSES

A tentative nitrogen budget for the Westerschelde (SW Netherlands) is constructed by means of a simulation model with thirteen spatial compartments. Biochemical and chemical processes in the water column are dynamically modeled; fluxes of dissolved constituents across the water-bottom interface are expressed by means of diagenetic equations.The model is calibrated on a large amount of observed variables in the estuary (1980–1986) with relatively fine temporal and spatial detail. Additional constraints are imposed by the stoichiometric coupling of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen flows and the required conservation of mass. The model is able to reproduce rather well the observed distributions of nitrate, ammonium, oxygen and Kjeldahl nitrogen both in time and space. Also, model output of biochemical oxygen demand and total organic carbon falls within observed ranges.By far the most pervasive process in the nitrogen cycle of the estuary is nitrification which mainly takes place in the water column of the upper estuarine part. On average about three times as much nitrate is leaving the estuary at the sea side compared to what enters from the river and from waste discharges. Ammonium on the other hand is consumed much faster (nitrification) than it is regenerated and only about one third of the total import leaves the estuary at the sea side. The budget for detrital nitrogen reveals import from the river, from wastes and from the sea. Phytoplankton uptake of inorganic nitrogen is negligible in the model.About 21% of total nitrogen, 33% of inorganic nitrogen, is removed from the estuary (mainly to the atmosphere through denitrification) and the load of nitrogen net exported to the sea amounts to about 51 000 tonnes per year. Total denitrification in our model is lower than what was estimated in the literature from the late seventies, where a nitrogen removal up to 40–50% of the total inorganic load was reported. Part of the differences could be methodological, but inspection of the nutrient profiles that led to these conclusions show them to be different to the ones used in our study. The oxygen deficient zone has moved upstream since the late seventies, entrailing the zone of denitrification into the riverine part of the Schelde. The nitrification process now starts immediately upon entering the estuary.     

Suspended particulate matter dynamics in the shallow mesotidal urdaibai estuary (Bay of Biscay,Spain)

Seston quantity and quality was measured in the Urdaibai Estuary in summer, when river discharge is low and tidal flushing is the main driving force to transport and resuspend particulate matter in the estuary. The highest seston concentrations are found in the upper estuary, where more than 90% of total suspended particulate matter is made up of particles <20 μm. There is a temporal ebb-flood asymmetry and turbulent mixing is stronger at flood tide. During dry calm periods sediment resuspension is observed for a short period of time at floods during spring tides, decreasing drastically before slack waters. In spite of this, particulate organic matter mainly originates from anthropogenic sources (domestic wastewater discharge) and plankton production.     

Convergent signs of degradation in both the capacity and the quality of an essential fish habitat: state of the Seine estuary (France) flatfish nurseries

The Bay of Seine is a potentially important nursery ground, especially for flatfish. This area, however, is also strongly anthropogenically influenced. A composite approach was chosen to compare the flatfish nursery function of the Seine estuary with other coastal and estuarine areas and to determine the impact of anthropogenic disturbances. It emerges that alteration of the nursery function in the Seine estuary is related to the loss of nursery habitat and to a lower quality of the residual surfaces. These observations stressed the importance of habitat destruction and decreased quality of remaining habitat for fish stocks renewal.     

Dynamics of biogenic Si in freshwater tidal marshes: Si regeneration and retention in marsh sediments (Scheldt estuary)

The sequestration and recycling of biogenic silica (BSi) in freshwater tidal marshes was modelled through the combination of short-term year round sediment trap data with a long-term sedimentation model, MARSED. The modelling was implemented through the complete evolution from a young rapidly rising marsh to a marsh with an elevation close to mean high water. BSi in imported suspended matter was higher in summer (10.9 mg BSi g⁻¹ sediment) than winter (7.6 mg BSi g⁻¹ sediment). However, the deposition of BSi on the marsh surface was higher in winter compared to summer, due to the higher sedimentation rates. Deposition of BSi was correlated to the suspended matter deposition. In the old marsh, yearly about 40 g BSi m⁻² was deposited, while in the young marsh deposition could rise up to 300 g m⁻². Young marshes retained up to 85% of the imported biogenic silica. Recycling efficiency (60%) increased drastically for older marshes. The study shows that marshes act as important sinks for BSi along estuaries. The recycling of the imported BSi to DSi in summer and spring is most likely an essential factor in the buffering role of tidal marshes for estuarine DSi concentrations.     

