Patchiness of epibenthic megafauna on the outer Grand Banks of Newfoundland

Schneider, DC; Gagnon, Jean-Marc; Gilkinson, KD

doi:10.3354/meps039001

Cited by 53 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Firstly, the importance of these processes will be dependent on the spatial and temporal scales of observation or sampling (Dayton & Tegner 1984, Schneider et al 1987, Thrush et al 1997b). For example, Blanchard & Bourget (1999) related various aspects of physical heterogeneity of a rocky-shore coastline measured at multiple spatial scales to aspects of benthic community structure (including diversity) and showed that processes operating over different spatial scales best explained different aspects of community structure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fishing disturbance and marine biodiversity: the role of habitat structure in simple soft-sediment systems

Thrush¹,

Hewitt²,

Funnell³

et al. 2001

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Broad-scale anthropogenic disturbances that reduce the density of epifauna and homogenise surficial sediments can have important consequences for seafloor biodiversity. We investigated the habitat structure and macrofaunal diversity of relatively simple soft-sediment habitats over a number of spatial scales (cm to km) to identify the role of habitat structure in influencing macrobenthic diversity and to assess the validity of using habitat structure as a surrogate measure for biodiversity. We sampled 10 locations with differences in habitat structure using a sampling design that nested macrobenthic core samples within videoed transects of the seafloor. This allowed us to determine relationships between observable habitat structure and macrobenthic diversity at a number of spatial scales. We characterised elements of habitat structure based on direct counts of surficial sediment characteristics and the presence of other immobile features, many of which were biogenic in origin. We also used multivariate measures (the relative multivariate dispersion, the mean and range of the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity along the transects) to characterise habitat structure at the transect scale. We developed regression models based on measures of habitat structure that explained 74 to 86% of the variance in macrobenthic diversity. This result suggests that removal of habitat structure in relatively low-structure soft-sediment systems will significantly decrease their biodiversity, and consequently that of the wider marine ecosystem.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fishing disturbance and marine biodiversity: the role of habitat structure in simple soft-sediment systems

Thrush¹,

Hewitt²,

Funnell³

et al. 2001

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…data). There are many studies showing that higher density areas of the scallop species are in gravel and coarse sand sediment rather than in muddy or fine sand areas (Caddy 1970, Schneider et al 1987, Thouzeau et al 1991. Coarse grain sediment types have been generally associated with relatively strong current flow (Brand 1991) that provides favorable food conditions for the scallops.…”

Section: Distribution Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many factors affecting spatial distribution have been given, such as depth, substrate type (Caddy 1970, Schneider et al 1987, Thouzeau et al 1991, food availability, water currents (Olsen 1955, Thouzeau et al 1991, and predation (Langton & Robinson 1990). We detected contagious distribution patterns of the scallops within the fishing grounds on a large scale (in the order of a few km2) (Figs.…”

Section: Distribution Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Distribution and abundance of cultured scallop Patinopecten yessoensis in extensive sea beds as assessed by underwater camera

Goshima¹,

Fujiwara²

1994

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Early efforts used towed video and camera systems and manned submersibles to characterize and assess the spatial characteristics of seafloor communities along specified transects (e.g., Grassle et al 1975;Schneider et al 1987) and side-scan images to relate large-scale spatial changes in benthic community structure to environmental features such as tidal regime (Warwick and Uncles 1980) and disturbances (Menzie et. al.…”

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confidence: 99%

Responses of infaunal populations to benthoscape structure and the potentialimportance of transition zones

Zajac

Lewis

Poppe

et al. 2003

Limnology & Oceanography

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Relationships between population abundance and seafloor landscape, or benthoscape, structure were examined for 16 infaunal taxa in eastern Long Island Sound. Based on analyses of a side-scan sonar mosaic, the 19.4-km 2 study area was comprised of six distinct large-scale (Ͼ km 2 ) benthoscape elements, with varying levels of mesoscale (km 2 -m 2 ) and small-scale (Ͻ m 2 ) physical and biological habitat heterogeneity. Transition zones among elements varied from ϳ50 to 200 m in width, comprised ϳ32% of the benthoscape, and added to overall benthoscape heterogeneity. Population abundances of nine taxa varied significantly among the large-scale elements. Most species were found at high abundances only in one benthoscape element, but three had several foci of elevated abundances. Analyses of population responses to habitat heterogeneity at different spatial scales indicated that abundances of eight taxa varied significantly among spatial scales, but the significant scales were mixed among these species. Relatively large residual variations suggest significant amounts of mesoscale spatial variation were unaccounted for, varying from ϳ1 km 2 to several m 2 . Responses to transition zones were mixed as well. Abundances of nine taxa varied significantly among transition zones and interiors of benthoscape elements, most with elevated abundances in transition zones. Our results show that infaunal populations exhibit complex and spatially varying patterns of abundance in relation to benthoscape structure and suggest that mesoscale variation may be particularly critical in this regard. Also, transition zones among benthoscape features add considerably to this variation and may be ecological important areas in seafloor environments.The spatial patterns of benthic communities in relation to seafloor characteristics have been studied by marine ecolo-1 Corresponding author (rzajac@newhaven.edu). AcknowledgmentsWe would like to thank a number of people who provided immeasurable help in the field and laboratory. These include Tom

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Patchiness of epibenthic megafauna on the outer Grand Banks of Newfoundland

Cited by 53 publications

References 19 publications

Fishing disturbance and marine biodiversity: the role of habitat structure in simple soft-sediment systems

Fishing disturbance and marine biodiversity: the role of habitat structure in simple soft-sediment systems

Distribution and abundance of cultured scallop Patinopecten yessoensis in extensive sea beds as assessed by underwater camera

Responses of infaunal populations to benthoscape structure and the potentialimportance of transition zones

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