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Invertebrate Communities of Low-Salinity Wetlands: Overview and Comparison between Phragmites and Typha Marshes Within the Hudson River Estuary

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Abstract

Benthic macroinvertebrate abundance, taxonomic composition, and surface flooding dynamics were compared among high and low elevation stands of narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia) and invasive common reed (Phragmites australis) at Iona Island Marsh, an oligohaline wetland, and Piermont Marsh, a mesohaline wetland, within the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve during 1999 and 2000. Overall, the benthic macroinvertebrate community at both sites was similar in composition and abundance to those documented from other low-salinity systems. Macroinvertebrate taxa richness was lowest in mesohaline common reed, but similar among common reed and cattail habitats in oligohaline wetlands. Total macroinvertebrate densities were greater at high-elevation compared to low-elevation reed stands at the mesohaline site during summer 1999 and spring 2000. Total macroinvertebrate densities were similar among both oligohaline vegetation types during all seasons, except for spring 2000, when lower densities were observed in low-elevation common reed. A weak positive relationship between macroinvertebrate density and depth of flooding suggests that surface hydrology may be influencing the observed patterns of macroinvertebrate density among the vegetation stands. These results suggest that benthic macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity may not necessarily be impaired in low-salinity wetlands experiencing invasion by common reed unless the change in vegetation is accompanied by a measurable alteration to physical conditions on the marsh surface (i.e., elevation and flooding dynamics).

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this study was provided by the Hudson River Research Grant Program of the Hudson River Foundation. The authors appreciate the logistical support of Chuck Nieder, former Research Coordinator of the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the cooperation of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. Field, laboratory, and graphics assistance was provided by C. Miller, L. Vasilakos, C. Elliot, S. Matteson, R. Murphy, and C. Cotroneo. Comments by Aat Barendregt, Chris Swarth and two anonymous reviewers improved the quality and accuracy of the final manuscript.

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  1. HDR, Inc., 1200 MacArthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ, 07430, USA

    David J. Yozzo

  2. Department of Biology, Albright College, 13th and Bern Streets, PO Box 15234, Reading, PA, 19612, USA

    David T. Osgood

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  1. David J. Yozzo
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  2. David T. Osgood
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Correspondence to David J. Yozzo.

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Yozzo, D.J., Osgood, D.T. Invertebrate Communities of Low-Salinity Wetlands: Overview and Comparison between Phragmites and Typha Marshes Within the Hudson River Estuary. Estuaries and Coasts 36, 575–584 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-012-9543-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-012-9543-6

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