Abstract
Restoring river connectivity to rebuild and sustain land is a promising restoration strategy in coastal areas experiencing rapid land loss, such as the Mississippi river delta. Results of these large-scale hydrologic changes are preliminary, and there exists limited empirical evidence regarding how benthic communities will respond, specifically in Barataria Bay and Breton Sound in southeast Louisiana. In this review, the body of existing research in this geographic region pertaining to the drivers of benthic community response that are related to restored freshwater flow and sediment deposition is examined. Overall trends include (1) potential displacement of some species down-estuary due to reduced salinities; (2) temporary lower diversity in areas closest to the inflow; (3) increased benthic production along the marsh edge, and in tidal bayous, as a result of nutrient loading; (4) more habitat coverage in the form of submerged aquatic vegetation; and (5) reduced predation pressure from large and/or salinity-restricted predators. These trends highlight opportunities for future research that should be conducted before large-scale hydrologic changes take place.
Highlights
The rate of relative sea level rise (RSLR) along the Mississippi Delta approaches 10 mm yr−1 in some areas due to eustatic sea level rise (ESLR) exacerbated by land subsidence, construction of oil and gas canals, and over a century of hydrologic disconnect in the form of containment levees (Snedden et al, 2007; Martin, 2002; Turner & Boyer, 1997)
Salinity variance is an important predictor of benthic community response, as is average salinity
Areas of the estuary which rely primarily on riverine input and are relatively removed from marine influence will likely experience an increase in benthic biomass as a result of restored freshwater flow, but the immediate inflow areas of new diversions will likely experience temporary or sustained low diversity, depending on diversion operation and the potential for recovery
Summary
The rate of relative sea level rise (RSLR) along the Mississippi Delta approaches 10 mm yr−1 in some areas due to eustatic sea level rise (ESLR) exacerbated by land subsidence, construction of oil and gas canals, and over a century of hydrologic disconnect in the form of containment levees (Snedden et al, 2007; Martin, 2002; Turner & Boyer, 1997). Dynamic wetlands that have been disconnected from Mississippi River sediments since the 20th century are unable to keep pace with RSLR because they are bounded by coastline urbanization, and are simultaneously eroded by storms and human activities (Day et al, 2009; Wheelock, 2003; Snedden et al, 2007). A long-term restoration effort has been undertaken along the Louisiana coastline, including proposed construction of sediment diversions designed to deliver mineral sediments carried by freshwater from the.
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