Comparisons of species richness, size-structure and production of benthos in vegetated and unvegetated habitats in Western Port, Victoria

Edgar, Graham J.; Shaw, Craig; Watsona, G.F.; Hammond, Laurie

doi:10.1016/0022-0981(94)90185-6

Cited by 152 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This all points to the possibility that the harpacticoid community is mainly associated with the macrophytodetritus for food availability and shelter (Coull and Wells, 1983). Leaf litter has been recognised as a food source for harpacticoid copepods (Meyer and Bell, 1989) since detrital forms of organic material were more palatable and more accessible than fresh material for consumers (Edgar et al, 1994;Enriquez et al, 1993;Harrison and Mann, 1975). It is thus possible that macrophytodetritus accumulations yield a more readily available food for harpacticoids in contrast to other habitats and this will attract them (Norkko and Bonsdorff, 1996).…”

Section: Harpacticoid Copepod Species Assemblage In Detritusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unvegetated sand showed a lower abundance of associated motile macro-and meiofauna than the foliar substrata of living seagrasses (Bostrom and Bonsdorff, 1997;Connolly, 1997;Edgar et al, 1994;Fonseca et al, 2011;Sanchez-Jerez et al, 1999). In the P. oceanica ecosystem, the root-rhizome layer mat supports diverse macro-invertebrate assemblages (Harmelin, 1964).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Seasonal variability of meiofauna, especially harpacticoid copepods, in Posidonia oceanica macrophytodetritus accumulations

Mascart

Lepoint

Deschoemaeker

et al. 2015

Journal of Sea Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The overall aim of this study was (1) to assess the diversity and density of meiofauna taxa, especially harpacticoid copepod species, present within accumulated seagrass macrophytodetritus on unvegetated sand patches and (2) to elucidate the community structure of detritus-associated harpacticoid copepods in relation to natural temporal variability of physico-chemical characteristics of accumulations. This was investigated in a Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile seagrass ecosystem in the northwest Mediterranean Sea (Bay of Calvi, Corsica, 42°35′N, 8°43′E) using a triplicate macrophytodetritus core field sampling in two contrasting sites over the four seasons of 2011. Meiofauna higher taxa consisted of 50% Copepoda, of which 87% belonged to the Harpacticoida order. Nematoda was the second most abundant taxa. The copepod community displayed a wide variety of morphologically similar and ecologically different species (i.e. mesopsammic, phytal, phytal-swimmers, planktonic and parasitic). The harpacticoid copepod community followed a strong seasonal pattern with highest abundances and species diversity in May-August, revealing a link with the leaf litter epiphyte primary production cycle. Aside from the important role in sheltering, housing and feeding potential of macrophytodetritus, a harpacticoid community BEST analysis demonstrated a positive correlation with habitat complexity and a negative correlation with water movements and P. oceanica leaf litter accumulation.

show abstract

Section: Harpacticoid Copepod Species Assemblage In Detritusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variability of meiofauna, especially harpacticoid copepods, in Posidonia oceanica macrophytodetritus accumulations

Mascart

Lepoint

Deschoemaeker

et al. 2015

Journal of Sea Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The spatial distribution of the benthic fauna at the intertidal level is strongly affected by the variation in physico-chemical conditions (REISE, 1985;PETERSON, 1991;WILSON JR, 1991) such as sediment stability and composition (resulting from tidal currents) and the frequency and length of exposure at low tide (imposed by the tidal pattern). Studies have, moreover, demonstrated that the abundance and diversity of benthic communities associated with the seagrass beds are higher than in sediments without seagrass (STONER, 1980;ORTH et al, 1984;EDGAR et al, 1994;CONNOLY, 1997). Seagrasses provide physical structure on otherwise often largely featureless sediment bottoms, enhancing community diversity, biomass, and primary and secondary production (MARBÀ et al, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The abundance and diversity of benthic communities associated with seagrass beds are greater than those in sediments without seagrass (STONER, 1980;ORTH et al, 1984, EDGAR et al, 1994CONNOLY, 1997) because the beds are environmentally heterogeneous and biologically productive systems on soft bottoms. Seagrass beds are highly productive (BELL; POLLARD, 1989), stabilize sediments (FONSECA et al, 1982) and compact the substrate, providing shelter, refuge and nursery space for marine animals (ORTH et al, 1984).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small scale change in mollusk diversity along a depth gradient in a seagrass bed off Cabo Frio, (Southeast Brazil)

