Journal article
Quantifying abundance and distribution of native and invasive oysters in an urbanised estuary
Aquatic invasions, Vol.11(4), pp.425-436
10/2016
Metrics
5 Record Views
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites
Abstract
Human activities have modified the chemical, physical and biological attributes of many of the world's estuaries. Natural foreshores have been replaced by artificial habitats and non-indigenous species have been introduced by shipping, aquaculture, and as ornamental pets. In south east Australia, the native Sydney rock oyster Saccostrea glomerata is threatened by pollution, disease and competition from the invasive Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. This study assessed the abundance (as number m(-2)), size, and distribution of both invasive and native oyster species at 32 sites in the heavily urbanised Port Jackson Estuary, Australia. We tested the hypotheses that there would be: (1) a difference in the proportion of C. gigas and S. glomerata among locations; (2) a greater proportion of C. gigas on artificial compared to natural substrates; (3) a greater numbers of all oysters, with differing size characteristics, on artificial compared to natural substrates; and (4) that the abundance and size of all oysters would vary among locations along an environmental gradient. Environmental variables included distance from the estuary mouth and salinity. We found the abundance and size of all oysters differed among locations; smaller oysters occurred at greater abundances near the mouth of the estuary. Abundance was also higher on artificial, than on natural substrate. Habitat type, however, had no effect on which species of oyster was present. In contrast, distance from the estuary mouth strongly influenced the relative proportion of the two species. The invasive C. gigas comprised 16 % of the oysters sampled, and up to 85 % at some of the upper estuary sites. As predicted, C. gigas was more abundant at locations in the bay ends and upper channel of the estuary; it was also larger in size than the native S. glomerata. This is the first assessment of oyster distribution in Port Jackson and provides a solid base for monitoring changes in the estuarine distribution of a globally invasive pest.
Details
- Title
- Quantifying abundance and distribution of native and invasive oysters in an urbanised estuary
- Creators
- Elliot Scanes - University of SydneyEmma L. Johnston - University of New South WalesVictoria J. Cole - University of SydneyWayne A. O'Connor - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesLaura M. Parker - University of SydneyPauline M. Ross - University of Sydney
- Publication Details
- Aquatic invasions, Vol.11(4), pp.425-436
- Publisher
- Regional Euro-Asian Biological Invasions Centre-Reabic
- Number of pages
- 12
- Identifiers
- 991013125996102368
- Copyright
- © 2016 The Author(s). Journal compilation © 2016 REABIC
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article