Effect of Deepwater Horizon Oil on Growth Rates of Juvenile Penaeid Shrimps

Marsh shoreline, an important habitat for juvenile penaeid shrimps, was extensively oiled in coastal Louisiana by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010. The effect of this spill on growth was examined for brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus and white shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus held for 7 days in field mesocosms in Barataria Bay during May and August 2011, respectively. The experiments each had 10 treatment combinations, five apparent oil levels, each one with and without added food. Mesocosms were placed in northern Barataria Bay along shorelines that varied in oiling (designated as heavy, moderate, light, very light, or none based on NOAA surveys), and shrimp in half the mesocosms received additional food. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations determined from sediment cores collected at each mesocosm were significantly higher at heavy and moderate than very light shorelines and also higher at moderate than light and none shorelines. Brown shrimp grew more slowly at heavy than very light or none shorelines, and a statistically significant negative relationship was detected between brown shrimp growth rates and sediment PAH concentrations. In August, PAH sediment concentrations had decreased significantly from the values measured in May, no significant difference in white shrimp growth rates was detected among oiling levels, and no relationship was detected between white shrimp growth and sediment PAH concentrations. Both brown shrimp and white shrimp grew more rapidly in mesocosms where food was added. Our study shows that exposure to nonlethal concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons can reduce growth rates of juvenile penaeid shrimps.     

Oysters, crabs, and burrowing shrimp: Review of an environmental conflict over aquatic resources and pesticide use in Washington State’s (USA) coastal estuaries

Washington State’s coastal estuaries are productive shallow water environments that support commercial fisheries for Dungeness crabs (Cancer magister) and English sole (Parophrys vetulus) by providing 0+(settlement to age l) populations with critical refuge and foraging habitats until subadults migrate to the nearshore coast. Intertidalmudflats also constitute prime areas for commercial oyster (Crassostrea gigas) culture, an, important industry for the coastal communities of Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor that supply much of the nation's oysters. Conflicts over natural resources and estuarine utilization have arisen over the last 37 yr due to the use of carbaryl (an organo carbamate pesticide) by oyster growers on their grounds to control populations of burrowing thalassinidean shrimp (Neotrypaea californiensis and Upogebia pugettensis). Burrowing shrimp, which have an indirect negative effect on oyster survival and growth through bioturbation and sediment destabilization, are killed by carbaryl, as are 0+ and subadult Dungeness crabs, 0+English sole, and other non-target species prsent on the tideflats at the time of application. The pesticide is delivered at 9 kg ha^?1 directly to the mudflat as a wetable powder during low tides in July and August. Commercial crabbers and other groups who have economic, recreational, and environmental interests in the estuaries have generally opposed use of the chemical that oyster growers maintain is essential to sustain production levels. For years, government natural resource agencies that regulate the use of carbaryl lacked critical information needed to effectively manage the program. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Supplemental EIS have provided much of that data and helped shape management decisions with regard to establishing carbaryl concentration rates and total allowable spray area. Additional research is needed to develop more economically and environmentally sound policies for shrimp control based on burrowing shrimp-oyster interactions on an estuarine-wide scale. In this paper we review issues pertaining to oyster culture, the use of carbaryl to control burrowing shrimp populations, and effects on non-target species, drawing upon research from, published articles as well as unpublished data collected by the authors. We also discuss what is known of burrowing shrimp life history and ecology and emphasize the importance of integrating information on shrimp, such as timing of recruitment, variability in year class strength, and patterns of habitat use, into carbaryl control policies or alternative strategies that may be developed in the future. We recommend controlled experimentation be done to examine the ecological effects of delaying carbaryl application to some ghost shrimp beds until October after peak recruitment of 0+ ghost shrimp has occurred, allowing the number of hectares treated each year to vary based on fluctuations in pest population densities, and modifying the substrate by applying a dense layer of oyster shell to the mudflat (shell pavement) to reduce recruitment of ghost shrimp.     

