Relationship between land use classification and grass shrimp Palaemonetes spp. population metrics in coastal watersheds

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2014-06, Vol.186 (6), p.3445-3453
• Main Authors: Daugomah, James W., Key, P. B., West, J. B., Shea, N. R., McDaniel, S., Pennington, P. L., Fulton, M. H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerial photography; Animals; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Brackish; Classification; Contaminants; Contamination; Creeks; Creeks & streams; Crustaceans; Density; Digitization; Dominant species; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental science; Environmental studies; Estuaries; Fauna; Geographic information systems; Global positioning systems; GPS; Grasses; Habitat changes; Land; Land use; Land use classification; Marine; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nonpoint source pollution; Palaemonetes; Palaemonidae - growth & development; Population Growth; Runoff; Shrimps; Software; Statistical analysis; Urban development; Urbanization; Water pollution; Watersheds; Wetlands
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-014-3629-5

Estuaries in the southeastern USA have experienced increased loading of contaminants from nonpoint source runoff as well as changes in habitat (e.g., loss of wetlands) due to urbanization. These changes may pose significant risks to estuarine fauna, including crustaceans. Several studies have shown relationships between land use classification and levels of stress in estuarine populations. The grass shrimp of the genus Palaemonetes is one of the dominant species found in estuarine tidal creeks, accounting for more than 50 % of all macropelagic fauna. Grass shrimp populations were sampled monthly for 3 years at six estuarine creeks on Kiawah Island, SC. Creek watersheds were estimated using National Aerial Photograph Program color infrared and low-altitude true color aerial photography combined with in situ differentially corrected global positioning system mapping of engineered features. Land classifications delineated included water, marsh, buildings, roads, and lawns. Pairwise comparisons for grass shrimp densities among sites showed significant differences on an annual and seasonal basis. Significant relationships ( p