Bioassessment of a northwest Florida USA estuary using benthic macroinvertebrates
Nestlerode, J.A.; Murrell, M.C.; Hagy, J.D.; Harwell, L.M.; Lisa, J.A. (2020). Bioassessment of a northwest Florida USA estuary using benthic macroinvertebrates. Integr. Environ. Assess. Manag. 16(2): 245-256. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ieam.4209
In: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. Wiley: Pensacola. ISSN 1551-3777; e-ISSN 1551-3793, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Nestlerode, J.A.
- Murrell, M.C.
- Hagy, J.D.
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| Abstract |
Benthic invertebrate community composition was surveyed across the salinity gradient of the Pensacola Bay Estuary, Florida during summer 2016. Macrofauna densities ranged from 1000 to 9300 individuals m‐2, with highest densities occurring at the upper estuary and the lowest in the mid‐ and lower estuary. Taxonomic richness and Shannon diversity were lowest in the upper estuary and increased along the salinity gradient. Small‐bodied, near‐surface infaunal polychaete species (e.g., Mediomastus ambiseta and Paraprionospio alata) dominated the macrofaunal community in fine sediment areas. We calculated the Gulf of Mexico Benthic Index of Biological Integrity (GOM B‐IBI) for each site and compared the index scores with those an earlier benthic assessment model (EMAP‐E). Condition evaluations by the different models did not match across all sites in this study; however, scores consistently indicated that most sites were at or near degraded levels, implying that Pensacola Bay represents a marginal habitat for a ‘healthy’ benthic macrofauna community. This study provided new information about the benthic communities and sediments in Pensacola Bay estuary. |
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