La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	A Before-After-Control-Impact Analysis of the Effects of a Mississippi River Freshwater Diversion on Estuarine Nekton in Louisiana, USA
Auteurs :	Kim de Mutsert, Auteur ; James H. Cowan, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Estuaries and Coasts (35(5) SEP 2012)
Article en page(s) :	1237-1248
Résumé :	Since 1991, the Caernarvon Freshwater Diversion has been reintroducing Mississippi River water into a previously hydrologically isolated estuary in an effort to restore wetlands. To determine the effect of freshwater inflow on estuarine nekton community structure, a Before-After-Control-Impact study design was applied. As a result of the opening, salinities in the impact area decreased, and the nekton community structure in the estuary changed significantly. Species of economical or ecological importance either increased in biomass or exhibited no response to the opening of the diversion. Higher abundances of small fish were observed in the area receiving freshwater flow, which is an indication that the area serves as a refuge from large marine predators. Because a salinity gradient was established, as opposed to a uniform but lower salinity regime, aquatic habitat was available to nekton species from a wide spectrum of salinity tolerances.

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