Effects of causeway construction on environment and biota of subtropical tidal flats in Okinawa, Japan
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: Okinawa, Japan is known for its high marine biodiversity, yet little work has been performed on examining impacts of numerous large-scale coastal development projects on its marine ecosystems. Here, we examine apparent impacts of the construction of the Kaichu-Doro causeway, which was built over 40 years ago. The causeway is a 4.75 km long embankment that divides a large tidal flat and has only two points of water exchange along its entire length. We employed quadrats, transects, sampling, visual surveys, and microbial community analyses combined with environmental, water quality data, and 1m cores, at five stations of two paired sites each (one on each side of Kaichu-Doro) to investigate how the environment and biota have changed since the Kaichu-Doro was built. Results indicate reduction in water flow, and site S1 was particularly heavily impacted by poor water quality, with low diversity and disturbed biotic communities.
Source: Marine Pollution Bulletin
Institutions: University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, University of Tampa, Kuroshio Biology Research Institute, Tohoku University, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Kobe University Research Center for Inland Seas
Language: English
Subfield: Oceanography
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,740
OpenAlex ID: W2087311648