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Fish community responses to ecosystem stressors in coastal estuarine wetlands: a functional basis for wetlands management and restoration

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Abstract

Functional responses of estuarine fish species to environmental perturbations such as wetland impoundment, changes in water quality, and sediment accretion are investigated. The study focuses on the feeding, growth and habitat use by California killifish (Fundulus parvipinnis), topsmelt (Antherinops affinis), and juvenile California halibut (Paralichthys californicus) in impacted coastal wetlands to provide an ecological basis for guidance on the management and restoration of these ecosystems. The ecology of California killifish, Fundulus parvipinnis, is closely tied with the marsh surface, which they access at high tide to feed and grow. Field estimates of food consumption show that killifish can increase their food intake by two-fold to five-fold by adding marsh surface foods to their diet. Bioenergetics modeling predicts that killifish can grow over an order of magnitude faster if they add intertidal marsh surfaces to their subtidal feeding areas. Tidal inlet closures and increased marsh surface elevations due to sediment accretion can restrict killifish access to the marsh surface, affecting its growth and fitness. An open tidal inlet and tidal creek networks that allow killifish to access the marsh at high tide must be incorporated into the restoration design. Topsmelt and California halibut are also adversely affected by tidal inlet closures. Food consumption rates of topsmelt are 50% lower when the tidal inlet is closed, compared to when the estuary is tidally-flushed. Tidal inlet closures inadvertently induce variations in water temperature and salinity and negatively affect growth of juvenile California halibut. Tidal creek networks which consist of channels and creeks of various orders are also important to halibut. Large halibut (>200 mm TL) inhabit deeper, high order channels for thermal refuge, while small halibut (<120 mm TL) are abundant in lower order channels where they can feed on small-sized prey which are typically less abundant in high order channels. Maintaining an open tidal inlet, implementing sediment management programs and designing coastal wetlands with tidal creek networks adjacent to intertidal salt marsh habitat (for fish access) are key elements that need to be considered during the planning and implementation of coastal wetland restoration projects.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by funding provided by the Earth Island Institute and the National Science Foundation (NSF Award DEB 0212005) while the author was at the Pacific Estuarine Research Laboratory, San Diego State University. CH2M HILL, Inc. also provided support in time and materials to the author through an initiative grant for data analysis and writing. John Callaway, Janelle West, Michelle Cordrey, Michael Kiener, Brian Weller, Michelle Bowman, Kecia Kerr and Gregory Williams assisted with field sampling and data collection efforts. Thanks are due to Joy B. Zedler for her guidance and support throughout this study. Thanks are also due to the staff at the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon Foundation for supporting this research. This paper is dedicated to the memory of Khorshed Shyam Verma.

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  1. Water Resources and Environmental Management Practice, Ecosystem Planning and Restoration, CH2M HILL, Inc, 402 W. Broadway, Suite 1450, San Diego, CA, 92101, USA

    Sharook P. Madon

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  1. Sharook P. Madon
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Correspondence to Sharook P. Madon.

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Madon, S.P. Fish community responses to ecosystem stressors in coastal estuarine wetlands: a functional basis for wetlands management and restoration. Wetlands Ecol Manage 16, 219–236 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-007-9070-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-007-9070-6

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