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Microhabitat variability of macrobenthic organisms within tidal creek systems

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Abstract

Tidal creeks are transitional habitats between fresh and salt water with large spatial heterogeneity. As a result there are most likely various microhabitats at different spatial scales. This study attempted to determine at what scales the macrobenthic communities in tidal creeks differ. Samples were collected in headwater, intertidally dominated areas and downstream, subtidally dominated areas of tidal creek habitats at three exposure levels. Samples were analyzed to determine distributions of dominant higher taxa of annelids, crustaceans, and mollusks with particular interest to two dominant species: the oligochaete Monopylephorus rubroniveus (Levinsen) and the polychaete Streblospio benedicti (Webster). Finally, family diversity, evenness, and community composition were examined. While M. rubroniveus was primarily found in intertidal exposures in the headwaters, S. benedicti was found throughout all of the creek lengths and exposure levels. Communities in the marsh appeared to be similar throughout the length of the creek. Communities in the intertidal and subtidal exposure levels differed between the headwaters and downstream areas and between each other in the headwaters. PERMANOVA found communities to differ among all exposure levels and orders. Thus, it is important to take into account both longitudinal position and microhabitat when sampling these communities.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Ecological Research, Assessment and Prediction group (ERAP) at Hollings Marine Laboratory. Support was also provided by the Grice Marine Biological Laboratory at the College of Charleston, and this is contribution number 393. I would like to thank my thesis committee (Drs. Marie DeLorenzo, Jeff Hyland and Guy DiDonato). Valuable input was also provided by several anonymous reviewers. This work was funded in part by the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative and S.C. Sea Grant Consortium through a grant from NOAA Hollings Marine Laboratory. The National Ocean Service (NOS) does not approve, recommend, or endorse any proprietary product or material mentioned in this publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Charleston, 210 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC, 29412-9110, USA

    Travis Washburn

  2. South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, 287 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC, 29401, USA

    Denise M. Sanger

  3. Center of Excellence in Oceans and Human Health at the Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC, 29412, USA

    Denise M. Sanger

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  1. Travis Washburn
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Correspondence to Travis Washburn.

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Handling editor: Pierluigi Viaroli

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Washburn, T., Sanger, D.M. Microhabitat variability of macrobenthic organisms within tidal creek systems. Hydrobiologia 702, 15–25 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1297-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1297-4

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