title: Effects of causeway construction on environment and biota of subtropical tidal flats in Okinawa, Japan.
abstract: Okinawa, Japan is known for its high marine biodiversity, yet little work has been performed on examining impacts of numerous large-scale coastal development projects on its marine ecosystems. Here, we examine apparent impacts of the construction of the Kaichu-Doro causeway, which was built over 40 years ago. The causeway is a 4.75 km long embankment that divides a large tidal flat and has only two points of water exchange along its entire length. We employed quadrats, transects, sampling, visual surveys, and microbial community analyses combined with environmental, water quality data, and 1m cores, at five stations of two paired sites each (one on each side of Kaichu-Doro) to investigate how the environment and biota have changed since the Kaichu-Doro was built. Results indicate reduction in water flow, and site S1 was particularly heavily impacted by poor water quality, with low diversity and disturbed biotic communities.
authors: Faculty of Science/Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan. Electronic address: jreimer@sci.u-ryukyu.ac.jp.
authors: James Davis
authors: JD
authors: Reimer
authors: Faculty of Science/Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; Microbiology and Biochemistry of Secondary Metabolites Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
authors: Sung-Yin
authors: SY
authors: Yang
authors: Faculty of Science/Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; The University of Tampa, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606, United States.
authors: Kristine N
authors: KN
authors: White
authors: Faculty of Science/Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
authors: Ryuji
authors: R
authors: Asami
authors: Faculty of Science/Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
authors: Kazuhiko
authors: K
authors: Fujita
authors: Faculty of Science/Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
authors: Chuki
authors: C
authors: Hongo
authors: Faculty of Science/Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
authors: Shingo
authors: S
authors: Ito
authors: Faculty of Science/Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
authors: Iori
authors: I
authors: Kawamura
authors: Uruma City Cultural Sea Museum, 4 Yonashiroyahira, Uruma, Okinawa 904-2427, Japan.
authors: Isshu
authors: I
authors: Maeda
authors: Faculty of Science/Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
authors: Masaru
authors: M
authors: Mizuyama
authors: Faculty of Science/Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; Biological Institute on Kuroshio, 560 Nishidomari, Otsuki, Kochi 788-0333, Japan.
authors: Masami
authors: M
authors: Obuchi
authors: Faculty of Engineering, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; International Research Institute of Disaster Science & Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Aramaki Aoba 6-6-06, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan.
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Sakamaki
authors: Faculty of Science/Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
authors: Katsunori
authors: K
authors: Tachihara
authors: Microbiology and Biochemistry of Secondary Metabolites Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
authors: Maiko
authors: M
authors: Tamura
authors: Faculty of Science/Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Tanahara
authors: Microbiology and Biochemistry of Secondary Metabolites Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan; Kobe University Research Center for Inland Seas, Rokko-dai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.
authors: Aika
authors: A
authors: Yamaguchi
authors: Microbiology and Biochemistry of Secondary Metabolites Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
authors: Holger
authors: H
authors: Jenke-Kodama
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D058448:Biota; D060389:Construction Industry; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D007564:Japan; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014186:Transportation; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Corophium; Marine environmental assessment; Okinawa; Serratia; Subtropical tidal flat