Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science最新文献

{"title":"Restoration depth mediates seasonal recalcitrant carbon retention capacity in tropical seagrass meadows","authors":"Yuzheng Ren ,&nbsp;Qianwen Sun ,&nbsp;Songlin Liu ,&nbsp;Carolyn J. Ewers Lewis ,&nbsp;Hongxue Luo ,&nbsp;Lanlan Xiong ,&nbsp;Xia Zhang ,&nbsp;Yuying Huang ,&nbsp;Zhijian Jiang ,&nbsp;Yunchao Wu ,&nbsp;Xiaoping Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109533","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109533","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seagrass restoration enhances carbon sequestration by promoting suspended particulate matter (SPM) capture, yet the effects of season and water depth on deposition dynamics in restored meadows remain unclear. This study investigated seasonal and depth-driven SPM dynamics in transplanted <em>Enhalus acoroides</em> meadows across tropical Indo-Pacific coastal intertidal zones (shallow: 0.6 m; medium: 0.9 m; deep: 1.1 m). Season emerged as a critical driver, with summer exhibiting 2.5-fold higher particulate deposition rates (0.13 ± 0.02 g DW m⁻² d⁻¹) compared to winter (0.05 ± 0.01 g DW m⁻² d⁻¹). Elevated seagrass leaf length (about 42 %) in summer drove 1.5–3.1 times greater deposition of particulate organic matter (POM), inorganic matter (PIM), and their carbon components (POC and PIC). Crucially, restoration zones prioritised stable carbon sequestration, retaining 2.1–2.6 times more recalcitrant/refractory organic carbon in summer than those in winter period. Water depth acted as a modulating factor though no significant differences, with medium zones (0.9 m) achieving peak deposition efficiency through optimal light availability (sustaining canopy growth) and moderated hydrodynamics (flow velocity increased by 51 % compared to deep zones). These findings suggest that medium-depth zones (0.9 m) emerge as optimal <em>E</em>. <em>acoroides</em> restoration targets to maximize current carbon sequestration efficiency, offering critical insights for climate-resilient blue carbon management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 109533"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144989355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A baseline for biodiversity: spatio-temporal variability of fish assemblages in the pristine and little-known Iguela Lagoon, Gabon","authors":"Nestor Ngoua Aba’a ,&nbsp;Jean-Daniel Mbega ,&nbsp;Oumar Sadio ,&nbsp;Jean-Hervé Mve Beh ,&nbsp;Jean-Félicien Liwouwou ,&nbsp;Hans Kevin Mipounga ,&nbsp;Frida Ben Rais Lasram ,&nbsp;François Le Loc’h","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109529","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109529","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coastal lagoons in tropical regions are recognized for their high ecological value, functioning as critical nursery, feeding, and transitional habitats for a wide range of fish species. Despite their importance, data on fish assemblage structure and dynamics remain scarce for many systems in Central Africa. This study investigates the spatial and temporal variability of ichthyofaunal assemblages in the Iguela Lagoon, a relatively pristine estuarine ecosystem located in southwestern Gabon, protected under the Ramsar Convention and flanked by Loango National Park and the Iguela Mouth Marine Park. Seasonal fish sampling was conducted across nine stations using trammel nets over four hydrological seasons. A total of 59 species distributed among 30 families were identified during the present study. However, a comprehensive bibliographic synthesis, based on the available grey literature, made it possible to identify 118 species belonging to 46 families within the Iguéla lagoon. Multivariate analyses revealed four distinct assemblage groups shaped by seasonal and salinity gradients: (i) a rainy season-dominated freshwater migrant group, (ii) a dry season transitional estuarine group, (iii) a generalist assemblage occurring year-round, and (iv) a marine-influenced downstream group. Ecological guild analysis confirmed the strong influence of freshwater inputs and salinity fluctuations on species distribution and habitat use. Commercially important species, including <em>Parachelon grandisquamis, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, Ethmalosa fimbriata</em>, as well as Lutjanidae and Haemulidae species were abundant, although most individuals were juveniles, underscoring the lagoon's essential nursery function. The structural complexity of the lagoon, including mangroves and seagrass beds, provides key habitats for juvenile development and contributes to the high biodiversity observed. This study fills a major gap in ichthyological knowledge for Gabonese coastal systems and provides a scientific baseline for conservation planning. The clear spatio-temporal differentiation in fish assemblages highlights the need for adaptive, spatially explicit management strategies to preserve the ecological integrity and fisheries productivity of the Iguela Lagoon in the face of ongoing environmental change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 109529"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145106073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disentangling assembly processes: environmental and biotic filtering jointly drive lagoon fish co-occurrence patterns","authors":"Raiana Lima ,&nbsp;Francisco Gerson Araújo ,&nbsp;Luciano Neves dos Santos","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109528","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109528","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In coastal lagoons, fish community assembly is shaped by both environmental filters and biotic interactions, yet their relative importance remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to disentangle the primary drivers of fish community assembly in a tropical coastal lagoon. Additionally, we sought to