Boesch, Donald F.; Diaz, Robert J.; Virnstein, Robert W. (1976). Effects of tropical storm Agnes on soft-bottom macrobenthic communities of the James and York estuaries and the lower Chesapeake Bay. Chesapeake Science. 17(4): 246-259.

53672

10.2307/1350512 [view]

Boesch, Donald F.; Diaz, Robert J.; Virnstein, Robert W.

1976

17(4): 246-259

Publication

https://www.jstor.org/stable/1350512

World Polychaeta Database (WPolyDb)
NeMys doc_id: 306
Ant'Phipoda Literature database

Available for editors   [request]

Macrobenthos was studied at 58 previously surveyed stations following the drastic salinity reductions caused by Tropical Storm Agnes. Effects were greatest in the lower, polyhaline portions of the James and York estuaries, where many abundant species were eliminated from shallow bottoms due to the usually low salinities and several species were eliminated or reduced in abundance on deeper bottoms due to the somewhat reduced salinity but, more importantly, to low oxygen concentrations resulting to strong density stratification of the water masses. Irruptions of opportunistic species followed these perturbations and the deep mud bottom community in the lower York estuary had not recovered 2 1/2 years after the storm. The primary alteration to usually mesohaline communities was an infusion of species more abundant in oligohaline and/or shallow brackish habitats. Communities in usually, oligohaline or tidal freshwater reaches of the James and York estuaries and those at the mouth of the bay were hardly affected by Agnes.

America, North
Western Atlantic warm temperate to boreal

Benthos
Biodiversity, Taxonomic and ecological diversity
Bioturbation, Impact, Resilience
Brackish water
Ecology
Marine
Soft substrates

Annelida
Polychaeta

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