Abstract
Two short cores of late Holocene, low tidal, estuarine sediment from the sheltered fringes of the Auckland's Waitemata Harbor, New Zealand, record the following changes through time since human colonization: an abrupt decline and disappearance of marine molluscs, a major decline and virtual disappearance of ostracods, an abrupt decline in calcareous foraminifera (mostlyAmmonia spp.), a rapid increase, in abundance of agglutinated foraminifera, large diatoms, and freshwater thecamoebians, and an increase in sedimentation rate, but no consistent trend in change of grain size. The up-core foraminiferal changes mimic their present day up-estuary zonation, which correlates strongly with decreasing salinity and pH. In both localities the faunal changes can be correlated with the documented local land-use history and increased freshwater runoff over time. At the head of the Waitemata Harbor, in Lucas Creek estuary, three phases of foraminiferal faunal change occurred: minor changes during initial Polynesian forest clearance (1500–1800 AD), a major change in early European times (1840–1870 AD) with clearance of most of the remaining native forest, and another small change in very, recent times (∼1990s) with urbanization in the Lucas Creek catchment. On the eastern, seaward fringes of the Waitemata Harbor, in the smaller Tamaki Estuary, no faunal changes occurred in association with complete forest clearance and establishment of pastoral farming in Polynesian and early European times (before 1950s). Major foraminiferal and other faunal changes occurred in the late European period (1960s–1970s) coincident with the onset of major urbanization spreading throughout the Tamaki catchment. Our results suggest increased freshwater runoff is the major culprit for many of the observed biotic changes in the urbanized estuaries of New Zealand.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Abrahim, G. andR. Parker. 2002. Heavy-metal contaminants in Tamaki Estuary: Impact of city development and growth, Auckland, New Zealand.Environmental Geology 42:883–890.
Alve, E. 1995. Benthic formaniferal responses to estuarine pollution—A review.Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 25:190–203.
Alve, E. 2000. Environmental stratigraphy: A case study reconstructing bottom water oxygen conditions in Frierfjord, Norway, over the past five centuries, p. 342–350.In R. E. Martin (ed.), Environmental Micropaleontology: The Application of Microfossils to Environmental Geology. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Anderson, M. J., R. B. Ford, D. A. Feary, andC. Honeywill. 2004. Quantitative measures of sedimentation in an estuarine system and its relationship with intertidal soft-sediment infauna.Marine Ecology Progress Series 272:33–48.
Beever, J. 1981. A map of the pre-European vegetation of lower Northland, New Zealand.New Zealand Journal of Botany 19:105–110.
Boltovsroy, E. andR. Wright. 1976. Recent Foraminifera. Dr W. Junk. The Hague, The Netherlands.
Cearreta, A., M. J. Irabien, E. Leorri, I. Yusta, I. W. Croudace, andA. B. Cundy. 2000. Recent anthropogenic impacts on the Bilbao Estuary, Northern Spain: Geochemical and microfaunal evidence.Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 50:571–592.
Crawford, R. M. 1979. The taxonomy and frustular structure of the marine centric diatomParalia sulcata.Journal of Phycology 15: 200–210.
Davidson, J. M. 1982. Auckland, p. 28–48.In N. J. Prickett (ed.), The First Thousand Years. Regional Perspectives, in New Zeland Archaeology. Dunmore Press Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand.
Debenay, J.-P. 2000. Foraminifers of paralic tropical environments.Micropaleontology 1:153–160.
Debenay, J.-P., J. J. Guillou, F. Redois, andE. Geslin. 2000. Distribution trends of foraminiferal assemblages in paralic environments: A base for using foraminifera as bioindicators, p. 40–67.In R. E. Martin (ed.), Environmental Micropaleontology: The Application of Microfossils to Environmental Geology. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Guélorget, O. andJ. P. Perthuisot. 1992. The paralic realm. Biological organisation and functioning.Vie Mielieu, Banyuls sur Mer 42:215–251.
