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BENTHIC AMPHIPOD COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO STRESS INDUCED BY ALGAL MATS IN A PACIFIC NORTHWEST ESTUARY
Citation:
Lamberson, J O., D R. Young, AND H Lee II. BENTHIC AMPHIPOD COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO STRESS INDUCED BY ALGAL MATS IN A PACIFIC NORTHWEST ESTUARY. Presented at 2001 Estuarine Research Federation meeting, St. Petersburg Beach, FL, November 4-8, 2001.
Description:
Amphipod, algal biomass and sediment samples were taken at two- to four-week intervals from June through December, 2000 along lines perpendicular to two transects in Yaquina Bay, OR, extending from within the Zostera marina bed at the river channel edge through intertidal burrowing shrimp (Upogebia, Neotrypaea) flats to the shoreline at Idaho Point and Coquille Point. Both transects were heavily impacted by buildup of algal mats consisting primarily of Ulva and Enteromorpha spp., but the Idaho Point transect was additionally affected by development of sulfides not noted at Coquille Point. There was a strong gradient of amphipod density with intertidal elevation along both transects, but amphipod abundance and species diversity were significantly lower at Idaho Point suggesting that sediment sulfides adversely affected the amphipod community. No temporal trends in amphipod populations were noted except in Grandidierella japonica, which declined in abundance as the season progressed. Amphipod community metrics in relation to sulfides, sediment grain size, organic carbon and burrowing shrimp density are discussed. The data suggest that amphipod abundance and diversity can be used as indicators of benthic community stress.