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BENTHIC MACROFAUNAL ALIENS IN WILLAPA BAY
Citation:
Ferraro, S P. AND F A. Cole. BENTHIC MACROFAUNAL ALIENS IN WILLAPA BAY. Presented at 27th Annual Pacific Estuarine Research Society meeting, Port Townsend, WA, May 17-18, 2004.
Description:
Benthic macrofaunal samples were collected at random stations in Willapa Bay, WA, in four habitats [eelgrass (Zostera marina), Atlantic cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), mud shrimp (Upogebia pugettensis), ghost shrimp (Neotrypaea californiensis)] in 1996 and in seven habitats (Zostera, Spartina, Upogebia, Neotrypaea, oyster, bare mud/sand, subtidal) in 1998. Seventy-eight percent of the benthic macrofaunal species collected were indigenous, 11% were nonindigenous, and 11% were cryptogenic. Thirty-five percent of the benthic macrofaunal individuals were indigenous, 46% were nonindigenous, and 19% were cryptogenic. Abundances of indigenous and nonindigenous ? cryptogenic benthic macrofaunal species and individuals varied among habitats. The habitat rank order of nonindigenous ? cryptogenic species was Spartina = Zostera = oyster Upogebia mud/sand > Neotrypaea = subtidal. The habitat rank order of nonindigenous ? cryptogenic individuals was Spartina Zostera = oyster Upogebia mud/sand > Neotrypaea = subtidal. There were significant positive relationships between the abundance of nonindigenous + cryptogenic and indigenous species and between the abundance of nonindigenous + cryptogenic and indigenous individuals estuary-wide but not within most habitats. Nonindigenous ? cryptogenic benthic macrofaunal species and individuals were most abundant in Spartina (a nonindigenous, bioengineering species) habitat.