The use of infauna by juvenile Penaeus aztecus Ives and Penaeus setiferus (Linnaeus)

Penaeus aztecus Ives, the brown shrimp, and Penaeus setiferus (Linnaeus), the white shrimp, co-occur in Texas salt marshes as juveniles. Although their life cycles are similar, evidence indicates that the species utilize different resources for the primary faunal element of their diets. Prey selection and growth studies have shown that brown shrimp successfully remove infauna from natural sediment. Further, a diet of polychaetes, whether alone or in combination with algae, produced growth in the species. Brown shrimp appear to be trophically linked to infaunal populations, thus the structure and dynamics of the benthic community may directly affect local brown shrimp productivity. Areas dominated by surface-dwelling polychaetes as opposed to deep burrowers may provide more accessible foraging opportunities for juvenile brown shrimp. By contrast, white shrimp neither removed infauna nor grew to a significant degree when provided polychaetes or amphipods as food. White shrimp are omnivorous but do not rely on infaunal material to the same extent as brown shrimp. The primary faunal element in the diet of white shrimp has not yet been identified. The dietary differences between the two species may play a role in determining which species dominates in regions with varying marsh accessibility. Although not the only factors influencing penaeid survival and growth, prey choice and availability may greatly affect production and local success of penaeid populations. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY081 00013     

Recolonisation by Macrobenthos Mobilises Organic Phosphorus from Reoxidised Baltic Sea Sediments

In recent decades, eutrophication has increased the extent of hypoxic and anoxic conditions in many coastal marine environments. In such conditions, the nutrient flux across the sediment?Cwater interface is a key process controlling the biogeochemical dynamics, and thereby the level and character of biological production. In some areas, management attempts to drive the ecosystem towards phosphorus (P) limitation, which calls for reliable knowledge on the mechanisms controlling P-cycling. We report a well-controlled laboratory experiment on benthic fluxes of P, when shifting from a state of hypoxic and azoic sediments to oxic and zoic bottom conditions. Adding any of three types of macrobenthic fauna (mysid shrimp, pontoporeid amphipod and tellinid clam) to oxygenated aquarium sections resulted in benthic P fluxes that differed consistently from the azoic control sections. All species caused liberation of dissolved organically bound P (DOP) from the sediment, in contrast to the azoic systems. The shrimp and the amphipod also resuspended the sediment, which resulted in a release of P bound to particles (>0.45???m). Dissolved inorganic phosphate (DIP) was released during hypoxic conditions, but was taken up after oxygenation, irrespective of the presence or absence of bottom fauna. In the presence of fauna, the uptake of DIP roughly equalled the release of DOP, suggesting that the benthic efflux of DOP following oxygenation and bottom fauna (re)colonisation might be considerable. This is an hitherto overlooked animal-controlled nutrient flux, which is missing from coastal marine P budgets.     

Effect of hydrologic management on marsh surface sediment deposition in coastal Louisiana

High rates of coastal land loss in Louisiana have prompted efforts to maintain or restore coastal wetland habitats, and structural management of marsh hydrology is one of a number of approaches that has been adopted. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of hydrologic management measures on marsh-surface sediment deposition in the Mississippi deltaic plain. Four impoundments, ranging in size from 50 ha to 177 ha and similarly sized control sites were included in the study. At each site, marsh-surface sediment traps were collected approximately biweekly for 3.5 yr to measure changes in sediment deposition. There was no significant difference in sediment deposition between any of the impoundment and control sites during the premanagement period. The results show no significant difference in marsh-surface sediment deposition between management year 1992–1993 and management year 1994–1995, but management year 1993–1994 had significantly lower sediment deposition than either the first or the last year of the study. Management year 1992–1993 showed the highest sediment deposition when it was assessed across all basins, areas, and sites, and this high rate of deposition is accounted for by the impact of Hurricane Andrew. For all management years there were significant differences between impoundment and control sites, with control sites showing higher rates of marsh surface sediment deposition than impoundments. No clear pattern was identified concerning the influence of various types of hydrologic management on rates of sediment deposition. This reduction in sediment deposition indicated that the areas under management in this study are receiving insufficient inorganic sediment deposition to keep pace with sea-level rise.     

