Abstract:

Estuarine benthic macroinfauna have aggregated, patchy distributions, making accurate community measurements dependent upon sampling. Yet, surveys for assessment, monitoring, or research seldom employ a range of sampling regimes to fully characterize the scales of spatial distributions. The purpose of this study was to determine the appropriate spatial scales to characterize benthic infaunal communities in Corpus Christi Bay, Texas, USA. Macroinfauna were sampled with small (6.7 cm) and large cores (15 cm) to determine if different sampling sizes characterized different spatial scales. Vertical distribution was sampled from 0 - 20 cm at different sections (0-3 cm, 3-10 cm, and 10-20 cm). Eleven replicates of small cores were collected to assess species accumulation with area sampled.

Suggested Citation:

Montagna, Paul A. and M. Christine Ritter. 2023. Sampling scales to characterize estuarine macroinfaunal patch dynamics, Corpus Christi Bay, Texas obtained from 1996-11-01 to 1997-07-03. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/jkp05qj9

Publications:

Montagna, P. A., Kalke, R. D., & Hyde, L. J. (2025). Effect of Freshwater Inflow on Benthic Infauna. In Freshwater Inflows to Texas Bays and Estuaries (pp. 259–293). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-70882-4_11

Freshwater Inflows to Texas Bays and Estuaries: A Regional-Scale Review, Synthesis, and Recommendations. (2025). In P. A. Montagna & A. R. Douglas (Eds.), Estuaries of the World. Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-70882-4

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to determine the appropriate spatial scales to characterize benthic infaunal communities in Corpus Christi Bay, Texas, USA.

Data Parameters and Units:

Refractometer reading (ppt), Sample Depth (m), Conductivity (mS/cm), Salinity (psu), Temperature (C), Dissolved Oxygen concentration (mg/L), pH (pH units), Oxidation Reduction Potential (mV), Rubble (%), Sand (%), Silt (%), Clay (%), Infauna Abundance (n/m²), Infauna Biomass (g/m²), Infauna Diversity, number of species (S/sample).

Methods:

Macroinfauna were sampled with small (6.7 cm) and large cores (15 cm) to determine if different sampling sizes characterized different spatial scales. Vertical distribution was sampled from 0 - 20 cm at different sections (0-3 cm, 3-10 cm, and 10-20 cm). Eleven replicates of small cores were collected to assess species accumulation with area sampled. Details are published in Montagna, P.A. and R.D. Kalke. 1992 and Ritter, M.C. and P.A. Montagna. 1999.

Provenance and Historical References:

Carr, R.S., P.A. Montagna, J.M. Biedenbach, R. Kalke, M.C. Kennicutt, R. Hooten, and G. Cripe. 2000. Impact of storm water outfalls on sediment quality in Corpus Christi Bay, Texas. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19: 561-574. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620190307 Montagna, P.A. and R.D. Kalke. 1992. The effect of freshwater inflow on meiofaunal and macrofaunal populations in the Guadalupe and Nueces Estuaries, Texas. Estuaries 15: 307-326. https://doi.org/10.2307/1352779 Montagna, P.A. and C. Ritter. 2006. Direct and indirect effects of hypoxia on benthos in Corpus Christi Bay, Texas, U. S. A. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 330: 119-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2005.12.021 Ritter, M.C. and P.A. Montagna. 1999. Seasonal hypoxia and models of benthic response in a Texas bay. Estuaries 22: 7-20. https://doi.org/10.2307/1352922 VanDiggelen, A.D. and P.A. Montagna. 2016. Is salinity variability a benthic disturbance in estuaries? Estuaries and Coasts 39:967-980. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-015-0058-9

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