Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science最新文献

{"title":"Unraveling habitat use and movement patterns of Pogonias courbina in Southwest Atlantic lagoon systems using otolith microchemistry","authors":"Paulo Roberto Camponez de Almeida ,&nbsp;Alberto Teodorico Correia ,&nbsp;Felipe Douglas Mendonça Cadilho ,&nbsp;Nathan Miller ,&nbsp;Cassiano Monteiro-Neto ,&nbsp;Marcus Rodrigues da Costa","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109695","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109695","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Black drum, <em>Pogonias courbina</em>, is an important but overexploited fishery resource in southeastern Brazil lagoon systems with a vulnerable status on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. To improve understanding of <em>P. courbina</em> life history and fishery sustainability, otolith microchemistry was used to characterize habitat use in two Brazilian lagoon systems in the southwest Atlantic (Saquarema-RJ and Araruama-RJ). Following age estimation from annual growth increments, otolith core-to-edge Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca and Mn/Ca signatures for forty (40), 2-year-old, individuals (20 per site), collected between November 2019 and April 2020, were measured by laser ablation inductively coupled to plasma mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS) to document ontogenetic chemical variations. Spearman correlation, Generalized Addictive Models (GAMs) and Change point analysis were used to assess habitat-use patterns among the study individuals. Two habitat-use patterns for <em>P. courbina</em> were identified consistent with estuaries with a well-defined salinity gradient: (i) movements in mesohaline waters with low salinity, and (ii) movements in polyhaline waters with intermediate salinity. These findings confirm that <em>P. courbina</em> is estuarine-dependent, likely utilizing different salinity environments as nurseries. The species shows high habitat-use plasticity. Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca fluctuations track distinct movement patterns (profiles), while Mn/Ca peaks reflect rapid somatic growth during the larval-juvenile transition, making these otolith chemical markers effective tracers of <em>P. courbina</em> life history.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"330 ","pages":"Article 109695"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145886025","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":"Human activity intensifies land subsidence in the Yellow River Delta","authors":"Hui Xu ,&nbsp;De Wang ,&nbsp;Rongrong Ning ,&nbsp;Xiaoyong Li ,&nbsp;Xinpeng Tian ,&nbsp;Xiaoli Bi ,&nbsp;Zixiang Zhou ,&nbsp;Yongwei Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109721","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109721","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The intensification of human activity in the 21st century has led to a rapid land subsidence along the Yellow River Delta coast, which threatens the region's future sustainable development. This study uses Sentinel-1A imagery acquired between April 2017 and June 2024 and the SBAS-InSAR method to obtain subsidence information for the Yellow River Delta. We quantified the natural and human factors influencing subsidence and explored the relationship between brine mining, soft soil thickness, the seasonal groundwater level fluctuation, and subsidence. The main results are as follows. The SBAS-InSAR measurements exhibited a high inversion accuracy, with an average error of ±6.9 mm/yr and a median error of ±8.6 mm/yr. The four major subsidence zones are all located in the brine mining area, with the subsidence rate reaching 325 mm/yr in the peak zone, indicating brine extraction is the most representative of human activity in the Yellow River Delta and plays a dominant role in subsidence. The driving factors influencing subsidence are ordered as salt fields distribution, nearshore distance, and GDP, with corresponding q-values (explanatory power) of 0.21, 0.14, and 0.07, respectively. Precipitation-driven fluctuations in shallow groundwater levels can affect ground deformation in most regions except the brine extraction area. Our findings can provide management support for subsidence control and flood prevention in the Yellow River Delta.