Depositional processes beneath coastal multi‐year sea ice

The extent of multi‐year sea ice impacts climate processes worldwide, such as ocean–atmosphere carbon dioxide exchange and deep ocean current formation. Reconstructing these processes in the past, and assessing the distribution of ecologically and climatically significant features, such as polynas, requires recognition of sediments deposited under multi‐year sea ice, but little is known about their characteristics. Textural analysis of subaerial and sea floor sediment in Explorers Cove, McMurdo Sound, at the mouth of Taylor Valley, Antarctica, augmented with observations of sedimentary structures and faunal components, elucidates how sediment is transported to the sea floor and allows characterization of the deposits. Comparison of grain‐size characteristics of subaerial (moraine, delta and sea‐ice surface) sediment and sea floor sediment from short cores taken at depths of 7 to 25 m indicates that the likely source of the moderately to poorly sorted sea floor sand is deltaic sediment; small glacial meltwater streams have built deltas since Taylor Valley became ice‐free ca 7000 years ago. Windblown sediment accumulating on the multi‐year sea ice close to the coast typically is coarser grained than sediment on the sea floor; this suggests that the transport of sediment through the ice to the sea floor is not the predominant mode of sediment transfer. However, supra‐sea‐ice sediment does move to the sea floor through local fractures. The rate of sedimentation under multi‐year sea ice is low because of limited stream flow and biogenic sedimentation; the ice cover inhibits primary productivity and dampens waves, precluding physical re‐suspension. The upper centimetres of sea floor sediment are churned by epifaunal scallops and brittle stars that leave no telltale biogenic structures and whose calcite ossicles and shells may be poorly preserved. The resulting deposits under multi‐year sea ice are poorly sorted, massive sand that provides little evidence of the bioturbators that have masked the indicators of the original physical depositional processes.     

Identification of Burrowing Shrimp Food Sources Along an Estuarine Gradient Using Fatty Acid Analysis and Stable Isotope Ratios

Two species of burrowing shrimp occur in high densities in US West Coast estuaries, the ghost shrimp, Neotrypaea californiensis, and the blue mud shrimp, Upogebia pugettensis. Both species of shrimp are considered ecosystem engineers as they bioturbate and irrigate extensive galleries within the sediment. While their burrows comprise a dominant habitat type in west coast estuaries, little is known about these shrimps’ diet and their role in estuarine food webs. The primary goals of this study were to identify major components of burrowing shrimp diets and detect variation in these diets along an estuarine gradient using combined fatty acid (FA) and stable isotope (SI) analyses. Shrimp and potential food sources including eelgrass blades, epiphytes, Ulva, sedimentary particulate organic matter (SPOM), burrow walls, and particulate organic material (POM) were sampled at different locations within Yaquina Bay, Oregon in August 2012. Both SI and FA analyses indicated differences in food resources assimilated by shrimp along the estuarine gradient. SI values showed that diets for U. pugettensis consisted of carbon sources derived primarily from POM and SPOM, while POM and epiphytes were primary carbon sources for N. californiensis. Shrimp from lower estuarine sites had high levels of 16:1ω7 and 20:5ω3 FAs suggesting their diet is enriched with marine diatoms. Shrimp from upriver showed greater proportion of FA associated with dinoflagellates and terrestrial sources as indicated by a high percentage of C₁₈ polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs). This is the first study to evaluate diets of these two shrimp species using complimentary FA and SI approaches.     