Spatial and temporal variation in community composition and photosynthetic characteristics of phytoplankton in the upper Westerschelde estuary (Belgium,SW Netherlands)

Community composition, biomass and primary production of phytoplankton were studied in the east- ernmost section of the Westerschelde estuary in 1984. Photosynthetic characteristics were compared with distribution of some dominant phytoplankton species along a salinity gradient from 5 to 22 Spring phytoplankton, with Cyclotella meneghiniana (freshwater) and Skeletonema costatum (marine) as the dominant species grew faster than summer phytoplankton. In summer, biomass achieved its maximum, due to the riverine Scenedesmus species and the marine diatoms Thalassiosira levanderi and Ditylum brightwellii, as dominants. Growth conditions were more favourable to phytoplankton communities above 15%, than below this salinity. The data were compared with previous studies (1972) of species composition in the area.     

Macrobenthic community structure before and after pollution abatement in the Neches River estuary (Texas)

Macrobenthos and physicochemical conditions in the lower 39 km of the Neches River estuary were studied from August, 1984 to May, 1985. The results were compared with data collected in 1971–1972. Between 1972 and 1984 the permitted BOD waste load in the tidal Neches River was reduced from 123 125 kg d to 8717 kg d. River discharge and dissolved oxygen concentrations were consistently higher and salinity was lower, during the same seasons, during the 1984–1985 study. A total of 50 taxa of macrobenthos were collected in 1971–1972 and 104 taxa were collected in 1984–1985. The numbers of taxa per collection at each station in 1984–1985 were at least twice those found in 1971–1972. Minimum densities in 1984–1985 were much higher than the maximum densities in 1971–1972 at all stations. Patterns of dominance, Sorenson's similarity index, and diversity ( ) values indicated improved water quality in 1984–1985. Statistical analysis of macrobenthic diversity indicated significant differences between upper estuary and lower estuary stations in 1971–1972. No significant differences were found in 1984–1985. Significant differences in numbers of taxa, macrobenthos densities, and values between the two studies were found. Reductions of waste loads, increased river discharge, and deepening of the navigation channel were among the factors that probably contributed most to the changes in community structure of the macrobenthos observed.     

The impacts of re-introducing Mississippi River water on the hydrologic budget and nutrient inputs of a deltaic estuary

Most wetlands of the Mississippi deltaic plain are isolated from riverine input due to flood control levees along the Mississippi River. These levees have altered hydrology and ecology and are a primary cause of massive wetland loss in the delta. River water is being re-introduced into coastal basins as part of a large-scale ecological engineering effort to restore the delta. We quantified freshwater, nitrogen, and phosphorus inputs to the Breton Sound Estuary for three climatically different years (2000, 2001, and 2002). Water budgets included precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, the diversion, stormwater pumps, and groundwater. Precipitation contributed 48–57% of freshwater input, while the diversion accounted for 33–48%. Net groundwater input accounted for less than 0.05% of freshwater inputs. Inputs of ammonium (NH₄-N), nitrate (NO₃-N), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) were determined for each of the water sources. Atmospheric deposition was the most important input of NH₄-N (57–62% or 1.44 × 10⁵–2.32 × 10⁵ kg yr⁻¹) followed by the diversion. The diversion was the greatest source of NO₃-N (67–83%, 7.78 × 10⁵–1.64 × 10⁶ kg yr⁻¹) and TN (60–71%). The diversion contributed 41–60% of TP input (1.17 × 10⁵–2.32 × 10⁵ kg yr⁻¹). Annual loading rates of NH₄-N and NO₃-N were 0.17–0.27 and 1.2–2.3 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹, respectively, for the total basin indicating strong retention of nitrogen in the basin. Nitrogen retention through denitrification and burial was estimated for the upper basin.     

