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Macrobenthic Distribution within the Sediment along an Estuarine Salinity Gradient
Author(s) -
Dauer Daniel M.,
Ewing R. Michael,
Rodi Anthony J.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
internationale revue der gesamten hydrobiologie und hydrographie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1522-2632
pISSN - 0020-9309
DOI - 10.1002/iroh.19870720502
Subject(s) - macoma balthica , estuary , tributary , bay , salinity , oceanography , sediment , environmental science , biomass (ecology) , chesapeake bay , hydrology (agriculture) , fishery , geology , ecology , mollusca , bivalvia , geography , biology , geomorphology , cartography , geotechnical engineering
The distribution of the macrobenthic infaunal community within the upper 25 cm of the sediment was studied at 16 stations in the lower Chesapeake Bay. Stations were located from the tidal freshwater to the polyhaline zone of major tributaries (James, York and Rappahannock Rivers) and in the polyhaline portion of the lower bay mainstem. Profiles for total number of individuals, total ash‐free dry weight biomass and species encountered with depth were calculated. Except for the deep dwelling bivalve, Macoma balthica , tributary macrobenthic communities had a shallow depth distribution compared to the mainstem sites which were found in generally coarser sediments in the higher salinity region of the estuary.