Pink shrimp,Farfantepenaeus duorarum,recruitment variability as an indicator of Florida Bay dynamics

Florida Bay exhibits highly dynamic hydrographic regimes that influence variability in the retention, survivorship, and migration of pink shrimp,Farfantepenaeus duorarum, larvae and juveniles. Florida Bay is the nursery habitat for pink shrimp and since a large fishery is based on the adult population in the Dry Tortugas region, Florida Bay plays a fundamental role in the health of the pink shrimp fishery in South Florida. Conversely, the level of shrimp recruitment to the fishery can act as an indicator of the health of Florida Bay integrating multiple biological, physical, and environmental variables. We examined 372 mo of data on commercial landings of pink shrimp to estimate monthly recruitment. We found recruitment occurs throughout the year, there are one or more seasonal peaks, and the magnitude and monthly position of the peaks changed through decades. These changes may be explained by a varying spawning population producing different levels of eggs, by environmental changes in the nursery grounds that modulate a nearly constant supply of eggs, or a combination of these. Recruitment estimates and the residuals about stock-recruitment relationships were compared over three decades (1965–1995) in terms of annual and monthly trends and average patterns. Significant differences found between the decades could be due to ecological changes in Florida Bay, specifically to loss of recruitment peaks, with an associated overall decline in pink shrimp recruitment. For the lates years of the study, recruitment and residuals about the stock-recruitment curve are increasing, which may indicate an improvement in Florida Bay as a nursery ground for pink shrimp, and thus as habitat for other organisms as well.     

南水北调对长江口粗颗粒悬沙来量的影响

探索了长江南水北调占总径流量10%情况下对长江粗颗粒悬沙(≥0.05mm)入海数量变化的可能影响。研究表明:南水北调对入海细颗粒泥沙的影响主要为南沙北调,但数量较小,在1%左右,而对粗颗粒悬沙的影响主要表现在入海流量减少导致的水体挟沙能力的降低。通过建立大通站典型枯水年(1978),平水年(1987)及洪水年(1983)月平均流量与月平均床沙质输沙率相关曲线,估算出各典型年在典型流量23000m3/s,30000m3/s与40000m3/s水平下调水流量3000m3/s时导致的入海床沙质输沙率的变化。结果表明,输沙率的相对变化在-39%至-24%之间,且在较高的流量水平下,输沙率相对变化较小,但绝对变化增大,经大通入海的床沙质数量每年约减少2350～4700万t.     

Spatial and isotopic analysis of watershed soil loss and reservoir sediment accumulation rates in Lake Anna, Virginia, USA

Soil erosion and associated sedimentation are a threat to the sustainable use of surface water resources through the loss of volume storage capacity and conveyance of pollutants to receiving water bodies. The RUSLE2 empirical model and isotopic sediment core analyses were used to evaluate watershed erosion and reservoir sediment accumulation rates for Lake Anna, in Central Virginia. A sediment flux rate of 66,000 Mg/year was estimated from the upper basin and land use was determined to be the primary factor contributing to soil erosion. Barren lands and agricultural activities were estimated to contribute the most sediment (>20 Mg/ha/year), whereas forested and herbaceous landscapes were less likely to erode (<0.3 Mg/ha/year). Eleven separate ²¹⁰Pb-based estimates of sediment accumulation were used to construct reservoir-scale sedimentation rates. Sedimentation rates in the upper reaches of the reservoir were variable, ranging from 2.3 to 100 Mg/ha/year, with a median rate of 8.4 Mg/ha/year. Historical sedimentation showed an increase in annual accumulation from 1972 to present. Based on these data the reservoir has experienced a 2% loss of volume storage capacity since impoundment in 1972. Results from this study indicate that Lake Anna is not currently experiencing excessive sedimentation and erosion problems. However, the predominance of highly erosive soils (soil erodibility factor >0.30) within the watershed makes this system highly vulnerable to future anthropogenic stressors.     