identify shared or opposite environmental responses and potential biotic interactions that might help elucidate observed co-occurrence patterns. Results revealed that co-occurrence patterns in a tropical lagoon fish community are driven by a near-equal combination of these two processes, challenging the long-standing assumption that environmental filtering is the dominant driver in these systems. Using a joint species distribution model (JSDM) combined with functional guild classification and a literature survey, we found that 53% of co-occurrence patterns were driven by shared environmental responses, while 47% reflected residual correlations, potentially indicative of biotic interactions. Positive and negative associations were balanced, with correlations suggesting predator avoidance, schooling behavior, and possible competition. Our findings highlight that a pluralistic approach, accounting for both abiotic and biotic factors, is essential for a comprehensive understanding of community assembly. While many residual associations could not be confidently attributed to specific ecological processes due to limited trophic information, our results underscore the value of integrating species traits and ecological knowledge to interpret model outputs. We suggest that future research incorporate additional factors, such as indirect biotic interactions, seasonal effects, additional functional traits and environmental harshness, into the modelling of species distributions, particularly in disturbance-prone environments like coastal lagoons where the effects of environmental and biotic filtering can vary depending on environmental harshness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 109528"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145048494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Local and climatic drivers of coral growth in Southwestern Atlantic turbid-zone reefs","authors":"Ludmilla N. Falsarella ,&nbsp;Gabriel O. Cardoso ,&nbsp;Pamela M. Chiroque-Solano ,&nbsp;Lelis A. Carlos-Júnior ,&nbsp;Fernando C. Cardoso ,&nbsp;Milton Kampel ,&nbsp;Alex C. Bastos ,&nbsp;Rodrigo L. Moura","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109532","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109532","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As tropical reefs decline, it is crucial to understand the role of coral growth drivers across different spatiotemporal scales. Here, we estimated growth variables (linear extension, bulk density, calcification) using skeletal band records (1926–2015) of two colonies of the Brazilian-endemic coral <em>Mussismilia braziliensis</em> collected at different distances from the shore (15 and 70 km offshore)<em>.</em> We then explored the association between growth variables and local (temperature and turbidity) and larger-scale (climatic indices) potential drivers. For this task, we used Bayesian dynamic linear models, wavelet analyses, cross-correlations and Generalized Additive Models. Cross-shelf differences were found in the meso-architecture of colonies (coenosteum width, calice perimeter, and septa size) and in the associations between coral growth and potential drivers. With average smaller polyps and wider coenostea, the inshore colony grew faster and showed positive and negative associations with turbidity and water temperature, respectively, between 2003 and 2015. Interannual and multidecadal climatic oscillations also affected coral growth and indicated that inshore reefs may be more sensitive to large-scale climate variability. These findings highlight how anthropogenic forcing can affect corals that dwell near water quality/sedimentation tolerance thresholds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 109532"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144919661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tandem ecosystems: a new perspective on ecological connectivity across the dune-beach interface on sandy shores","authors":"Anton McLachlan ,&nbsp;Omar Defeo ,&nbsp;Patrick A. Hesp","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109530","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109530","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sandy shores are composed of two adjacent but ecologically distinct systems, beaches and dunes, typically functioning as coupled components of the Littoral Active Zone. These systems are linked through multiple abiotic exchanges, including bidirectional sand transport, groundwater discharge from dune aquifers, and salt spray deposition from the surf zone. While they exhibit strong geomorphological and process-based connectivity, their ecological assemblages are entirely distinct, with no resident species in common and only transient faunal movement across the interface. Consequently, beaches and dunes do not fit the meta-ecosystem paradigm. To conceptually capture their tight but largely non-biological linkage, we propose the term tandem ecosystems, reflecting their alignment one behind the other in coastal sand transport and storage. This perspective emphasizes their functional interdependence and carries direct implications for integrated coastal management, conservation, and climate adaptation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 109530"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144919834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Projected cooling and pCO2 conditions in upwelling zones and their influence on a prominent rocky shore ecosystem engineer","authors":"Nicole Jahnsen-Guzmán ,&nbsp;Nelson A. Lagos ,&nbsp;Marco A. Lardies ,&nbsp;Pedro A. Quijón ,&nbsp;Diego Quintanilla-Ahumada ,&nbsp;M. Roberto García-Huidobro ,&nbsp;Claudio García ,&nbsp;Nicol Zúñiga-Cueto ,&nbsp;Cristian Duarte","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109531","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109531","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>By the end of the century, upwelling