Creed

Kinupp

2011

Braz. j. oceanogr.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A B S T R A C TWe know little about animal communities in seagrass beds in the southeast Atlantic. The aim of the current study was to characterize and quantify the mollusk assemblages within these unique tropical seagrass habitats at a spatial scale fine enough to relate change in assemblage structure to gradients in exposure to air/depth. The study was carried out off Cabo Frio, Southeast Brazil. A 1250 m 2 area vegetated by the seagrass Halodule wrightii was defined (50 m parallel to the shoreline × 25 m distance from the shore margin). Twenty-six transects were established and the sampling carried out in order to characterize and to quantify the associated mollusk fauna. The mollusk assemblage presented overall density, density of key species and mean richness which increased systematically along the onshore-to-offshore gradient. Furthermore over the short spatial distance of the study the mollusk assemblage changed sufficiently for ordination to detect different assemblages. R E S U M OHá pouco conhecimento sobre a comunidade animal em bancos de fanerógamas marinhas no Atlântico sudeste. O presente estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar e quantificar assembléias de Mollusca nesses habitats únicos, utilizando uma escala espacial sensível suficiente para relacionar mudança na estrutura da assembléia aos gradientes em exposição ao ar/profundidade. O estudo foi realizado em Cabo Frio, no sudeste do Brasil. Delimitou-se uma área de vegetação de Halodule wrightii de 1250 m 2 (50 m paralelo ao costão × 25 m distância da orla). Foram estabelecidos 26 transectos e realizada a amostragem, de modo a caracterizar e quantificar a malacofauna. A assembléia apresentou uma densidade, densidade de espécies chaves e riqueza média que aumentou sistematicamente ao longo do gradiente orla-mar. Além disso, em escala espacial curta, a assembléia de Mollusca mudou suficientemente que, através de uma ordenação, se detectou diferenças entre assembléias.

show abstract

“…A reason for the seagrass preference of juvenile groupers and snappers is the diverse and abundant invertebrate fauna in this habitat, which is supported by the plants. The constant growth of epiphytes on the leaves and the production of large amounts of detritus provide rich food sources for organisms at all tropic levels (Connolly, 1994a;Edgar et al, 1994). The main food of juvenile groupers and snappers were shrimps, followed by fish (Table 7), which is in accordance with results reported on feeding habits of groupers in the same type of area (Sugama & Eda, 1986) in Curacao and other Caribbean islands (Randall, 1967;Brule et al, 1994).…”

Section: Seagrass As a Nursery And Feeding Habitatmentioning

confidence: 99%

Utilization of seagrass habitats by juvenile groupers and snappers in Banten Bay, Banten Province, Indonesia

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Coastal development in Banten Bay, Indonesia, decreased seagrass coverage to only 1.5% of its surface area. We investigated the importance of seagrass as habitat for juvenile groupers (Serranidae) and snappers (Lutjanidae), by performing beam trawl hauls on a weekly basis in two seagrass locations and one mudflat area, and monthly trawl hauls in three different microhabitats (dense, mixed and patchy seagrass) in one of the seagrass locations. We studied the effects of location and microhabitat, as well as temporal patterns (diel, weekly and monthly) on the probability of occurrence and abundance of the most abundant grouper (Orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides) and snapper (Russell's snapper, Lutjanus russellii). We found that both species were almost exclusively found in seagrass locations, with a preference for microhabitats of high complexity (dense and mixed microhabitats). L. russellii had a higher probability of catch and abundance during the night, most probably because of its ability to avoid the beam trawl during daytime sampling. In addition there was an effect of week and month on the presence and abundance of both species, but patterns were unclear, probably because of high fishing pressure on juvenile groupers and snappers by push net fishermen. Groupers and snappers mainly fed on abundant shrimps, and to a lesser extent on fish. Moreover, juveniles find protection against predators in seagrass, which confirmed the critical role of quantity and quality of seagrass areas for juvenile groupers and snappers in Banten Bay.

show abstract

Comparisons of species richness, size-structure and production of benthos in vegetated and unvegetated habitats in Western Port, Victoria

Cited by 152 publications

References 28 publications

Seasonal variability of meiofauna, especially harpacticoid copepods, in Posidonia oceanica macrophytodetritus accumulations

Seasonal variability of meiofauna, especially harpacticoid copepods, in Posidonia oceanica macrophytodetritus accumulations

Small scale change in mollusk diversity along a depth gradient in a seagrass bed off Cabo Frio, (Southeast Brazil)

Utilization of seagrass habitats by juvenile groupers and snappers in Banten Bay, Banten Province, Indonesia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About