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MEPS
Marine Ecology Progress Series

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MEPS 570:113-125 (2017)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12103

Role of habitat and predators in maintaining functional diversity of estuarine bivalves

Cassandra N. Glaspie1,2,*, Rochelle D. Seitz

1Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USA
2Present address: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, 104 Nash Hall, Corvallis, OR 97731, USA
*Corresponding author:

ABSTRACT: Habitat loss is occurring rapidly in coastal systems worldwide. In Chesapeake Bay, USA, most historical oyster reefs have been decimated, and seagrass loss is expected to worsen due to climate warming and nutrient pollution. This loss of habitat may result in declining diversity, but whether diversity loss will equate to loss in ecosystem function is unknown. A bivalve survey was conducted in a variety of habitat types (seagrass, oyster shell, shell hash, coarse sand, detrital mud) in 3 lower Chesapeake Bay sub-estuaries from spring 2012 through summer 2013 to examine the correlation between bivalve densities, habitat type, habitat volume (of material retained on 3 mm mesh), and predator density. Bivalves were analyzed as functional groups based on feeding mode, living position, and predator defense strategy. On average, seagrass supported one additional functional group, and diversity was increased 68–94%, in seagrass compared to the other habitats examined. Species richness and functional group richness were positively correlated with habitat volume. The greatest densities of deposit-feeding bivalves were in detrital mud habitats, the greatest densities of thin-shelled and surface-dwelling bivalves were in seagrass habitats, and the greatest densities of armored bivalves were in oyster shell habitats. Small, thin-shelled bivalves were negatively correlated with densities of predators, including blue crabs Callinectes sapidus and cownose rays Rhinoptera bonasus. Overall, bivalve diversity was associated with habitat type, habitat volume, and predator densities. These results suggest that all habitats, and particularly seagrass, play a role in maximizing bivalve functional diversity in Chesapeake Bay.


KEY WORDS: Chesapeake Bay · Seagrass · Habitat loss · Ecosystem services · Oyster


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Cite this article as: Glaspie CN, Seitz RD (2017) Role of habitat and predators in maintaining functional diversity of estuarine bivalves. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 570:113-125. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12103

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