The influence of seasonal salinity and turbidity maximum variations on the nursery function of the Loire estuary (France)

In the Loire estuary which is a macrotidal estuary, the river flow and tides induce large seasonal variations in salinity gradients and in location and density of the turbidity maximum. These characteristics influence colonization patterns developed by juveniles of euryhaline fish populations (structure, distribution, density) and the dynamics of benthic communities which constitute their food resources. In some hydrological conditions, the upstream limit of the nursery function may be controlled by the turbidity maximum which induces anoxic conditions: reduction in densities or mass mortalities may be observed.     

Influence of changes in salinity and light intensity on growth of phytoplankton communities from the Schelde river and estuary (Belgium/The Netherlands)

In the Schelde continuum, a succession in the phytoplankton community is observed along the transition from the river to the freshwater tidal reaches of the estuary and from the freshwater to brackish reaches of the estuary. The goal of this study was to experimentally evaluate the contribution of changes in salinity and light climate to this succession. In summer 2000 and in spring 2001, phytoplankton communities from the river, the freshwater tidal reaches and the brackish reaches of the estuary were incubated under high or low light intensities and exposed to a change in salinity. HPLC analysis was used to evaluate the response of different algal groups to changes in light intensity and salinity. When incubated at a light intensity corresponding to the mean underwater light intensity of the freshwater tidal reaches, growth of phytoplankton from the river as well as from freshwater tidal reaches was significantly lower than when incubated at a light intensity corresponding to the mean underwater light intensity of the river. The phytoplankton community from the freshwater tidal reaches did not appear to be better adapted to low light intensities than the phytoplankton community from the river. Although diatoms were expected to be less sensitive to a reduction in light intensity than green algae, the opposite response was observed. Freshwater and brackish water phytoplankton were negatively affected by respectively an increase or decrease in salinity. However, the effect of salinity was not strong enough to explain the disappearance of freshwater and brackish water phytoplankton between a salinity of 0.5 and 10 psu, suggesting that other factors also play a role. In the freshwater phytoplankton communities from the river and the freshwater tidal reaches, green algae and diatoms responded in a similar way to an increase in salinity. In the brackish water phytoplankton community, fucoxanthin displayed a different response to salinity than lutein and chlorophyll a.     

Typical features of particulate phosphorus in the Seine estuary (France)

During the 2001–2002 hydrological cycle, 8,000 tons P year⁻¹ (44% as particulate phosphorus) originating from the Seine basin entered the Seine estuary. P content in suspended sediments (SS) is 2.9 g P kg⁻¹ (80% as inorganic form) at Poses (the upstream limit of the Seine estuary). During the transfer from Poses to Caudebec (the limit of saline water intrusion), Particulate Inorganic Phosphorus (PIP) in SS decreases by 40% whereas Particulate Organic Phosphorus (POP) remains stable. This decrease is explained as the result of (i) a dilution by SS poorer in P, originating from storage zones (mudflats) within the estuary, and (ii) a loss of P by sedimentation, especially in the Rouen harbour where 15% to 20% of SS are yearly trapped and extracted. Downstream, in the turbidity maximum of the estuary, P content in SS is twice as low as at Poses (1.5 g P kg⁻¹, 70% as inorganic form). PIP content is fairly homogeneous both vertically and throughout an annual survey. On the other hand, POP varies by season. Higher POP content is observed during vernal period with phytoplankton accumulation. In a salinity gradient from 0 to 30 (PSS78), PIP content further decreases by 30%. POP does not vary much in this gradient, leading to the assumption that PIP is submitted to desorption in response to the dilution by marine waters (poor in orthophosphates). Using ³²P isotopic method, we establish a mathematical formulation of P exchangeable between the suspended solid and water phases of the Seine estuary. Particulate P in the turbidity maximum zone is shown to represent a possible source of dissolved P, available for algal growth in the Seine Bight. Instead of playing a role of nutrient retention, the turbidity maximum zone of the Seine estuary could favour coastal eutrophication.