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Linking watershed activities to nearshore ecosystem processes: a case study of Elkhorn Slough Brent Hughes University

Linking watershed activities to nearshore ecosystem processes: a case study of Elkhorn Slough Brent Hughes University of California Santa Cruz. Watershed activity = nutrient load. Data source: NOAA CCAP. Lettuce…lots of lettuce. Lettuce Row Crops . A dumptruck of NO 3 /day.

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Linking watershed activities to nearshore ecosystem processes: a case study of Elkhorn Slough Brent Hughes University

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  1. Linking watershed activities to nearshore ecosystem processes: a case study of Elkhorn SloughBrent HughesUniversity of California Santa Cruz

  2. Watershed activity = nutrient load Data source: NOAA CCAP

  3. Lettuce…lots of lettuce Lettuce Row Crops A dumptruck of NO3/day Sea Lettuce (Ulva spp.)

  4. Ulva production = 40 African Elephants/year

  5. High Variability in Eutrophication Expression Hughes et al. (2011) MEPS

  6. Tidal range explains patterns in eutrophication Hughes et al. (2011) MEPS

  7. Tidal range explains patterns in hypoxia Hughes et al. (2011) MEPS

  8. What are the ecological effects of all this eutrophication? Photo: Daniela Maldini

  9. Tidal range explains benthic invertebrate diversity from Oliver et al. 2009

  10. Watershed activity = nutrient load = ecological effects From: Valiela et al 1997 L&O

  11. Watershed activity = nutrient load = ecological effects Tomales Bay From: Valiela et al 1997 L&O

  12. Watershed activity = nutrient load = ecological effects Tomales Bay Elkhorn Slough From: Valiela et al 1997 L&O

  13. Tidal height determines winners and losers

  14. Increase in flushing potential From: Broenkow & Breaker 2005 Intro Background Nutrients EutrophicationEcology Summary

  15. Flushing explains eelgrass distribution From: Broenkow & Breaker 2005 Intro Background Nutrients EutrophicationEcology Summary

  16. Conclusions • Watershed activity strongly influences nutrient dynamics in Elkhorn Slough. • Intense nutrient loading has led to eutrophication of the estuary. • Tidal range has a strong influence on the expression of eutrophication in the estuary. • Seagrass only persists in the absence of macroalgal mats. • Fish appear to be driven by eutrophication effects and environmental conditions (i.e. Hypoxia).

  17. Acknowledgements Advisors: Kerstin Wasson (ESNERR & UC Santa Cruz) Pete Raimondi (UC Santa Cruz) Susan Williams (UC Davis) RapheKudela (UC Santa Cruz) Mark Carr (UC Santa Cruz) Collaborators: John Haskins (ESNERR) Ken Johnson (MBARI) Monique Fountain (ESNERR) Aaron Carlisle (Hopkins) Sarah Newkirk (TNC) Beth Watson (EPA) KamilleHammerstrom (MLML) Nora Grant (MLML) Sean Abby (UC Santa Cruz) Christine Manuck (USDA) GregorCailliet (MLML) Ron Eby (ESNERR) RikkeKvistPreisler (ESNERR) Bryan Largay (ESNERR) GuiLessa (Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brasil) Steve Litvin (Hopkins) Miguel Rodriguez (Hartnell College) Emily Matthews (UC Santa Cruz) Shirley Murphy (ESNERR) Sara Tanner (MLML) Mark Silberstein (Elkhorn Slough Foundation)

  18. Acknowledgements Funding: NOAA/NERR The Nature Conservancy UCSC EEB Department Myers Oceanographic and Marine Biology Trust Friends of Long Marine Lab Community Foundation for Monterey County/PG&E Non-Point Source Pollution Grant (Grant # 20060387)Elkhorn Slough Foundation Monterey County Water Resources Agency

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