| SS9.01 Ecosystem Science Practiced in an Urbanized Estuary: South San Francisco Bay |
| Kaufmann, R, S, University of San Diego, San Diego, USA, kaufmann@sandiego.edu |
| Boudrias, M, A, University of San Diego, San Diego, USA, boum@sandiego.edu |
| Stransky, B, C, Amec Earth and Environmental, San Diego, USA, chris.stransky@amec.com |
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| TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF MEIOFAUNAL COMMUNITIES IN MISSION BAY, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA |
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| Mission Bay is a modified, shallow estuary fed by three freshwater creeks and numerous storm drains that channel inputs from a highly urbanized watershed. Physically, the bay can be separated into two regions, a well flushed front bay and a poorly flushed back bay. The back bay experiences elevated temperatures and salinities during the summer and cooler, fresher water during the winter, relative to the front bay. Winter rains bring runoff and organic-rich sediments from the creeks to the back bay, creating gradients of sediment grain size and organic content from the back bay to the ocean. Sediments and meiofaunal communities were sampled monthly at six sites throughout Mission Bay over a complete annual cycle. Sediments were characterized physically and chemically, and quarterly toxicity assays also were performed. Overall, sediments in the back bay were finer; contained more organic matter and anthropogenic contamination; and displayed greater toxicity to bioassay organisms than sediments in the front bay. Back bay meiofaunal communities were dominated by low densities of nematodes, while those near the mouth of the bay included high densities of foraminifera. |
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