Phenology explains temporal dynamics in eelgrass (Zostera marina) food web interactions
Presentation Abstract
Eelgrass (Zostera marina) ecosystems are found throughout the coast of the Salish Sea. Z. marina habitats support diverse food webs that consist of fish, birds, marine mammals, and invertebrates. These food webs are highly seasonal and change drastically over the ecosystem’s annual cycle, often shifting from an epiphyte dominated community to one that is occupied primarily by juvenile fish. Eelgrass restoration is occurring in the Salish Sea, yet there is little information about how temporal dynamics influence food web interactions. I investigated how Z. marina phenology (the timing of periodic seasonal events) affects temporal dynamics of epifaunal and fish food webs, and I reviewed data from literature to illustrate these temporal dynamics. I determined the effects of Z. marina phenology and human disturbances on the timing of major events in the seasonality of food webs, such as eelgrass flowering and the appearance of epiphytes and invertebrates on eelgrass blades. I reviewed literature on Z. marina phenology and temporal dynamics in food web interactions, including when juvenile fish (particularly salmon and Pacific herring) forage within eelgrass, and I illustrated a timeline of seasonal events using data from these sources. I used Z. marina flowering and biomass, epiphyte biomass, invertebrate and fish abundance, and water quality data to characterize seasonal changes in Z. marina ecosystems. This information helped me determine how humans alter temporal food web dynamics by comparing undisturbed and disturbed ecosystems. I found that Z. marina phenological influences on food web dynamics varied spatially, and that human impacts altered temporal events within those ecosystems. These results may encourage habitat restoration efforts to include community structure aspects in addition to just focusing on Z. marina re-establishment.
Session Title
The Role of Eelgrass Ecosystems in the Salish Sea
Conference Track
Habitat
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Food chains (Ecology)--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Zostera marina--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)--Phenology
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Phenology explains temporal dynamics in eelgrass (Zostera marina) food web interactions
2016SSEC
Eelgrass (Zostera marina) ecosystems are found throughout the coast of the Salish Sea. Z. marina habitats support diverse food webs that consist of fish, birds, marine mammals, and invertebrates. These food webs are highly seasonal and change drastically over the ecosystem’s annual cycle, often shifting from an epiphyte dominated community to one that is occupied primarily by juvenile fish. Eelgrass restoration is occurring in the Salish Sea, yet there is little information about how temporal dynamics influence food web interactions. I investigated how Z. marina phenology (the timing of periodic seasonal events) affects temporal dynamics of epifaunal and fish food webs, and I reviewed data from literature to illustrate these temporal dynamics. I determined the effects of Z. marina phenology and human disturbances on the timing of major events in the seasonality of food webs, such as eelgrass flowering and the appearance of epiphytes and invertebrates on eelgrass blades. I reviewed literature on Z. marina phenology and temporal dynamics in food web interactions, including when juvenile fish (particularly salmon and Pacific herring) forage within eelgrass, and I illustrated a timeline of seasonal events using data from these sources. I used Z. marina flowering and biomass, epiphyte biomass, invertebrate and fish abundance, and water quality data to characterize seasonal changes in Z. marina ecosystems. This information helped me determine how humans alter temporal food web dynamics by comparing undisturbed and disturbed ecosystems. I found that Z. marina phenological influences on food web dynamics varied spatially, and that human impacts altered temporal events within those ecosystems. These results may encourage habitat restoration efforts to include community structure aspects in addition to just focusing on Z. marina re-establishment.
