Benthic Communities in Portions of Coos Bay, Oregon Slated for Shipping Channel Expansion and Mitigation
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Date
2021-09-13
Authors
DePaolis, Matthew
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Benthic communities at four proposed dredge areas within the main navigation channel of the Coos Bay estuary were sampled in November 2020 and February 2021. Trawls and grabs were used to survey benthic and infaunal organisms, respectively. Neither distance from the estuary mouth nor depth were significant variables in predicting the presence of any species surveyed. There was a significant correlation in the November trawls between the presence of the flatfish Pleuronectes vetulus and the shrimp Lissocrangon stylirostris. Dungeness crab, Metacarcinus magister, P. vetulus and L. stylirostris presence were similarly significantly correlated during the February trawls. Shoot density, blade area, and epibiont communities were compared between two eelgrass beds slated for dredging and transplantation. Sites were statistically different in both shoot density and blade area. The sites also exhibited different epibiont communities, one being dominated by Arthropoda and the mitigation site occupied mainly by gastropod molluscs and their egg masses.
Description
Keywords
Benthic, Coos Bay, Oregon, Dredge, Infaunal, Transplant, Zoestera Marina