Hattway, R. 1982. Early farming activities in the Howick District.Auckland-Waikato Historical Journal 1:24–27.
Hayek, L.-A. C. andM. A. Buzas. 1997. Surveying Natural Populations. Columbia University Press, New York.
Hayward, B. W. 1981. Ostracod fauna of an intertidal pool at Kawerua, Northland.Tane 27:159–168.
Hayward, B. W. 1982. Associations of benthic foraminifera (Protozoa: Sarcodina) of inner shelf sediments around the Cavalli Islands, north-east New Zealand.New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 16:27–56.
Hayward, B. W. 1983. Prehistoric pa sites of metropolitan Auckland.Tane 29:3–14.
Hayward, B. W. andJ. T. Diamond. 1978. Prehistoric Archaeological Sites of the Waitakere Ranges and West Auckland, New Zealand. Auckland Regional Authority Parks Department, Auckland, New Zealand.
Hayward, B. W., H. R. Grenfell, G. Cairns, andA. Smith. 1996. Environmental controls on benthic foraminiferal and thecamoebian associations in a New Zealand tidal inlet.Journal of Foraminiferal Research 26:150–171.
Hayward, B. W., H. R. Grenfell, K. Nicholson, R. Parker, J. Wilmhurst, M. Horrocks, A. Swales, andA. T. Sabaa. 2004a. Foraminiferal record of human impact on intertidal estuarine environments in New Zeland's largest city.Marine Micropaleontology 53:37–66.
Hayward, B. W., H. R. Grenfell, A. D. Pullin, C. Reid, andC. J. Hollis. 1997b. Foraminiferal associations in the upper Waitemata Harbor, Auckland, New Zealand.Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 27:21–51.
Hayward, B. W., H. R. Grenfell, C. M. Reid, and K. A. Hayward. 1999. Recent New Zealand shallow-water benthic foraminifera: Taxonomy, ecologic distribution, biogeography, and use in paleoenvironmental assessment. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Monograph 21, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Hayward, B. W., H. R. Grenfell, andD. B. Scott. 1999c. Tidal range of marsh foraminifera for determining former sea-level heights in New Zealand.New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 42:395–413.
Hayward, B. W. andC. J. Hollis. 1994. Brackish foraminifera in New Zealand: A taxonomic and ecologic review.Micropaleontology 40:185–222.
Hayward, B. W., M. Holzmann, H. R. Grenfell, J. Pawlowski, andC. M. Triggs. 2004c. Morphological distinction of molecular types inAmmonia—Towards a taxonomic revision of the world's most commonly misidentified foraminifera.Marine Micropaleontology 50:237–271.
Hayward, B. W. and M. S. Morley. In press. Intertidal Life of the Tamaki Estuary and Its Entrance, Auckland. Auckland Regional Council Technical Publication, Auckland, New Zealand.
Hayward, B. W., M. S. Morley, A. B. Stephenson, W. M. Blom, H. R. Grenfell, R. Prasad, D. Rogan, F. Thompson, J. Cheetham, and M. Webb. 1999b Intertidal and subtidal biota and habitats of the central Waitemata Harbor. Auckland Regional Council Technical Publication No. 127, Auckland, New Zeland.
Hayward, B. W., G. H. Scott, H. R. Grenfell, R. Carter, andJ. H. Lipps. 2004b. Estimation of tidal elevation and salinity histories of sheltered harbors and estuaries using benthic foraminifera.The Holocene 14:218–232.
Hayward, B. W., A. B. Stephenson, M. S. Morley, J. Riley, andH. R. Grenfell. 1997a. Faunal changes in Waitenata Harbor sediments, 1930s–1990s.Journal of the Royal Society of, New Zealand 27:1–20.
Hayward, B. W. andC. M. Triggs. 1994. Computer analysis of benthic foraminiferal associations in a tidal New Zealand inlet.Journal of Micropaleontology 13:103–117.