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"330 ","pages":"Article 109721"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038473","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":"Length-based assessment of growth and overexploitation risk of Larimichthys polyactis in the Yellow Sea","authors":"Xu Chen ,&nbsp;Qun Liu ,&nbsp;Suman Barua ,&nbsp;Eman A. AboEleneen","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109708","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109708","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Larimichthys polyactis</em>, one of the most commercially important fish species in the Yellow Sea in China, requires scientific stock assessment to improve its management for population recovery. This study aimed to estimate the growth pattern and stock status by using length-frequency data. A Length-Based Spawning Potential Ratio (LBSPR) and a length-based integrated model (LIME) methods were used. Projections and sensitivity analysis were also conducted to evaluate catch strategies and model robustness. Results showed that the fitted growth equation was <span><math><mrow><msub><mi>L</mi><mi>t</mi></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>23.24</mn><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><mn>1</mn><mo>−</mo><mi>exp</mi><mrow><mo>[</mo><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>0.27</mn><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><mi>t</mi><mo>−</mo><mrow><mn>0.59</mn><mo>|</mo></mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>u</mi><mi>g</mi><mi>u</mi><mi>s</mi><mi>t</mi><mspace></mspace><mn>3</mn><mi>r</mi><mi>d</mi></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow><mo>−</mo><mi>S</mi><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>t</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow><mo>+</mo><mi>S</mi><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><mrow><mn>0.59</mn><mo>|</mo></mrow><mi>A</mi><mi>u</mi><mi>g</mi><mi>u</mi><mi>s</mi><mi>t</mi><mspace></mspace><mn>3</mn><mi>r</mi><mi>d</mi></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow><mo>]</mo></mrow></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow></math></span>. The exploitation rate was 0.58. LBSPR tended to output higher SPR estimates than LIME, with both methods indicating low SPR levels (0.16–0.3). LIME showed a more depleted stock status, suggesting start length at selectivity (SL) of 10.6–13.52 cm, while LBSPR suggested SL of 8.79–10.23 cm. Projections indicate that catches should be reduced to approximately 60,000 tons in the Yellow Sea to facilitate stock recovery. Sensitivity analysis showed that Natural mortality (M) and growth coefficient (K) inputs significantly affect both models. SPR decreased with increasing K, while showing a unimodal response to M. The effects on SL estimation were totally determined by M and K for LIME but insignificant for LBSPR. This study enhances understanding of life history traits and population dynamics of Yellow Sea <em>L. polyactis</em> stock, highlights its overexploitation status, and demonstrates the application of length-based integrated assessment methods in fisheries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"330 ","pages":"Article 109708"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978790","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":"Seasonal variation of sharks and predatory fish in the northern Galapagos Islands of Darwin and Wolf","authors":"Marthje H. Schüler ,&nbsp;Simon J. McKinley ,&nbsp;Gabriel M.S. Vianna ,&nbsp;Ana V. Moya-Serrano ,&nbsp;Pelayo Salinas-de-León","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109710","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109710","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study describes the seasonal effect of oceanography on fish assemblages in the northern Galapagos archipelago, that lies at the convergence of major oceanic currents in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Total fish biomass was over three times larger in the cold season (25 t/ha) than in the warm season (7 t/ha). This difference was primarily driven by scalloped hammerhead sharks (<em>Sphyrna lewini</em>), whose biomass increased from 5 t/ha in the warm season to 21 t/ha in the cold season, reflecting seasonal migration. Benthopelagic teleosts - including large carangids, serranids, lutjanids - and the schooling planktivore <em>Cephalopholis colonus</em> also showed lower biomass during the warm season, likely due to lower productivity and prey availability. In contrast, demersal meso-predator and herbivore biomass remained relatively stable across seasons. Seasonal variation in reef fish assemblages at the islands of Darwin and Wolf was assessed using three stereo-video methods: Diver-Operated Video surveys and Baited Remote Underwater Video systems, the latter deployed both at the sea bottom and mid-water. Sampling occurred in the warm (March) and cold (August) season of 2017 on the islands' northwestern and southeastern coastlines. Overall, the high biomass recorded underscores the global conservation significance of these islands as aggregation site for <em>S. lewini</em>, a Critically Endangered species. Moreover, these findings highlight the substantial seasonal variability in reef fish abundance in Galapagos, and the value of multiple stereo-video methods for detecting seasonal patterns. This is particularly the case at oceanic