zones are expected to undergo distinct changes due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These changes include an intensification of the winds causing upwelling, further reducing sea surface temperatures (cooling), and an intensification of ocean acidification (OA). While only a few studies have evaluated the influence of cooling conditions in these systems, even fewer have assessed the combined effects of cooling and projected OA. This study addressed this gap by exposing juveniles of the intertidal purple mussel (<em>Perumytilus purpuratus</em>), a prominent intertidal ecosystem engineer, to distinct temperatures and <em>p</em>CO₂ levels. Using a mesocosm system and a 2 × 2 factorial design, groups of purple mussels were exposed to current (15 °C) and projected cooling conditions (10 °C), and current and projected <em>p</em>CO₂ levels (500 and 1500 μatm, respectively). After two months, we quantified mussel growth, calcification, byssus thread production, clearance, and metabolic rates. Growth, calcification, and byssus thread production rates were consistently affected by temperature and by the interaction between temperature and <em>p</em>CO₂: At current temperatures (15 °C) all these variables increased in response to OA, but when exposed to projected cooling conditions (10 °C), these trends reversed and declined with OA. Mussel clearance rates followed the same trend, but in this case the only significant factor was the interaction between variables. Meanwhile, metabolic rates declined with temperature. A close examination of the variation among treatments suggests that the main changes were consistently associated with a sharp decline in most response variables to a combination of cooling and high <em>p</em>CO₂ conditions. Hence, projected end of the century cooling and OA are likely to have direct (negative) effects on this habitat-forming species. Indirectly, the combination of these stressors may weaken mussel bed structure and reduce habitat complexity, thereby halting the benefits provided to associated intertidal communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 109531"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144989356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intermittent intrusions of Changjiang Diluted water in Hangzhou Bay modulated by intraseasonal winds and tropical cyclones","authors":"Yi Wei ,&nbsp;Kui Wang ,&nbsp;Haiyan Jin ,&nbsp;Wenbin Yin ,&nbsp;Daji Huang ,&nbsp;Jiliang Xuan ,&nbsp;Bin Wang ,&nbsp;Feng Zhou ,&nbsp;Jianfang Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109525","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109525","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>It is generally recognised that the north-easterly monsoon leads to greater intrusion of Changjiang Diluted Water (CDW) into Hangzhou Bay in winter than in summer, which strongly influences the hydrography of Hangzhou Bay. However, anomalously lower salinity (&lt;10) and higher dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations (1.9 mg L⁻¹) were observed in central Hangzhou Bay in summer (August 2019) than the salinity (&gt;15) and DIN concentrations (1.5 mg L⁻¹) in winter (March 2022). A high-resolution, well-validated model has further revealed intermittent intrusions of CDW, characterised as intraseasonal (30–120 d) and episodic variations, resulting in a unique low-salinity and high-nutrient water mass in the north-central bay during summer. The intermittent intrusions are driven by the combined effects of the Changjiang discharge, intraseasonal winds, tropical cyclones, and tidal residual currents. The Changjiang discharge amplifies the effect of CDW intrusion on a seasonal scale, which is responsible for the large (&gt;10) decline in summer salinity in the initial intrusion area of the northern bay mouth. The intraseasonal variation in the south-westerly monsoon in summer causes intermittent intrusion of the CDW, accompanied by variations in the Taiwan Warm Current. Intrusion of CDW is greatly enhanced during episodic events of strong northerly winds caused by tropical cyclones. This episodic intrusion can cause a decline in salinity in the initial intrusion area of up to 6 in approximately one week. After the CDW intrudes into the north central bay, the westward tidal residual current along the northern coast continuously transports the CDW toward the head of Hangzhou Bay.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 109525"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144916399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mangrove-induced landward sediment transport owing to sediment flux asymmetry and bed shear stress","authors":"Guangwei Huang,&nbsp;Tongtiegang Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109527","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109527","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mangrove-induced tidal asymmetries lead to complex patterns of sediment transport. This paper aims to detail mangrove-induced landward sediment fluxes by numerical modelling. Specifically, using rigid cylinders to generalize mangrove forests and account for geometric and morphometric characteristics, mangrove-induced asymmetries in duration, velocity and sediment flux are explicitly considered. A case study is devised for Shenzhen Bay considering its unique status as the only mangrove nature reserve located in the hinterland of the modern metropolis in China. The results under the idealized bay model reveal that mangrove forests induce asymmetric tidal durations, i.e., shorter flood tides and longer ebb tides. The tidal duration asymmetry induces tidal velocity asymmetry, characterized by faster flood tides and slower ebb tides, leading to differences in bed shear stress. The peak difference in bed shear stress contributes to landward-dominant sediment fluxes. Higher bed shear stress during flood tides transports sediment landward, whereas lower bed