Abstract
Macrobenthos were sampled at 27 sites on a seasonal basis from October 1981 through November 1982. Cluster analyses and principal components analyses indicated that although spatial and species groupings were weak, an underlying sediment-correlated structure persisted for all seasons. Weak station groupings resulted from great seasonal and local variability in abundance of several dominant taxa. The most widely distributed species varied the least in density over time. Species richness (number of species) and dominance were uncorrelated. Dominance was correlated with sediment organic content [% total organic carbon (TOC)] and % Mud. Species richness increased with increasing % TOC, reaching a maximum in the range 0.7 to 1.0% TOC (primarily sand stations). At higher organic levels (muddy, sand stations), species richness declined. Muddy sand stations were dominated byAmpelisca abdita. In this community, species richness was inversely correlated both with percent TOC and heavy metals concentrations. In both sand and mud communities, species richness was positively correlated with density (mean number individuals of all species per sample).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Begon, M., J. L. Harper, andC. R. Townsend. 1986. Ecology. Sinauer Assoc., Sunderland, Massachusetts. 876 p.
Black, F. R. 1981. Jamaica Bay: A History. Cultural Resource Management Study No. 3, NARO/NPS. 116 p.
Boesch, D. F. 1982. Ecosystem consequences of alterations of benthic community structure and function in the New York Bight region, p. 543–568.In G. F. Mayer, (ed.), Ecological Stress and the New York Bight: Science and Management. Estuarine Research Federation, Columbia, South Carolina. 715 p.
Esser, S. C. 1982. Long-term changes in some finfishes of the Hudson-Raritan Estuary, p. 299–314.In G. F. Mayer (ed.), Ecological Stress and the New York Bight: Science and Management. Estuarine Research Federation, Columbia, South Carolina. 715 p.
Folk, R. L. 1980. Petrology of Sedimentary Rocks. Hemphills, Austin, Texas.
Franz, D. R. 1982. An historial perspective on mollusks in lower New York Harbor, with emphasis on oysters, p. 181–197.In G. F. Mayer (ed.), Ecological Stress and the New York Bight: Science and Management. Estuarine Research Federation, Columbia, South Carolina. 715 p.
Franz, D. R., andW. H. Harris. 1985. Benthos Study. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Gateway National Recreation Area, Brooklyn, New York. Final Report, DOI, Contract #CX 1600-1-0031.
Gauch, H. G., Jr. 1982. Multivariate Analysis in Community Ecology. Cambridge Univ. Press, New York. 298 p.
Gaudette, H. E., W. R. Flight, L. Toner, andD. W. Folger. 1974. An inexpensive titration method for the determination of organic carbon in Recent sediments.J. Sediment. Petrol. 44: 249–253.
Grassle, J. F., andJ. P. Grassle. 1974. Opportunistic life histories and genetic systems in marine benthic polychaetes.J. Mar. Res. 32(2):253–284.
Harris, W. H., andM. Washitz. 1982. bulk organic geochemistry and trace metals in sewage-derived bottom sediments from the New York Bight apex.Northeast. Environ. Sci. 1:19–32.
Hershkewitz, Z. 1985. Landfill Leachate Study: North Shore Jamaica Bay. M.S. Thesis, Brooklyn College, CUNY. 99 p.
Holme, N. A., andA. D. McIntyre. 1971. Methods for the study of Marine Benthos. I.B.P. Handbook No. 16, Blackwell Sci. Publ. Oxford, United Kingdom. 334 p.
Jackson, M. L. 1958. Soil Chemical Analysis. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
Kazakos, G. K. 1984. Geochemical study of trace metals in Jamaica Bay. M.S. Thesis, Brooklyn College, CUNY. 62 p.
Krebs, C. J. 1985. Ecology, 3rd ed. Harper & Row, New York. 800 p.
Lane, B., andJ. T. Tanacredi. 1987. Coastal fisheries project at Jamaica Bay completed. Park Service 87 (winter):18–19.
Levin, L. A. 1986. Effects of enrichment on reproduction in the opportunistic polychaeteStreblospio benedicti, (Webster): A mesocosm study.Biol. Bull. 171:143–160.
McCall, P. L. 1977. Community patterns and adaptive strategies of the infaunal benthos of Long Island Sound.J. Mar. Res. 35(2):221–266.
McKay, C. R., andD. J. Hartzband. 1970. Propylene phenoxetol: Narcotic agent for unsorted benthic invertebrates.Trans. Am. Micros. Soc. 89(1):43–54.
McNaughton, S. J. 1968. Structure and function in California grasslands.Ecology 49:952–972.
Orloci, L. 1978. Multivariate Analysis in Vegetation Research, 2nd ed. W. Junk, The Hague.
Peet, R. K. 1974. The measurement of species diversity.Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 5:285–307.
Ramondetta, P. J. 1974. Heavy metals distribution in Jamaica Bay sediments. M.S. Thesis, Brooklyn College, CUNY. 93 p.
Ramondetta, P. J., andW. H. Harris. 1978. Heavy metals distribution in Jamaica Bay sediments.Environ. Geol. 2:145–149.
Rhoads, D. C., P. L. McCall, andJ. Y. Yingst. 1978. Disturbance and production of the estuarine seafloor.Am. Sci. 66:577–586.
Tanacredi, J. T. 1977. Petroleum hydrocarbons from effluents: Detection in the marine environment.J. Water Pollut. Control Fed. March:216–226.
Walkley, A., andI. A. Black. 1934. An examination of the Degtjareff Method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method.Soil Sci. 27:29–38.
Whitlatch, R. B. 1981. Animal-sediment relationships in intertidal marine benthic habitats: Some determinants of deposit-feeding species diversity.J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 53:31–45.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Franz, D.R., Harris, W.H. Seasonal and spatial variability in macrobenthos communities in Jamaica Bay, New York—an urban estuary. Estuaries 11, 15–28 (1988). https://doi.org/10.2307/1351714
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1351714