islands where highly mobile species show pronounced temporal variability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"330 ","pages":"Article 109710"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978801","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":"Occurrence of microplastics in farmed and wild snails along the coasts of Thailand: Implications for consumer exposure and health risks","authors":"Jirawat Saetan ,&nbsp;Narainrit Chinfak ,&nbsp;Kannan Gunasekaran ,&nbsp;Qipei Li ,&nbsp;Jing Zhang ,&nbsp;Chawalit Charoenpong ,&nbsp;Watcharee Ruairuen ,&nbsp;Piyaporn Sricharoenvech ,&nbsp;Penjai Sompongchaiyakul","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109707","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109707","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics (MPs) pollution has become a critical global issue due to its harmful effects on the environment and public health. This study investigates the abundance of MPs in commercial spotted babylon snails (<em>Babylonia areolata</em>) from farmed and wild populations along the coasts of Thailand, evaluates daily MP exposure for consumers, assesses potential health risks, and explores strategies to mitigate MP exposure and associated human health risks. MP occurrence ranged from 55 % to 99 % in both farmed and wild <em>B. areolata</em>, with an average abundance of 1.17 ± 1.02 items/individual and 2.64 ± 2.17 items/individual, respectively. Wild <em>B. areolata</em> exhibited significantly higher MP levels than their farmed counterparts, but MP abundance in wild snails decreased by approximately 70 % following a 72-h depuration period. The most common MPs (&lt;1000 μm) were small black and blue fibers, primarily composed of polyethylene terephthalate and polyester. The estimated daily MP exposure for <em>B. areolata</em> consumers was 0.005 items/person/day with a minimal health risk after the clearance experiment. As a mitigation strategy, we recommend acclimating <em>B. areolata</em> in MPs-free water systems for 2–3 days to reduce MP-related health risks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"330 ","pages":"Article 109707"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928467","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":"Historical exploitation and widespread decline of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) bed habitat in Scotland","authors":"Zoe F.J. Heard,&nbsp;Callum M. Roberts,&nbsp;Ruth H. Thurstan","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109694","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109694","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Historical records reveal that sustained anthropogenic exploitation drove widespread decline of blue mussel (<em>Mytilus edulis</em>) bed habitat in Scotland by the early 20th century. We synthesised &gt;200 archival records published between 1760 and 1970 and over a century of landings data to reconstruct the historical distribution, extent and status of Scottish mussel beds, and document the history and trajectory of the mussel and associated line fishing industries. Archival evidence enabled the mapping of 124 historical beds at a resolution of 5 km²; by the early 1900s, 51 % were reported as nearly or entirely exhausted or destroyed. Only one source described localised recovery in the 1960s, years after exploitation ceased. Spatial extent data were available for 31 % of the historical mussel beds and for three mussel fishing areas, representing ∼1800 ha and ∼5600 ha respectively. From at least the 16th century, mussels were highly sought after and intensively harvested primarily for line-fishing bait. Across the 1800s, accelerated exploitation compounded by additional stressors, viz. pollution, trawling, trampling, predation and smothering, drove widespread degradation of mussel bed habitat and likely reduced ecosystem resilience, with lasting ecological and socio-economic consequences. Mussel landings exceeded 10,000 tonnes in the late 19th century but significantly declined thereafter and ceased entirely by 2004- mirroring significant declines in line fishing landings. Reduced mussel bait availability, rising competition with trawlers and alternative job opportunities were key drivers. This unique empirical record provides valuable context for contemporary habitat restoration efforts by identifying historical locations and extents of a now much reduced and threatened habitat.