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Ecological Values of Shallow-Water Habitats: Implications for the Restoration of Disturbed Ecosystems

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Abstract

A presumed value of shallow-habitat enhanced pelagic productivity derives from the principle that in nutrient-rich aquatic systems phytoplankton growth rate is controlled by light availability, which varies inversely with habitat depth. We measured a set of biological indicators across the gradient of habitat depth within the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta (California) to test the hypothesis that plankton biomass, production, and pelagic energy flow also vary systematically with habitat depth. Results showed that phytoplankton biomass and production were only weakly related to phytoplankton growth rates whereas other processes (transport, consumption) were important controls. Distribution of the invasive clam Corbicula fluminea was patchy, and heavily colonized habitats all supported low phytoplankton biomass and production and functioned as food sinks. Surplus primary production in shallow, uncolonized habitats provided potential subsidies to neighboring recipient habitats. Zooplankton in deeper habitats, where grazing exceeded phytoplankton production, were likely supported by significant fluxes of phytoplankton biomass from connected donor habitats. Our results provide three important lessons for ecosystem science: (a) in the absence of process measurements, derived indices provide valuable information to improve our mechanistic understanding of ecosystem function and to benefit adaptive management strategies; (b) the benefits of some ecosystem functions are displaced by water movements, so the value of individual habitat types can only be revealed through a regional perspective that includes connectedness among habitats; and (c) invasive species can act as overriding controls of habitat function, adding to the uncertainty of management outcomes.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the CALFED San Francisco Bay-Delta Ecosystem Restoration Program (ERP01C07). Many thanks to our boat captains Byron Richards, Francis Parchaso, Jay Cuetara, Jon Yokomizo, Lloyd Brenn, and Eric Santos; to Andy Arnsberg, Nancy Monsen, Heather Peterson, Bill Sobczak, Michelle Shouse, Francis Parchaso, Byron Richards, Scott Waller, Kitty Triboli, Mike Demsey, Mike Simpson, Cathy Ruhl, Kurt Battenfield, Linda Cloern, and Bob Herzog for their many hours in the field and on the houseboats; to Nancy Monsen for her model output of mean depths and the Delta hypsograph; to Steve Hager and Greg Cutter for the nutrient analyses; to Jim Orsi for the zooplankton community analysis; to Dick Dufford for the phytoplankton community analysis; to Bill Sobczak for his data; to Catherine Hall for her dry weight conversions and carbon values for E. affinis and P. forbesi; and to our amazing illustrator Jeanne DiLeo. Reviews by Cindy Brown, Bill Sobczak, and two anonymous reviews greatly improved this manuscript.

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  1. US Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road MS 496, Menlo Park, California, 94025, USA

    Cary B. Lopez, James E. Cloern, Tara S. Schraga, Amy J. Little, Lisa V. Lucas & Janet K. Thompson

  2. US Geological Survey, Placer Hall, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, California, 95819, USA

    Jon R. Burau

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  1. Cary B. Lopez
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  2. James E. Cloern
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Correspondence to James E. Cloern.

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Lopez, C.B., Cloern, J.E., Schraga, T.S. et al. Ecological Values of Shallow-Water Habitats: Implications for the Restoration of Disturbed Ecosystems. Ecosystems 9, 422–440 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-005-0113-7

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