Influence of shallow-water habitats and shoreline development on abundance, biomass, and diversity of benthic prey and predators in Chesapeake Bay

摘要: Within the coastal zone, waterfront development has caused severe loss of shallow- water habitats, such as salt marshes and seagrass beds. Although effects habitat degradation on community structure within intertidal have been well studied, little is known about impact on, ecological value of, subtidal shallow-water de- spite prevalence these habitats in ecosystems. In bivalves are domi- nant benthic organisms that can comprise over 50% prey biomass indicative production. We quantified bivalve diversity, density, deep shallow (<1.5 m MLW) unstructured 2 tributaries lower Chesapeake Bay (Elizabeth- Lafayette River system York River). also examined shoreline alteration shal- low by contrasting benthos areas adjacent to natural marsh, bulkhead, rip-rap shorelines. Bivalve were significantly higher than both systems. Benthic abundance diversity subti- dal marsh those bulkhead shorelines; di- versity intermediate shorelines, appeared depend landscape features. Predator density tended be highest crabs was habitats. There thus a crucial link between marshes, infaunal predator abundance. Conse- quently, indirect upon secondary production shallow, may great or greater direct effects.