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"330 ","pages":"Article 109694"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145886023","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":"Predicting the distribution of the invasive charru mussel (Mytella strigata) in estuarine environments","authors":"Gency L. Guirhem-Helican,&nbsp;John Ray N. Moleño,&nbsp;Irvin Michael M. Palmos,&nbsp;Harold M. Monteclaro","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109706","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109706","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Invasive species such as the charru mussel <em>Mytella strigata</em> pose threats to tropical estuarine ecosystems and undermine the livelihood of shellfish farmers, yet predictive distribution models for this species remain scarce. Understanding the environmental factors that influence the occurrence of the charru mussel is imperative to understand its current and potential distribution. In this study, we used the generalized additive model (GAM) to analyze the spatio-temporal distributions of the charru mussel occurrence and the associated environmental conditions in Batan Bay Estuary in Aklan, Philippines from June 2023 to May 2024. The model shows higher probability of occurrence in areas with increasing temperature (peaking at 30–34 °C), brackishwater salinity (5–15 ppt), intermediate percent organic matter (15–20 %), and shallow depth (0.4–6 m). Overall, the model explains 59.1 % of the total deviance, with percent organic matter exerting the highest influence at 37.10 %, consistent with the species filter-feeding mechanism. Within the Batan Bay, areas such as the waters off New Washington town, inner waters of Batan town, and Tinagong Dagat were identified to have consistently highest probabilities of charru mussel occurrence year-round. These sites also have very low tidal actions resulting in more stable water conditions that facilitate feeding and substrate attachment. This study provides the first fine-scale, field-based GAM model of charru mussel habitat suitability in a tropical estuary. These findings provide a baseline for predictive monitoring towards the development of management strategies for the mitigation of the species’ invasions in tropical estuaries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"330 ","pages":"Article 109706"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928462","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":"Size-related and habitat-dependent trophic dynamics of Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, via bulk and amino acid isotopic signatures","authors":"Minhwa Gu ,&nbsp;Hee Young Yun ,&nbsp;Hyuntae Choi ,&nbsp;Jun-Ho Koo ,&nbsp;Kyung-Hoon Shin","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109713","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109713","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Individual body size plays a fundamental role in shaping the trophic dynamics of large marine predators that feed on prey at different trophic levels. However, this has rarely been explored in filter feeding animals that rely on temporally and spatially variable diet sources of similar trophic level. We tested whether the trophic dynamics of the filter-feeder Manila clam (<em>Ruditapes philippinarum</em>) are significantly associated with size gradients in different environments, a less sandy site (Pado) and a more sandy site (Hwangdo), via analyzing bulk and amino acid (AA)-specific carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios. Our results showed that there were significant site variations in clam abundance in addition to bulk isotope values, phenylalanine (Phe)-δ¹⁵N values, and AA-based trophic positions (TP_AA), suggesting site-specific trophic baselines. Consistently, in both sites, larger individuals exhibited higher isotope values and elevated even TP_AA (adjusted R² = 0.21–0.44), except for Phe-δ¹⁵N values, implying size-dependent trophic shifts in the filter-feeder clam, determined as herbivore. Based on δ¹³C patterns of essential AAs, clams along with microphytobenthos co-sampled in situ were close to a microalgal group (e.g., dinoflagellates), regarded as nutritionally dominant resources. Our data suggest that the individual size spectrum, equivalent to environmental differences, influences the trophic variation in herbivorous clams that feed on benthic algae. These findings underscore the need for ecosystem-based fishery management approaches that incorporate the size-dependent trophic dynamics of benthic consumers, rather than relying on uniformly sized consumers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"330 ","pages":"Article 109713"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978791","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":"Inter-habitat partitioning of estuary blue carbon stocks: A spatial assessment of storage capacity and restoration opportunities","authors":"Daniel H. Buttner ,&nbsp;Lucienne R.D. Human ,&nbsp;Janine B. Adams","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109709","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109709","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coastal wetlands, such as salt marsh and seagrass beds, are important sedimentary carbon sinks attributed to their inherent sequestration