Herald, J. R. 1989. Hydrological impacts of urban development in the Albany Basin, Auckland. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Holloway, K. M. 1962. Maungarei. An outline history of the Mt Wellington, Pannure, and Tamaki Districts. Mt Wellington Borough Council, Auckland, New Zealand.
Hume, T. M., K. Bryan, K. Berkenbusch, and A. Swales. 2002. Evidence for the effects of catchment sediment runoff preserved in estuarine sediments. Auckland Regional Council Technical Publication 166, Auckland, New Zealand.
Hume, T. M. andM. S. McClone. 1986. Sedimentation patterns and catchment use change recorded in the sediments of a shallow tidal creek. Lucas Creek, upper Waitemata Harbor. New Zealand.New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 20:677–687.
Ishman, S. E. 2001. Ecological controls on benthic foraminifer distributions in Biscayne Bay, Florida.Bulletins of American Paleontology 361:233–247.
Kovach, W. L. 1993. MVSP Shareware, Multivariate Statistics Package. Kovach Computing, Services, Pentraeth, Wales.
Le Cadre, V., J.-P. Debenay, andM. Lesourd. 2003. Low pH effects onAmmonia beccarii test deformation: Implications for using test deformations as a pollution indicator.Journal of Foraminiferal Research 33:1–9.
Loeblich, A. R. andH. Tappan. 1992. Present status of foraminiferal classification. p. 93–102.In Y. Takayanagi and T. Saito (eds.), Studies in Benthic foraminifera Proceedings of the Fourth Symposium on Benthic Foraminifera, Sendai. Tokai University Press, Tokai, Japan.
Madden, I. 1966. Riverhead. The Kaipara Gateway. Riverhead Jubilee Association, Auckland, New Zealand.
Margalef, R. 1969. Size of centric diatoms as an ecological indicator.Mitteilungen der Internationalen Vereiningung für theoretische und angewandte Liminologie 17:202–210.
Matthews, A., H. R. Grenfell, B. W. Hayward, andM. Horrocks. 2005. Foraminiferal record, of sewage outfall impacts on the inner Manukau Harbor, Auckland, New ZealandNew Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 39:193–215
McGlone, M. S. andJ. M. Wilmshurst. 1999. Dating initial Maori impact in New Zealand.Quaternary International 59:17–26.
Patterson, R. T. andE. Fishbein. 1989. Re-examination of the statistical methods used to determine the number of point counts needed for micropaleontological quantative research.Journal of Paleontology 63:245–248.
Powell, A. W. B. 1979. New Zealand Mollusca. Collins, Auckland, New Zealand.
Roelofs, A. K. 1984. Distributional pattern and variation of valve diameter ofParalia suleata in surface sediments of southern British Columbia inlets.Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 18: 165–176.
Schafer, C. T. 2000. Monitoring near shore marine environments using benthic foraminifera: Some protocols and pitfalls.Micropaleontology 46:161–169.
Scott, D. B., E. S. Collins, J. Duggan, A. Asioli, T. Saito, andS. Hasegawa. 1996. Pacific rim marash foraminiferal distributions: Implications for sea-level studies.Journal of Coastal Research 12: 850–861.
Sen Gupta, B. K. 1999. Foraminifera in marginal marine environments, p. 141–159.In B. K. Sen Gupta (ed.) Modern Foraminifera. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Snelder, T. 1995. The effects of urbanisation in the catchment of the Upper Waitemata Harbor: Summary Report. Auckland Regional Council Technical Publication No. 89, Auckland, New Zealand.
Swales, A., T. M. Hume, M. S. McGlone, R. Pilvio, R. Ovenden, N. Zviguina, S. Hatton, P. Nicholls, R. Budd, J. Hewett, S. Pickmere, and K. Costley. 2002a. Evidence for the physical effects of catchment sediment runoff preserved in estuarine sediments: Phase II (field study). Auckland Regional Council Technical Publication No. 221, Auckland, New Zealand.