渭河源区典型小流域水沙演变规律分析

根据渭河源区清源河典型小流域实测水文资料,分析了流域水文要素的年内和年际变化规律,流域降水、径流和泥沙主要集中在汛期,5-9月降水量占全年的78.5%,5-10月径流占全年的78.7%,5-8月输沙量占全年的88.9%。受上游修建水库、水土保持等人类活动的影响,流域汛期径流和泥沙1997-2013年比1980-1996年均减少了5.9%。流域面平均降水量、平均流量、平均输沙量年际变化不稳定,总体呈减少趋势,序列最大可能变异点分别为1995年、1994年和1997年。建立了流域年降水量与年径流深、次降水量P+Pa与次径流深相关模型,相关系数达到0.902和0.860。以年最大洪峰流量为参数,分别建立了流域年径流量与年输沙量、次径流量与次输沙量关系模型,相关系数达到0.835和0.917,公式模拟值与实测值接近,误差较小,可以作为以径流推算泥沙的重要依据。通过定性定量分析人类活动对流域径流、泥沙的影响程度,对区域抗旱防洪减灾、水资源管理、小流域治理及生态环境保护具有重要意义。     

Sudden Clearing of Estuarine Waters upon Crossing the Threshold from Transport to Supply Regulation of Sediment Transport as an Erodible Sediment Pool is Depleted: San Francisco Bay, 1999

The quantity of suspended sediment in an estuary is regulated either by transport, where energy or time needed to suspend sediment is limiting, or by supply, where the quantity of erodible sediment is limiting. This paper presents a hypothesis that suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) in estuaries can suddenly decrease when the threshold from transport to supply regulation is crossed as an erodible sediment pool is depleted. This study was motivated by a statistically significant 36% step decrease in SSC in San Francisco Bay from water years 1991–1998 to 1999–2007. A quantitative conceptual model of an estuary with an erodible sediment pool and transport or supply regulation of sediment transport is developed. Model results confirm that, if the regulation threshold was crossed in 1999, SSC would decrease rapidly after water year 1999 as observed. Estuaries with a similar history of a depositional sediment pulse followed by erosion may experience sudden clearing.     

“泾渭分明”的现代特点分析

清浊变化是指常年及汛期的含沙量及输沙量变化。泾河年均径流量仅为渭河的1/2倍(资料截止1997),输沙量却为渭河的2.35倍,含沙量为渭河的4.57倍。现在是泾浊渭清。输沙量与最大流量间为正相关关系,相关系数渭河为0.7516,泾河为0.8279。输沙量季节集中的程度更大,最大月输沙量占年输沙量的71.23%,最大月径流量占年径流量的39.22%。渭河较小的输沙量在于气候干旱导致的径流量减小。泾河较大的输沙量在于泾河流域现代人为活动对生态系统破坏更为严重。     

祖厉河流域水沙演变规律及其成因分析

应用祖厉河流域1956～2016年实测水文资料,采用水文统计法、差积曲线法、突变检验法等方法,分析了流域水沙时空分布规律及水沙关系。结果表明:祖厉河流域年降水量、年径流深从上游向下游减小;支流关川河巉口以上年输沙模数相对较小,中游会宁-郭城驿最大。4个代表站历年降水量、径流量、输沙量均呈显著减少趋势,降水量年内分配主要集中在5～9月,径流量和输沙量主要集中在6～9月;水沙变化的突变年份为1999年,基准期1956～1999到措施期2000～2016年多年平均年径流量和输沙量分别减少了39.6%、72.9%。流域降水量年均减少0.53～1.23mm,气温年均升高0.029～0.042℃/a,植被覆盖度年均增加0.85%/a,降水减少、水土保持措施面积增加和植被覆盖度大幅提高是流域水沙持续减少的主要原因。     

