Spatial Variation of Intertidal Macrofauna on a Sandy Ocean Beach in Australia

James, Rodney J; Fairweather, Peter G.

doi:10.1006/ecss.1996.0058

Cited by 70 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The winter zonation pattern presented a division of the mesolittoral zone, similar to that found by James and Fairweather (1996). Raffaelli et al (1991) concluded that up to 3 zones based on macrofauna assemblages could be identified within the mesolittoral zone defined by Dahl (1952).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Zonation of benthic macrofauna on Cassino Beach, southernmost Brazil

2007

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Benthic macrofauna zonation was studied for one year (June 2004 to May 2005 with monthly sampling on Cassino Beach, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Three sites (spaced 50 m apart) were selected. Three transects were anchored at each site, spaced equidistantly 2 m apart. Each transect extended from the base of the primary dunes to the inner surf zone at approximately 1m in depth, with between 7 and 8 sampling levels. Monthly, with a 20 cm diameter core, one biological sample was collected per transect at each level, a total of nine samples per level. Within transects, the distance between the levels was 20 m until the upper swash zone, from which the distance was 10 m until the 1-meter isobath. Zonation proved to be variable throughout the year. Variability was mainly a reflection of the greater instability of the lower part of the beach, which comprised the lower mesolittoral zone and the inner surf zone. This was evidenced seasonally with the formation of distinct groups of fauna in accordance with the peculiarity of each season of the year. The formation of these groups was strongly influenced by fluctuations in densities stemming from recruitments and the migration of juvenile and adult infauna, as well as superimposing of the distribution of organisms as a result of rises in sea level due to storms. RESUMOA zonação da macrofauna bentônica na praia do Cassino, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, foi estudada durante um ano (junho 2004 a maio de 2005) com base em coletas mensais. Para isso escolheu-se 3 locais, com 50 m de distância um do outro, sendo que em cada local foram fundeadas 3 transversais 2 m eqüidistantes. Cada transversal se estendeu desde a base das dunas primárias até aproximadamente 1m de profundidade no infralitoral, sendo 7 a 8 níveis de coleta distribuídos em cada uma das transversais. Mensalmente, utilizando-se um tubo extrator de 20 cm de diâmetro, coletou-se uma amostra biológica por transversal em cada nível, totalizando nove amostras por nível. A distância dos níveis de coleta em cada transversal foi de 20 m até o limite superior da zona de varrido, a partir da qual a distância foi de 10 m. A zonação mostrou-se variável ao longo do ano, sendo que esta variabilidade refletiu, principalmente, a maior instabilidade da zona inferior da praia, que compreendeu o mesolitoral inferior e a zona de arrebentação interna. Isto ficou evidenciado sazonalmente, com a formação de distintos grupos faunísticos de acordo com a peculiaridade de cada estação do ano. A formação destes grupos foi fortemente influenciada pelas flutuações das densidades, decorrentes dos recrutamentos e migrações de juvenis e adultos da infauna, e da sobreposição da distribuição dos organismos, em função da elevação do nível da água devido às ressacas.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Zonation of benthic macrofauna on Cassino Beach, southernmost Brazil

2007

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“…The number of replicates n required to achieve two levels of precision, 0.1 and 0.2, was calculated for each of the three core sizes using n = [s/(px)] 2 , where s is Standard Deviation and p is the pre-established precision (Andrew and Mapstone, 1987). Efficiency was estimated by multiplying 'n' by the mean total time taken to process samples collected by the respective corers (James and Fairweather, 1996). A one-way ANOSIM permutation analysis (Clarke and Green, 1988) was carried out using the species-abundance matrix to test for differences in community composition within and between groups of replicate samples collected by each of the three corer sizes.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A quantitative technique for sampling motile macroinvertebrates in beds of the seagrass <i>Posidonia oceanica</i> (L.) Delile

Borg¹,

Attrill²,

Rowden³

et al. 2002

Sci. Mar.

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SUMMARY: Techniques for sampling motile macroinvertebrates associated with Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows have mainly involved the use of hand-nets and suction samplers or collection by hand. These techniques give unreliable quantitative estimates or have practical difficulties. A large cylindrical saw-rimmed corer was designed and used successfully to obtain quantitative samples of macroinvertebrates from both foliage and root-rhizome matrix of a Posidonia oceanica meadow in Malta (central Mediterranean). Choice of the appropriate sample unit size was assessed by comparing the relative accuracy, precision and efficiency of three different core diameters: 25 cm, 35 cm and 45 cm. The results suggest that for comparison of macrofaunal species richness and abundance between different meadows/sites the 25 cm diameter corer is recommended. For surveys aimed at estimating total diversity within a particular site, the 35 cm diameter corer is more appropriate.

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“…Giere & Pfannkuche, 1992;James & Fairweather, 1996). The ability of the oligochaetes to burrow into damp sediment on the upper beach level and feed on decaying macrophytes makes these organisms ideally adapted to living in this type of environment.…”

Section: Characteristics Of the Assemblages In Di¡erent Zones And Seamentioning

confidence: 99%

Do the assemblages of benthic macroinvertebrates in nearshore waters of Western Australia vary among habitat types, zones and seasons?

et al. 2005

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Benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled seasonally in the subtidal and upper and lower swash zones at two sites in each of six nearshore habitat types on the lower west coast of Australia. The habitat types, which di¡ered mainly in the extent of their exposure to wave activity and whether sea grass and/or nearshore reefs were present, had been distinguished quantitatively using values for a suite of seven statisticallyselected enduring environmental characteristics (Valesini et al., 2003). The core samples yielded 121 species representing eight phyla, among which the Polychaeta, Malacostraca and Bivalvia were the most speciose classes, contributing $ 38, 23 and 10%, respectively, to the total number of individuals. The total number of species and mean density of macroinvertebrates at the most protected habitat type (1), i.e. 70 and 209.2 individuals 0.1m 72, respectively, were far greater than in any other habitat type. Habitat type in£uenced species composition to a greater extent than either zone or season. Furthermore, the extents of the di¡er-ences among the species compositions of the six habitat types statistically matched the extents of the di¡erences among the values for the suite of enduring environmental characteristics that distinguished each of those habitat types. Overall, the species composition at habitat type 1 was the most distinct, containing ¢ve abundant species of polychaetes that were adapted to deposit-feeding in calm waters with high levels of organic material and which were rare in all other habitat types. In contrast, the fauna at the most exposed habitat type was characterized by four crustacean species and a species of bivalve and polychaete, whose mobility and tough external surface facilitated their survival and feeding in turbulent waters. The zonal di¡erences in faunal compositions among habitat types were greatest in the case of the subtidal zone. The faunal compositions di¡ered among zones and seasons only at the most protected habitat type.

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Spatial Variation of Intertidal Macrofauna on a Sandy Ocean Beach in Australia

Cited by 70 publications

References 32 publications

Zonation of benthic macrofauna on Cassino Beach, southernmost Brazil

Zonation of benthic macrofauna on Cassino Beach, southernmost Brazil

A quantitative technique for sampling motile macroinvertebrates in beds of the seagrass <i>Posidonia oceanica</i> (L.) Delile

Do the assemblages of benthic macroinvertebrates in nearshore waters of Western Australia vary among habitat types, zones and seasons?

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