shear stress during ebb tides fails to induce sediment resuspension. During flood tides, the maximum suspended sediment concentration exceeds that during ebb tides by ∼0.676 kg/m³ in the middle of the bay, ∼0.789 kg/m³ outside mangrove forests and ∼0.015 kg/m³ inside mangrove forests. Sediment accumulates at the fringe and also inside mangrove forests, eventually raising bed elevation over time. In the meantime, increasing water depth attenuates tidal asymmetry in duration, velocity and sediment flux, whereas the landward-dominant asymmetry persists. Overall, this paper disentangles the integrated process of mangrove-induced landward sediment fluxes by considering sediment flux asymmetry and bed shear stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 109527"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144921288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ontogenetic trophic variation in ghost crab Ocypode quadrata","authors":"Ligia Salgado Bechara ,&nbsp;Rafael Monteiro Duarte ,&nbsp;Nícolas Tomaz Santana ,&nbsp;Gustavo Mattos ,&nbsp;Arthur de Barros Bauer ,&nbsp;Maurício Mussi Molisani ,&nbsp;Luciano Gomes Fischer ,&nbsp;Carlos Eduardo de Rezende ,&nbsp;Yasmina Shah Esmaeili ,&nbsp;Patrícia Luciano Mancini ,&nbsp;Carlos Alberto de Moura Barboza","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109509","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109509","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Changes in food resource use over an organism's lifespan play a pivotal role in structuring trophic webs. Although substantial evidence suggests that many benthic invertebrate species undergo ontogenetic dietary shifts, this process remains scarcely studied in sandy beach species. <em>Ocypode quadrata</em> is the unique ghost crab species in the Western Atlantic and exhibits generalist feeding habits, playing a key role in energy transfer across trophic levels and connecting coastal ecosystems. We analyzed stomach contents and <em>δ</em>¹⁵N and <em>δ</em>¹³C stable isotopes from juveniles and adults of <em>O. quadrata</em> to test the hypothesis of size-dependent niche shifts. Sediment and unidentified organic matter were the most commonly detected items in stomach contents. Adults consumed the mole crab <em>Emerita brasilienis</em> more frequently (63 %), a prey absent in juvenile stomachs, whereas insects were more prevalent in juveniles (78 %). Microplastics were detected in over one-third of juveniles, indicating their exposure to marine litter contamination. Similar <em>δ</em>¹⁵N values suggest that adults and juveniles occupy similar trophic levels, sharing a large portion of their diet, though assimilation frequencies or magnitudes may differ. Our results support the hypothesis that adults have a broader trophic niche than juveniles, likely reflecting greater ability in exploiting a wider range of food resources. The broader isotopic niche in adults aligns with their higher consumption of <em>E. brasilienis</em>. The assimilation of both marine and terrestrial resources reinforces the meta-ecosystem framework, highlighting the ecological importance of allochthonous inputs to sandy beach ecosystems and underscoring the need for landscape-scale conservation strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 109509"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144916404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial patterns of sandy beach habitat use by mobile invertebrates vary with wrack type and tide phase","authors":"Kyle A. Emery ,&nbsp;Samuel G. Rivera ,&nbsp;Andrew Pettit ,&nbsp;Jessica R. Madden ,&nbsp;Nicholas K. Schooler ,&nbsp;David M. Hubbard ,&nbsp;Jenifer E. Dugan","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109510","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109510","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Habitat distributions of many coastal species are expected to shift with climate change and sea level rise, affecting local resource use and biotic interactions. Intertidal zones of sandy beaches support a diversity of highly mobile invertebrates that move frequently to adjust to changing tides as well as habitat availability and condition. Many of these species rely on allochthonous inputs of marine macrophytes, or wrack, for food and shelter. We evaluated the effects of habitat availability and resources on spatial niche partitioning by macroinvertebrate detritivores and predators using field surveys and a field experiment on wrack colonization and consumption. Semi-lunar tide phase greatly affected the amount of suitable habitat (54 % more on spring tide) and the mean position of wrack subsidies on the beach (34 % more landward). Predator and detritivore distributions overlapped, but predators were concentrated higher on the beach. From neap to spring tide, the mean intertidal positions of wrack detritivores expanded more (biomass 49.8 %; abundance 45.4 %) than predator positions. In the experiment, significantly more kelp wrack, <em>Egregia menziesii</em> and <em>Macrocystis pyrifera</em>, was consumed than seagrass wrack, <em>Phyllospadix torreyi,</em> at all intertidal levels. Wrack-associated invertebrate community composition differed among wrack types and intertidal levels. Our findings demonstrate how highly mobile intertidal macroinvertebrates partition beach habitat and food resources, with notable spatial separation between detritivores and predators, and how this behavior can be mediated by tide phase and wrack type and position. Linking spatial dynamics of mobile intertidal animals to future projections of habitat availability and resource supply can inform management of sandy beaches with relevance for their conservation as ecosystems in the face of global change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"326 ","pages":"Article 109510"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144908999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}