三峡工程蓄水运用以来水库排沙效果

针对三峡水库蓄水运用以来排沙比问题,在深入研究三峡水库不同蓄水运用阶段水库排沙效果的基础上,着重研究各年年内蓄水排沙过程,系统地分析水库排沙效果的影响因素。结果表明:库区河道特性、入库水沙条件以及坝前水位的高低是水库排沙比变化的主要影响因素。2003年6月~2010年12月,水库排沙比为26.1%。水库排沙主要集中在汛期5~10月,排沙比为29.0%。尤其是在洪峰期间,库区水流流速较大,水流挟沙能力强,进入水库的泥沙大部分能输移到坝前,水库排沙比较大,当入库流量大于30000m³/s时,水库最大排沙比可达81.0%。此外,随着汛期坝前水位的抬高,水库排沙效果有所减弱,尤其是粗颗粒泥沙的多少也很大程度上影响水库排沙效果,水流的挟沙能力随着水流流速的减小而减小,粗颗粒泥沙的排沙比随之发生较全沙更为明显的减小。     

Is the Collapse of Mud Shrimp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Upogebia pugettensis</Emphasis>) Populations Along the Pacific Coast of North America Caused by Outbreaks of a Previously Unknown Bopyrid Isopod Parasite (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Orthione griffenis</Emphasis>)?

A dramatic increase in prevalence of the recently discovered bopyrid isopod parasite, Orthione griffenis, likely introduced in the 1980s from Asia to the Pacific coast of North America, coincided with the 2002 collapse of a population of its burrowing mud shrimp host, Upogebia pugettensis, in Willapa Bay, Washington that had been stable since monitoring began in 1988. An examination of whether O. griffenis infections were sufficient to cause this decline and other recently noted U. pugettensis population collapses in Pacific Coast estuaries was conducted. O. griffenis prevalence was the highest in large reproductive-sized female shrimp and caused an estimated average 68% loss of U. pugettensis reproduction in Yaquina Bay, Oregon over a 5-year period. O. griffenis prevalence fluctuated from year to year, but trends were similar in all estuaries sampled. Uninfected shrimp transplanted back into locations from which they had disappeared acquired the parasite, suggesting that O. griffenis is extremely effective at finding its host even in estuaries with very low host density. Since both U. pugettensis and O. griffenis have pelagic larval stages, their population dynamics are also influenced by coastal nearshore oceanography and estuarine recruitment success. Coastwide lack of estuarine recruitment appears to coincide with declines in density of a co-occurring thalassinid shrimp, Neotrypaea californiensis, but cannot alone explain U. pugettensis population collapses. Although patterns observed to date could be explained by the presence of either a native or introduced parasitic castrator, assumptions of a resilient co-evolved host–parasite relationship do not apply for introduced species, so continued efforts to follow the spatial extent and consequences of the O. griffenis–U. pugettensis host–parasite relationship are warranted.     

黄河下游输沙水量研究综述

对输沙水量的计算方法,黄河下游汛期、非汛期输沙水量的研究现状,水库对输沙水量的影响,输沙用水总量的研究现状等方面分别作了回顾。分析指出,输沙水量与来水含沙量、来水流量、河道冲淤、河床前期条件等有关。黄河下游各时期输沙水量不同,汛期最小,其余依次为非汛期、冬三月、凌汛期。水库调水调沙的同时也改变着黄河下游的输沙水量。利用水库群调水调沙,使小浪底水库以造床流量、高含沙水流输沙,是目前推荐的黄河下游节水减淤高效输沙入海的主要方式。提出了一些有待进一步研究的问题。     

黄河干流潼关断面非点源污染负荷估算

基于平均浓度法原理,根据黄河中游降雨径流特点,将年内过程分为汛期和非汛期两个阶段,同时将高含沙水流中的污染负荷分为水体中的溶解态污染负荷、泥沙吸附态负荷两部分,提出了多沙河流非点源污染负荷估算模型;根据黄河干流潼关断面1950-2006年实测水沙资料,结合水体、泥沙污染物浓度测定试验,分别计算了潼关断面2006年以及丰水年(P=25%)、平水年(P=50%)、枯水年(P=75%)3种不同代表年型下的非点源污染负荷.结果表明:黄河干流潼关断面年污染负荷以汛期为主,汛期污染负荷以非点源为主;非点源污染负荷中,硝酸盐氮、氨氮以溶解态为主,总磷以吸附态为主;潼关断面非点源污染负荷占全年负荷比例:丰水年时,硝酸盐氮占63.09%,氨氮占61.32%,总氮占87.17%、总磷占89.83%;枯水年时,硝酸盐氮占26.92%,氨氮占24.62%,总氮占67.60%、总磷占71.73%.2006年,硝酸盐氮、氨氮、总氮和总磷非点源污染负荷占全年比例依次为:17%、14%、15%和41%.     

