The Intertidal Soft-Bottom Macrobenthic Invertebrates

CARCEDO, M. CECILIA; ANGELETTI, S; ZAPPERI, G; DOS SANTOS, EDER P.; FIORI, SANDRA M.

The Bahía Blanca Estuary

Springer

Lugar: Cham; Año: 2021; p. 179 - 213

The Bahía Blanca Estuary is among the most ecologically rich and complex areasalong the Argentine coast. It is composed of 2,300 km2 of intertidal fats, saltmarshes, shallow channels, and emerged islands, arranged to create intricate patterns of land-sea interfaces where terrestrial and marine realms converge. Ecosystemsin the estuary are shaped by complex exchanges of energy, water, nutrients, sediments, and biota. These natural environments sustain a high concentration of marineand terrestrial species, including endemic, threatened, and endangered fsh, shorebirds, and marine mammals, whose major resting and reproductive habitats havebeen included within the several nature reserves established in the area. PuertoCuatreros, in the inner zone of the estuary hosts a permanent station of marineresearch, whose records span more than 30 years of biophysical variables and represent one of the largest time series of ecological data in South America.Large scale deterioration of coastal ecosystem is a global issue, and the BahíaBlanca Estuary is no exception. Despite its large ecological relevance, the estuary isunder increasing anthropogenic pressure by large urban settlements, industrialinstallations, and port expansion projects, raising the question of how we can balance both conservation and human development. Overfshing, invasive species thatestablish and thrive, and runoff of nutrients and pollutants from cities and landbased industries are major environmental issues that arise from conficts of interestbetween the various users of the coastal zone. This book deals primarily with thebiological aspects of ecosystem health, but we recognize the many dimensions ofthe problem and offer an insight into some relevant social challenges for the environmental management in the region.This book presents an updated revision of the biology and ecology of the majorgroups of living organisms inhabiting the coastal zone of Bahía Blanca, includingnew material on current research revealing the presence of previously unrecognizedspecies and changes in ecosystem functions. The different chapters throughout thebook include additions on how humans adversely impact the natural communities,but specifc chapters have been also incorporated to deal with major anthropogenicpressures and conservation efforts in the area.The book is organized into 20 chapters written by the local experts on each topic.The frst four chapters introduce readers to the regional context, geographical settings, and physical and chemical processes that affect the distribution and abundance of living organisms. Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16comprise the core of the book, on the composition, organization, managementissues, and conservation status of the relevant biological communities of major habitat types within the estuary and the area of infuence. The fnal four chapters in thebook deal with socio-environmental aspects relevant for the ecosystem health of theestuary.At the regional level, we hope this book will help young students and citizens toappreciate the many valuable ecosystems around us and promote a new generationto continue efforts towards sensible management and conservation of our naturalenvironments. From a broader perspective, we expect to offer access to the international readership seeking for updated information on the biology and ecology of theBahía Blanca Estuary.Bahía Blanca, Argentina Sandra M. Fiori Paula D. Pratolongo