proficiencies. Their spatial heterogeneity however, introduces uncertainties in sediment blue carbon assessments, requiring explanatory understanding of causal factors, particularly where environmental gradients are evident. This study measured the spatial variability in sediment carbon stocks associated with seagrass, salt marsh, and degraded (disturbed, unvegetated sites) habitats, identifying causal geochemical factors. Significant intra-habitat sediment carbon partitioning was observed (mean <span><math><mrow><mo>±</mo></mrow></math></span> SE), where degraded habitats (83.63<span><math><mrow><mo>±</mo></mrow></math></span> 9.67 Mg C ha⁻¹) and supratidal <em>Salicornia pillansii</em> marsh (65.36 <span><math><mrow><mo>±</mo></mrow></math></span> 8.62 Mg C ha⁻¹) had significantly lower carbon stocks than intertidal salt marsh, <em>Spartina maritima</em> (203.25 <span><math><mrow><mo>±</mo></mrow></math></span> 35.03 Mg C ha⁻¹) and <em>Salicornia tegetaria</em> (243.58 <span><math><mrow><mo>±</mo></mrow></math></span> 67.84 Mg C ha⁻¹), as well as seagrass <em>Zostera capensis</em> (211.4 <span><math><mrow><mo>±</mo></mrow></math></span> 20.12 Mg C ha⁻¹). At the estuary scale statistical correlations were found between sedimentary stocks and several explanatory biogeochemical factors including sediment bulk density (SDB, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.01), particle size (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05), total organic matter (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001), and salinity (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, a significant inverse association was found between sediment carbon stocks and landward oceanic distance – stressing the effect of geomorphic setting on net estuarine sedimentary carbon accretion. By interpolating the spatial variability in sediment carbon stocks, this study identified opportunities for enhancing salt marsh carbon stock through restoration (385.4ha). The potential carbon emissions, attributed to possible degradation and loss of all habitats from the Swartkops Estuary, was predicted to be 2962.51 Mg CO₂e ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. This further highlights the value of extant carbon stocks, opportunities for restoration of disturbed habitats, and the implications for potential carbon emissions from blue carbon habitats. Furthermore, it reinforces the importance of accounting for local carbon stock variability for blue carbon restoration and/or conservation actions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"330 ","pages":"Article 109709"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978793","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":"Sediment mixing across heterogeneous benthic habitats: environmental and faunal controls along multiple gradients","authors":"Marta Szczepanek ,&nbsp;Emma Michaud ,&nbsp;Marc J. Silberberger ,&nbsp;Monika Kędra","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109677","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109677","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, we present a comprehensive, seasonal assessment of sediment reworking across heterogeneous benthic habitats along the southern coast of the Baltic Sea. By integrating sediment mixing metrics based on tracer profiles (biodiffusion coefficient D_b, non-local mixing coefficient r, and effective mixing depth L) with macrofaunal community structure, vertical distribution of functional groups, and bioturbation potential of community (BP_c), we identified key drivers of sediment mixing in a region subjected to strong natural and anthropogenic gradients. Our results demonstrate that both the magnitude and mode of bioturbation are primarily governed by sediment type and local environmental settings, with cohesive muds dominated by shallow, non-local mixing, and fine sands additionally supporting biodiffusive transport. Notably, gallery-diffusors emerged as key drivers of non-local mixing, independent of broader community composition or habitat type. However, sites with reduced faunal biomass and diversity, particularly under hydrodynamic or oxygen stress, exhibited minimal mixing depths and low BP_c, underscoring the functional consequences of community simplification. Despite its utility as a trait-based proxy, BP_c showed only moderate correlation with sediment mixing metrics, emphasizing the importance of context-dependent environmental settings, including seasonal changes in food supply. Altogether, our findings enhance understanding of the environmental and faunal controls on sediment mixing in low-salinity coastal systems, across structurally and functionally diverse benthic habitats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"330 ","pages":"Article 109677"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928466","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}