Broad scale variation in seagrass benthic macrofaunal assemblages along the coast of Japan

Abstract

Broad scale studies in seagrass benthic macrofauna are important for future regional marine conservation. We examined spatial variation in the community structure of seagrass‐associated benthic macroinvertebrates collected by sediment coring in 2010 at six seagrass sites of Japan covering the latitudinal range of 24°–43°N. Total species richness and ES(50) at site level did not show clear site variations and relationship with latitude. At core level, site variations of mean species richness, ES(50), Simpson diversity and abundance showed inconsistent pattern, but with more cases of statistically significant association with latitude. Variations were generally influenced by the seagrass species, often among subtropical species, among temperate Zostera species, and between Zostera and subtropical species. Finally, the community composition differed significantly across all sites and community similarity decreased rapidly with geographic distance, with only 5% similarity retained at the distance of 400 km. The dissimilarity among sites was higher with the similar distance compared to other types of coastal communities such as rocky intertidal assemblages, which is associated with minor occurrence of species with broad distributional range.

Epifaunal diversity patterns within and among seagrass meadows suggest landscape‐scale biodiversity processes

“…Our study contributes to a growing number of existing beta-diversity estimates for seagrassassociated animals, mostly infauna living in the sediments rather than on the blades (Barnes 2013a, Boy e et al 2017, Cullain et al 2017, Leopardas et al 2018). In these studies, observed community structure tended to be variable across regional scales, though these differences, similar to our findings, were often driven by community composition, rather than differences in species richness.…”

“…, Leopardas et al. ). In these studies, observed community structure tended to be variable across regional scales, though these differences, similar to our findings, were often driven by community composition, rather than differences in species richness.…”

The effect of environmental gradient on biodiversity and similarity of invertebrate communities in eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds

“…For infauna, it was difficult to obtain animal samples using a 0.5 mmsieve because the samples contained too fine sediment particles. Therefore, we followed the protocols in previous studies (e.g., Leopardas et al, 2018) using 1 mm-sieve for infauna sampling. All the belowground parts found in the core samples were sorted, placed in small aluminum bags, and dried in a drying oven at 60 C for 48 hr or until completely dried (i.e., below-ground biomass).…”

Biodiversity and ecosystems in Asia: studies and activities of International Long‐Term Ecological Research Network in East Asia and Pacific

“…Galindon et al (2018) compare the status of biodiversity in forests in limestone quarries in different sub-regions of the Philippines with different management histories (reforestation). Leopardas et al (2018) use data from the Japanese 'Monitoring Sites 1000' program to examine broad-scale variations in marine biodiversity patterns in seagrass benthic communities. Finally, Fang et al (2018) make special reference to the implications of classification methods used in different studies and interactions with human activities for ecosystem conservation and restoration in their review of ecological connectivity between land and sea.…”