The Importance of Edge for Natant Macrofauna in A Created Salt-Marsh

Simple item page
dc.acquisition-srcDownloaded from-Web of Scienceen_US
dc.call-noen_US
dc.contract-noen_US
dc.contributor.authorMinello TJen_US
dc.contributor.authorZimmerman RJen_US
dc.contributor.authorMedina Ren_US
dc.contributor.otherWetlandsen_US
dc.date.accessioned2010-02-15T17:17:33Z
dc.date.available2010-02-15T17:17:33Z
dc.date.issued1994 Sepen_US
dc.degreeen_US
dc.description184-198en_US
dc.description-otheren_US
dc.description.abstractThe relationship between marsh edge and animal use was examined in a planted Spartina alterniflora marsh located in the Galveston Bay system of Texas. A completely randomized block experimental design was used with each of four blocks containing a control and experimental sector. Marsh edge was increased through the construction of channels in experimental sectors. Channel construction had no detectable effect on marsh surface elevation. Effects of these simulated tidal creeks on habitat use were examined by sampling nekton at high tide with,drop enclosures both on the marsh surface and within the channels. Crustaceans dominated the nekton, and use of the marsh surface in experimental sectors was significantly higher than in controls; densities of brown shrimp Penaeus aztecus, white shrimp P. setiferus, and daggerblade grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio were 4.6 to 13 times higher near the channels. Polychaete densities in marsh sediments were also significantly higher near channels, and densities of decapod predators were positively correlated with densities of these infaunal prey. Thus, channel effects on natant decapods may have been related to the distribution of prey organisms. However, increased densities of natant fauna along the channel edge may simply reflect a requirement for departure from the marsh surface at low tide. Marsh-surface densities of small bait fishes,bay anchovy Anchoa mitchilli and the inland silverside Menidia beryllina, also increased near channels, but highest densities of these fishes were in the creeks themselves. The abundance and distribution of juvenile blue crabs Callinectes sapidus and gulf marsh fiddler crabs Uca longisignalis were not affected by the addition of experimental channels. Overall, the study results indicate that habitat value of created salt marshes can be enhanced by incorporating tidal creeks into the marsh designen_US
dc.description.urihttp://gbic.tamug.edu/request.htmen_US
dc.historyen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/23508
dc.latitudeen_US
dc.locationen_US
dc.longitudeen_US
dc.notesTimes Cited: 39ArticleEnglishMINELLO, T. JNATL MARINE FISHERIES SERV,SEFC,GALVESTON LAB,GALVESTON,TX 77551Cited References Count: 0PJ256810 E TENTH ST, P O BOX 1897, LAWRENCE, KS 66044LAWRENCEen_US
dc.placeen_US
dc.publisheren_US
dc.relation.ispartofseries51158.00en_US
dc.relation.urien_US
dc.scaleen_US
dc.seriesen_US
dc.subjectEDGEen_US
dc.subjectSPARTINAen_US
dc.subjectsalt marshen_US
dc.subjectRESTORATIONen_US
dc.subjecttransplanten_US
dc.subjectFISHen_US
dc.subjectSHRIMPen_US
dc.subjectCRUSTACEANSen_US
dc.subjectHABITAT COMPLEXITYen_US
dc.subjectHYDROPERIODen_US
dc.titleThe Importance of Edge for Natant Macrofauna in A Created Salt-Marshen_US
dc.typeJournalen_US
dc.universityen_US
dc.vol-issue14(3)en_US

Files

Collections

Galveston Bay Bibliography
GBIC Abstracts (full text not available through Jack K. Williams Library)