MECHANISMS GENERATING MODIFICATION OF BENTHOS FOLLOWING TIDAL FLAT INVASION BY A SPARTINA HYBRID.

The article discusses the study which aims to evaluate the link between changes brought on by hybrid Spartina in the physical and chemical environment and changes in benthic communities. The study was conducted in Alameda City, California. The hybrid Spartina canopy exerted a strong influence on the hydrodynamic regime, setting off a series of physical, chemical, and biological changes in the benthic system. These changes in the sediment environment included increased porewater sulfide concentrations and anoxia, resulted to poor survivorship of surface feeders like bivalves, amphipods, and polychaetes. Results of the study indicate that multiple physical, chemical, biotic, and trophic effects of the Spartina invasion led to substantial changes in benthic communities.