Effective estuarine management: A case study of a California estuary and its ecological and political characteristics

详细信息   

• 作者：Goodman ; Darcie
• 学历：Doctor
• 年：2008
• 关键词：Health and environmental sciences ; Social sciences
• 导师：Melack,John
• 毕业院校：University of California
• Department：Environmental Science & Management
• 专业：Biological oceanography;Political science;Environmental science
• ISBN：9780549987758
• CBH：3342015
• Country：USA
• 语种：English
• FileSize：34846502
• Pages：369

文摘

Some estuarine systems in the Mediterranean climate of the central California coast are only infrequently open to the ocean. As a consequence,ecological conditions within these systems differ from neighboring systems permanently open to the tide. Results from five years of physical,chemical and biological surveys conducted in an intermittently open California estuary suggest that basing managerial decisions on traits of traditional California estuarine systems may not properly protect the infrequently open estuary. This dissertation focuses on the gaps in knowledge in intermittently open estuarine systems and application of ecological and political findings to improve management for similar California systems. I studied Devereux Slough,an 18 hectare seasonally open canyon mouth estuary,between the years of 2002 and 2007. I characterized spatial and temporal patterns in fish and invertebrate communities in relation to physical and biogeochemical parameters to quantify fish and invertebrate density and composition. Results indicate that F. parvipinnis (killifish),Atherinops affinis (topsmelt),and Gambusia affinis (mosquitofish) were the most abundant fish,with a shift in dominant species from A. affinis to F. parvipinni in the summer of 2005. Gammarus sp. (freshwater shrimp) were the most abundant invertebrates followed by Trichocorixa reticulate (water boatman). I also examined changes in a suite of abiotic parameters,including salinity,temperature,dissolved oxygen,sediment accretion,and loading of nitrate,ammonium,dissolved organic nitrogen,and phosphate with shifts in slough ecosystem properties. Devereux Slough demonstrated inter and intra-annual variability in environmental factors influenced by rainfall. Changes in floral and faunal community structure tracked temporal variations in discharge and slough mouth opening. An analysis of policy suggests that lack of management for the Devereux Slough arises from inadequate accountability measures in the policy system,and a curvilinear response to complex stakeholder interactions. This is due to an inability to reward or penalize responsible management individuals and groups. We can apply lessons learned from Devereux Slough to management of other small estuarine systems.