Swales, A., R. B. Williamson, L. F. Van Dam, M. J. Stroud, andM. S. McGlone. 2002b. Reconstruction of urban stormwater contamination of an estuary using catchment history and sediment profile dating.Estuaries 25:43–56.
Swanson, K. M. 1979. The marine fauna of New Zealand: Ostracods of the Otago shelf. New Zealand Oceanographic Institute Memoir 78, Wellington, New Zealand.
Tang, J. 1999. Environmental geology study on Panmure basin, Auckland, New Zealand. M.S. Thesis, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Thomas, E., T. Gapotchenko, J. C. Varekamp, E. L. Mecray, andM. R. Buchholtz Ten Brink. 2000. Benthic foraminifera and environmental changes in Long Island Sound.Journal of Coastal Research 16:641–655.
van Roon, M. R. 1983. Water quality of the Upper Waitemata harbor and streams. Upper Waitemata Harbor Study Specialist Report. Auckland Regional Water Board, Auckland, New Zealand.
Vant, W. N., R. B. Williamson, T. M. Hume, and T. J. Dolphin. 1993. Effects of future urbanisation in the catchment of Upper Waitemata harbor. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Consultancy Report No. ARC220R, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Wang, P. 1992. Distribution of foraminifera in estuarine deposits: A comparison between Asia, Europe and Australia. p. 71–83.In K. Ishizaki and T. Saito (eds.), Centenary of Japanese Micropaleontology. Terra Scientific Publishing Co., Tokyo, Japan.
Willard, D. A., T. M. Cronin, andS. Veradro. 2003. Late-Holocene climate and ecosystem history from Chesapeake Bay sediment cores, USA.The Holocene 13:201–214.
Williams, P. W. andD. Brickell. 1983. Land and water management plan for the upper Waitemata Harbor catchment. Upper Waitemata Harbor Catchment Study, Auckland Regional Authority. Auckland, New Zealand.
Williamson, R. B., A. Blom, T. M. Hume, G. P. Glasby, and M. Larcombe. 1992. Heavy metals in Manukau Harbor sediments. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Water Quality Centre Publication 23. Hamilton, New Zealand.
Yanko, V., A. J. Arnold, andW. C. Parker. 1999. Effects of marine pollution on benthic foraminifera, p. 217–235.In B. K. Sen Gupta (ed.), Modern Foraminifera. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Yassini, I. andB. G. Jones. 1995. Foraminiferida and Ostracoda from the Estuarine and Shelf Environments on the Southeastern Coast of Australia. University of Wollongong Press, Wollongong, Australia.
Sources of Unpublished Materials
Bioresearchers Ltd, Unpublished data. 1981. The benthic biota and sediments of the Upper Waitemata Harbor. Unpublished Working Report No. 27. Upper Waitemata Harbor Catchment Study. Auckland Regional Authority, Auckland, New Zealand.
Cronin, T. M. and S. E. Ishman. unpublished data. 2000. Holocene paleoclimate from Chesapeake Bay ostracodes and benthic foraminifera from Marion-Dufresne core MD99-2209 http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/of00-306/chapter9/.
Hayward, B. W., H. R. Grenfell, A. T. Sabaa, M. S. Morley, and M. Horrocks. unpublished data. Census, environmental proxy, and heavy metal data for cores R8 and T6, together with foraminiferal census data for the other reconnaissance cores, are available online at http://www.estuariesandcoasts.org.
Metrowater and Auckland City Council. unpublished data. 2001. Auckland City stormwater, wastewater and combined systems discharges. Assessment and environmental effects, http://www.metrowater.co.nz/environmental/aee.aspx.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hayward, B.W., Grenfell, H.R., Sabaa, A.T. et al. Effect and timing of increased freshwater runoff into sheltered harbor environments around Auckland City, New Zeland. Estuaries and Coasts: J ERF 29, 165–182 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02781987
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02781987