Recruitment Ecology of Burrowing Shrimps in US Pacific Coast Estuaries

Recruitment is a strong determinant of year class strength and adult population density especially for sessile benthic invertebrates where post-settlement mortality and competition are low or relatively stable over time. A series of surveys were undertaken to characterize recruitment and post-settlement processes for two species of burrowing shrimps, Neotrypaea californiensis and Upogebia pugettensis in order to determine how they influenced broader adult populations in US west coast estuaries. On average, U. pugettensis decapodids settled earlier (April–July), recruited almost exclusively to areas with conspecific adults, and grew more rapidly during their first summer than N. californiensis. Neotrypaea californiensis decapodids settled and recruited over a longer period (June–November) and were distributed across the tidal flat. While initially more abundant in areas with conspecific adults, they also either survived better or redistributed as small juvenile shrimp to areas where adults were absent. Linear relationships were found between abundance of newly recruited (0+ age class) shrimp and that of older 1+ shrimp a year later. Positive slopes were close to one for N. californiensis but less than one for U. pugettensis, suggesting lower survival. Annual recruitment varied dramatically but was more consistent for both species in Yaquina Bay. Patterns in strong recruitment years amongst estuaries, particularly for U. pugettensis, suggest the presence of multi-estuary metapopulations linked via larval dispersal. These results have important implications for shrimp population management including control for shellfish aquaculture, but also conservation of estuarine habitats due to the strong influence of these ecosystem engineers on the benthic community.     

Open Bays as Nurseries for Louisiana Brown Shrimp

Previous studies of Louisiana estuaries have indicated a central role of Spartina alterniflora marshes in supporting production of the commercially important brown shrimp, Farfantepenaeus aztecus. Brown shrimp are an estuarine-dependent species and spend one to three springtime months in estuaries as small juveniles, with highest shrimp densities found at marsh edges. Later estuarine and offshore production of brown shrimp is correlated both with marsh area and with abundance of smaller juveniles found in unvegetated open bays near marshes. This paper investigates the idea that open bays are an additional important nursery habitat for Louisiana brown shrimp, with bays possibly supporting the bulk of shrimp populations even while shrimp densities expressed on a square meter basis are lower in the bays. To assay possible differences in shrimp abundances and residency in marsh ponds vs. adjacent open bays, springtime field work was conducted in 2004–2006 near the Louisiana University Marine Consortium Laboratory at Cocodrie, Louisiana. Seine surveys showed similar-sized shrimp were present in marsh ponds (<20 m in diameter) and an adjacent open bay (<1 m deep, 2 km in diameter) and that shrimp were twice as dense in the marsh ponds. Natural C, N, and S isotope tags provided distinctive labeling of shrimp from marsh ponds versus bays; shrimp residency appeared high in both areas with <10% of shrimp present as immigrants from other areas. Widely spaced collections from several Louisiana bay systems and also Galveston Bay, Texas showed that the S isotope tags provided the most general tags for marsh origins, with low S isotope values of 1–9‰ in shrimp muscle tissue consistently indicating marsh origins. Importance of marshes for brown shrimp production across Terrebonne and Barataria Bays, Louisiana was evaluated with S isotopes using spring 2005 collections. Results showed that marshes supported about 1/3 of total shrimp production; 2/3 of Louisiana brown estuarine shrimp production may depend on the three to four times more extensive open bays. Given these results, coastal restoration efforts in Louisiana might focus on measures such as barrier island conservation and restoration that protect both bays and marshes, rather than focusing on measures that specifically target marshes and neglect open bays.