Patterns of Distribution of Estuarine Organisms and their Response to a Catastrophic Decrease in Salinity

Authors

Peter F. Larsen, Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Files

Document Type

Book Chapter

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

1976

Role

Project Coordinator, Jackson Davis (VIMS) | Volume Coordinator, Beverly Laird (VIMS)

Book Title

The effects of Tropical Storm Agnes on the Chesapeake Bay Estuarine System

Publisher

Chesapeake Research Consortium

Series

Chesapeake Research Consortium publication ; no. 54

Abstract

The occurrence of Tropical Storm Agnes during an ongoing study on the community structure of the macrobenthos associated with the James River oyster reefs provided a unique opportunity to document the responses of this assemblage to such a disturbance. The spatial and temporal patterns of abundance of 18 important taxa are examined in this paper. Eight species exhibited limited up estuary penetration, six were most successful in the upper part of the estuarine segment studied, two were most abundant in the mid-section of the study area, and two were ubiquitous. In the post-Agnes period, .six species exhibited reduced population levels, three experienced population increases, three became relatively more abundant at the down estuary sites and reduced at the up estuary sites, three became relatively more abundant at the up estuary sites and reduced at the down estuary sites, while no significant response was shown by three others. Hypothetical response categories are advanced to explain these responses. The freshet arrived and removed stenotopic species (category 1 response) which allowed others to fill the void in abundance (category 2 response). Other species essentially extended their range downstream where conditions were not optimal but were reduced in their original range because of the physiological stress caused by very .Low salinities (category 3 response). With the return of higher salinities the larvae of more stenohaline species settled where there was open space, i.e., at the up estuary sites (category 4 response). Some species showed no significant changes in abundance (category 5 response).

Recommended Citation

Larsen, Peter F., "Patterns of Distribution of Estuarine Organisms and their Response to a Catastrophic Decrease in Salinity" (1976). VIMS Books and Book Chapters. 74.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/vimsbooks/74