ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF SOFT BOTTOM BIODIVERSITY LOSS IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

The soft-sediment intertidal zone is a unique and vibrant habitat home to a vast invertebrate diversity. Mudflat ecosystems are conduits between the land and the sea, and key inhabitants of these ecosystems like soft-shelled clams and worms are vital to the sustenance of terrestrial and aquatic food chains, and to the persistence of local economies. These organisms, especially worms, are classified as ecosystem engineers as they alter and shape the mudflat habitat; thus it is vital to understand how changing ecological conditions might affect the health and abundance of these fauna. While there is some general evidence that mudflat biodiversity has declined as a result of climate change and species invasion, most quantitative research in this field is geographically limited and the impact on local coastal economies is not well defined. Here, we synthesize past information and data on biodiversity in the mudflats, and connect these data with current and updated statistics to define and substantiate the trajectory of soft-bottom biodiversity in Acadia National Park. In addition, we present a predictive discrete-time model of bait worm and clam populations, in order to understand the effects of changing abiotic conditions and the parallel invasion and proliferation of the green crab (Carcinus maenas) on mudflat ecosystem stability. Results from this research will help inform local dependent communities on potential trajectories of bait worms and clams for harvest, and will also be useful in quantitatively understanding the changes in mudflat-dependent food webs that may accompany persistent invasion by the hand of climate change. This knowledge will be useful in applying strategic conservation and resource management plans in the Acadia mudflat regions.