title: Strong links between metal contamination, habitat modification and estuarine larval fish distributions.
abstract: Changes to larval fish assemblages may have far reaching ecological impacts. Correlations between habitat modification, contamination and marine larval fish communities have rarely been assessed in situ. We investigated links between the large-scale distribution of stressors and larval fish assemblages in estuarine environments. Larval fish communities were sampled using a benthic sled within the inner and outer zones of three heavily modified and three relatively unmodified estuaries. Larval abundances were significantly greater in modified estuaries, and there were trends towards greater diversity in these systems. Differences in larval community composition were strongly related to sediment metal levels and reduced seagrass cover. The differences observed were driven by two abundant species, Paedogobius kimurai and Ambassis jacksoniensis, which occurred in large numbers almost exclusively in highly contaminated and pristine locations respectively. These findings suggest that contamination and habitat alteration manifest in substantial differences in the composition of estuarine larval fish assemblages.
authors.affiliation: Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia. andrew.mckinley@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: McKinley
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miskiewicz
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Emma L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D009517:New South Wales; D010473:Perciformes / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical