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Seasonal variation of benthic and fish communities in a shallow, land-locked coastal lagoon (St André, SW Portugal)
Cancela da Fonseca, L.; Costa, A.M.; Bernardo, J.M. (1989). Seasonal variation of benthic and fish communities in a shallow, land-locked coastal lagoon (St André, SW Portugal), in: Ros, J.D. (Ed.) Topics in Marine Biology: Proceedings of the 22nd European Marine Biology Symposium, Barcelona, Spain, August 1987. Scientia Marina (Barcelona), 53(2-3): pp. 663-669
In: Ros, J.D. (Ed.) (1989). Topics in marine biology: Proceedings of the 22nd European Marine Biology Symposium, Barcelona, Spain, August 1987. European Marine Biology Symposia, 22. Scientia Marina (Barcelona), 53(2-3). 145-754 pp., more
In: European Marine Biology Symposia., more
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Document type: Conference paper
Keywords
    Marine/Coastal; Brackish water
Authors  Top 
  • Cancela da Fonseca, L.
  • Costa, A.M.
  • Bernardo, J.M.
Abstract
    Usually the lagoon ecosystem depends upon the interchange between marine and freshwater systems. Land-locked lagoons with temporary connections to the sea are uncommon environments. Frequently marine renewal and the maintenance of a "steady state" depend on a man-made channel. Thus the period of the year when sea-connections occurr and their extent have an important influence on lagoon evolution. St. André lagoon belongs to this group of systems and is now recovering from a period in which spring interchanges with the sea either did not exist or were insufficient. The macrobenthos and physical-chemical parameters were studied in 1978-1979 and 1982-1986. During the latter time gish were also studied. Species colonization comes from two different pools, freshwater and marine. The latter provides sudden and rich spring recruitment. Organic enrichment, anoxia and decline of salinity progressively shift the community towards a more stress-tolerant and limnetic state. In contrast to sand substrates, muddy areas have higher organic contents which constrain the settlement and development of benthic communities. The disruption of the traditional spring opening process leads to an organic enrichment, summer dystrophies and a very striking annual community cycle, with few species surviving during the entire year.
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