10.5061/DRYAD.1786P
Chan, Kayi
Simon Fraser University
Bendell, L.I.
Simon Fraser University
Data from: Potential effects of an invasive bivalve, Nuttallia obscurata,
on select sediment attributes within the intertidal region of coastal
British Columbia
Dryad
dataset
2014
Sediment
Nuttallia obscurata
Summer 2009
Summer 2010
Intertidal
Invasive bivalves
2014-05-19T14:53:29Z
2014-05-19T14:53:29Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2013.03.013
395906 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
On the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, the varnish clam, Nuttallia
obscurata, is a rapidly spreading invasive species that can reach high
densities (i.e. 800 individuals m− 2). A field survey (Tier I) and an in
situ mesocosm density manipulation experiment (Tier II) were applied to
determine the potential effects of this invasive bivalve on select
sediment attributes within the intertidal zone. In situ experiments
involved seeding 1 m2 mesocosms with varnish clams at four densities; 0
(control), 200 (low), 500 (mid) and 800 (high). Sediment samples were
taken 7 times over a three week period and analyzed for organic matter,
ammonium and grain size (gravel, coarse silt, fine silt and silt) at three
different depths, 0–3 cm (surface), 3–6 cm (intermediate) and 6–9 cm
(bottom). Field surveys demonstrated that at natural densities bivalve
distribution was best explained by sediment grain size. Contrary to
expectations, the in situ manipulations indicated that at high densities
varnish clams did not significantly increase sediment organic matter
concentrations. Their ability to deposit feed and re-ingest biodeposits
may have prevented accumulations. High densities of varnish clams did
however result in significantly higher concentrations of sediment ammonium
and percent silt, but mostly within the lower sections of the sediment
core. Reworking of the surficial sediments due to intense storm activity
likely obscured any differences in determined sediment attributes among
the 4 treatments. Nitrogen is a limiting nutrient with ammonium
preferentially used by phytoplankton and microphytobenthos. These primary
producers form the basis of all marine food webs thus increases in amounts
of ammonium to shallow coastal seas as a result of high densities of an
invasive bivalve within intertidal zones could result in an increased risk
of eutrophication within these sensitive regions.
Nutrient concentration and density data; A Canadian Healthy Oceans Network
Ecosystem Function Project, EF-03Excel file with all nutrient
concentrations determined in laboratory from sediment samples as well as
bivalve densities from Tier I & II experiments. NA denotes samples
that were not collected or missing due to procedural errors in laboratory.
Blank cells are outliers that have been removed from statistical analysis.
Tier III abbreviations are as follows: s = sterilized treatments; sv =
sterilized treatments + varnish clams; us = unsterilized treatments; usv =
unsterilized treatments + varnish
clams.CHONe_EF-03_ChanK_Data.xlsxDiscovery metadata, A Canadian Healthy
Oceans Network Ecosystem Function Project, EF-03Excel discovery metadata
fileCHONe_EF-03_ChanK_DiscoveryMetadata v4-5.xlsxData report, A Canadian
Healthy Oceans Network Ecosystem Function Project, EF-03Data report file
in MS WordCHONe_EF-03_CHANK.docx
Canada
Denman Island
Fillongley Provincial Park
British Columbia