The relative influence of hypoxia, anoxia, andassociated environmental factors as determinants ofmacrobenthic community structure in aNorthern Gulf of Mexico estuary |
| |
Authors: | David A Flemer William L Kruczynski Barbara F Ruth Charles M Bundrick |
| |
Institution: | (1) GulfEcology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1 Sabine Island Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL, 32561, U.S.A.;(2) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV, In care of: Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, P.O. Box 500368, Marathon, FL, 33050, U.S.A.;(3) Florida Department ofEnvironmental Protection Water Facilities, 160Governmental Center, Pensacola, FL, 32501, U.S.A.;(4) Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Universityof West Florida, Pensacola, FL, 32514, U.S.A.;(5) Present address: Office of Water, Office of Science & Technology, Health & Criteria Division, U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency, 401 M St.,SW, Washington, DC, 20460, U.S.A. |
| |
Abstract: | Seasonal patterns (i.e., December 1986, and April and October 1987) in benthic macroinfaunal abundance,distribution, and taxa
composition at 19 sites in Perdido Bay, AL/FL, are evaluated to assess the relative importance of environmental factors as
determinants of community structure. A total of 46 taxa from five phyla were collected with diver-held bottom corers. Polychaetes
were numerically dominant followed by crustaceans. Seventeen taxa co-occurred in samples during all three study periods. Maximum
animal densities and taxa richness showed no statistically significant bay-wide seasonal pattern,however, a bay-wide trend
was detected where these response parameters tended to be greater in April than December or October. Deeper upper bay stations
were depauperate during December and October. Low dissolved oxygen (DO) largely explained the depauperate pattern. Mean taxa
richness per core(10 cm dia.) ranged from 0.0 to 5.0, 1.2 to 4.6, and0.0 to 4.4 in December, April and October,respectively.
Mean densities ranged from zero to 368,0 to 960, and 0 to 430 individuals per 0.1 m2 in December, April, and October, respectively. Results of a three-season statistical regression model indicated that DO deficiency
was a primary determinant of taxa richness (partial R
2: 0.27) but was less important in explaining animal densities (partialR
2: 0.16). For December, when additional environmental variables were measured, DO was supplanted by weight loss on ignition
(R
2: 0.24)and the sediment C:N ratio (R
2: 0.44) as highest explanatory factors for taxa richness and density,respectively. Application of a benthic index of environmental
condition indicated wide-spread ecological stress on the benthic macroinfaunal assemblages.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
| |
Keywords: | anoxia benthic index community structure hypoxia macrobenthos Perdido Bay |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|