Factors affecting the community composition of epibenthic and infaunal invertebrates of newly planted seagrass beds

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dc.acquisition-srcDownloaded from-Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstractsen_US
dc.call-noen_US
dc.contract-noen_US
dc.contributor.authorHenderson Cen_US
dc.contributor.otheren_US
dc.date.accessioned2010-02-15T17:13:43Z
dc.date.available2010-02-15T17:13:43Z
dc.date.issued1999 1999 Mar 25en_US
dc.degreeen_US
dc.description-en_US
dc.description-otheren_US
dc.description.abstractEpibenthic and infaunal organisms represent an important link between macrofauna and the seagrass beds they utilize. Consequently, benthic organisms should be taken into account when assessing the structural and functional equivalency of planted beds in relation to natural seagrass beds. Three Halodule wrightii beds were planted during May 1994 in western Galveston Bay, Texas. The experimental design allowed for evaluation of the effects of relative water depth, planting density, and distance to edge on benthic community composition. Bare sand adjacent to the planted sites and a natural seagrass bed 15 km southwest of the planted sites were used for comparison. Monthly cores 10 cm (id) by 5 cm deep were taken over a 16 month period after beds were planted. Organisms were enumerated and identified to species when possible which yielded 164 species or taxonomic groups. Annelids (Classes Polychaeta and Oligochaeta) were the dominant organisms in both planted and natural beds and defined most of the trends observed in the final analysis. Although species richness and abundance within the planted seagrass beds increased relative to adjacent sands, epibenthic and infaunal community densities and species composition did not reflect those of the naturally occurring seagrass bed even after 16 months. Of the three seagrass planting densities (0.25, 0.50, 1.00 m centers), 0.25 m centers contained the highest numbers of individuals and species. Distance to the edge of the planted sites had no effect on benthic community composition. Numbers of individuals and species were negatively related to water depth. When water depth and planting density interactions were considered, shallow water with 0.25 m centers had the highest abundance of organisms, whereas deeper water with 1.00 m centers had the lowest (difference between shallow and deep = 15-20 cm). Given the best circumstances, it will probably take the benthic community of a planted seagrass bed at least 2-3 years to compare with that of a naturally occurring bed. Maturation of the planted seagrass, as well as the benthic community, could be enhanced with a suitable planting design which takes into account planting density and water depthen_US
dc.description.urihttp://gbic.tamug.edu/request.htmen_US
dc.historyen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/22976
dc.latitudeen_US
dc.locationen_US
dc.longitudeen_US
dc.notesGulf Estuarine Research Society Spring Meeting 1999, Baton Rouge, LA (USA)0072-9027EnglishJournal Article; ConferenceMarineCS9919765en_US
dc.placeen_US
dc.publisheren_US
dc.relation.ispartofseries50481.00en_US
dc.relation.urien_US
dc.scaleen_US
dc.seriesGulf Research Reports [Gulf Res. Rep.]. Vol. 11en_US
dc.subjectabundanceen_US
dc.subjectanalysisen_US
dc.subjectAnglewormsen_US
dc.subjectAnnelidsen_US
dc.subjectASW,USA,Texas,Galveston Bayen_US
dc.subjectCommunity compositionen_US
dc.subjectcoresen_US
dc.subjectDesignen_US
dc.subjectEvaluationen_US
dc.subjectGalveston Bayen_US
dc.subjectHalodule wrightiien_US
dc.subjectInterstitial environmenten_US
dc.subjectmacrofaunaen_US
dc.subjectO 1030 Invertebratesen_US
dc.subjectO 1070 Ecology/Community Studiesen_US
dc.subjectOligochaetaen_US
dc.subjectOligochaetesen_US
dc.subjectPaddle-footed annelidsen_US
dc.subjectPolychaetaen_US
dc.subjectPolychaetesen_US
dc.subjectPopulation densityen_US
dc.subjectQ1 01463 Habitat community studiesen_US
dc.subjectQ5 01522 Protective measures and controlen_US
dc.subjectRestorationen_US
dc.subjectSanden_US
dc.subjectsea grassen_US
dc.subjectSeagrassesen_US
dc.subjectspecies compositionen_US
dc.subjectspecies diversityen_US
dc.subjectTexasen_US
dc.subjectUSAen_US
dc.subjectwateren_US
dc.subjectwater depthen_US
dc.subjectzoobenthosen_US
dc.titleFactors affecting the community composition of epibenthic and infaunal invertebrates of newly planted seagrass bedsen_US
dc.typeCONFen_US
dc.universityen_US
dc.vol-issue()en_US

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