Temporal distribution of intertidal macrozoobenthic assemblages in a Nanozostera noltii-dominated area (Lagoon of Venice)

Tagliapietra, Davide; Pessa, Giuseppe; Cornello, Michele; Zitelli, A.; Magni, Paolo

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2015.11.009

Cited by 13 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The populations of suspension-feeders, such as Barbatia foliata, which was dominant in the seagrass meadow (S1), supports the idea of higher availability of organic suspended particulate matter derived from, among others, nearby mangrove canopies and this higher availability will also support more resident organisms [ 68 , 99 ]. Despite the high temporal variability observed in all habitats, highlighted by the dissimilarity indices, seagrass habitats showed a comparatively higher stability, with the lowest values of inter-annual variability, similar to previous studies in temperate areas [ 8 , 98 ]. These habitats also supported the highest number of resident species (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…The structural complexity provided by the seagrass canopy and the developed rhizome and root systems that contribute to sediment stability may favour the development of diverse communities [ 70 , 75 , 76 ]. In the tropics, the canopy can play an additional critical role providing shade that can attenuate the effects of sea water temperature [ 8 ] that in the study region can reach over 32 °C in the summer. Yet, we found that denser seagrass meadows are not always the most favourable habitats for several invertebrates, even though this result may be site-dependent [ 77 – 80 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Coastal lagoons harbour well-adapted and sometimes unique assemblages of species, which play a vital role directly supporting local populations. These ecosystems are naturally stressed on daily to annual-time scales [ 4 – 8 ] and display high environmental variability (e.g. temperature, salinity, primary productivity, nutrients, dissolved oxygen).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Composition, uniqueness and connectivity across tropical coastal lagoon habitats in the Red Sea

et al. 2020

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Background Tropical habitats and their associated environmental characteristics play a critical role in shaping macroinvertebrate communities. Assessing patterns of diversity over space and time and investigating the factors that control and generate those patterns is critical for conservation efforts. However, these factors are still poorly understood in sub-tropical and tropical regions. The present study applied a combination of uni- and multivariate techniques to test whether patterns of biodiversity, composition, and structure of macrobenthic assemblages change across different lagoon habitats (two mangrove sites; two seagrass meadows with varying levels of vegetation cover; and an unvegetated subtidal area) and between seasons and years. Results In total, 4771 invertebrates were identified belonging to 272 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). We observed that macrobenthic lagoon assemblages are diverse, heterogeneous and that the most evident biological pattern was spatial rather than temporal. To investigate whether macrofaunal patterns within the lagoon habitats (mangrove, seagrass, unvegetated area) changed through the time, we analysed each habitat separately. The results showed high seasonal and inter-annual variability in the macrofaunal patterns. However, the seagrass beds that are characterized by variable vegetation cover, through time, showed comparatively higher stability (with the lowest values of inter-annual variability and a high number of resident taxa). These results support the theory that seagrass habitat complexity promotes diversity and density of macrobenthic assemblages. Despite the structural and functional importance of seagrass beds documented in this study, the results also highlighted the small-scale heterogeneity of tropical habitats that may serve as biodiversity repositories. Conclusions Comprehensive approaches at the “seascape” level are required for improved ecosystem management and to maintain connectivity patterns amongst habitats. This is particularly true along the Saudi Arabian coast of the Red Sea, which is currently experiencing rapid coastal development. Also, considering the high temporal variability (seasonal and inter-annual) of tropical shallow-water habitats, monitoring and management plans must include temporal scales.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Composition, uniqueness and connectivity across tropical coastal lagoon habitats in the Red Sea

et al. 2020

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“…The dominant macrozoobenthic assemblages within the intertidal area colonized by the Zostera noltei seagrass beds of the Kneiss Islands ( Table 3) are made up of species that are dominant in the Venice lagoon [57] and in Atlantic lagoons such as Arcachon Bay [4] [69]. Indeed, a large number of species and high abundances are observed in these study areas, associated with the probable positive effect of seagrass which is commonly related to the structural complexity of the canopy.…”

Section: Comparison With Other Zostera Noltei Bedsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Spatial and Temporal Structures of the Macrozoobenthos from the Intertidal Zone of the Kneiss Islands (Central Mediterranean Sea)

Mosbahi¹,

Pezy²,

Dauvin³

et al. 2016

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The present study analyses the spatio-temporal variability of the macrozoobenthos from the intertidal zone of the Kneiss Islands (Gulf of Gabès, Tunisia). Samples were collected once from 34 stations, while seasonal variations were studied by sampling four times at 12 stations over the period 2013-2014. A total of 159 macrobenthos taxa associated with intertidal Zostera noltei beds are identified from the 34 stations, with a taxonomic dominance of crustaceans (32%), molluscs (29%) and annelids (27%). Abundance varies from 9244 to 36,844 ind·m −2 with a mean value of 14,346 ind·m −2 . Analysis of the trophic structure shows that the majority of stations are strongly represented by carnivores (41%), followed by the non-selective deposit feeders (16%). Cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling allow identification of three main benthic assemblages based on species abundance, corresponding to different sediment types and organic matter contents. The seasonal variability in abundance, diversity and community structure is mainly due to spring and summer recruitment. The biotic indices (i.e. AMBI, BO2A and BENTIX) show that the intertidal area of Kneiss Islands exhibits a good ecological status.

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“…To our knowledge, there has been no scientific research on amphipod patterns associated with Zostera ( Zosterella ) noltei meadows. Nevertheless, these dwarf eelgrass beds are considered as the climax intertidal community in the Mediterranean (Tagliapietra, Pessa, Cornello, Zitelli, & Magni, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do intertidal Zostera noltei meadows represent a favourable habitat for amphipods? The case of the Kneiss Islands (Gulf of Gabès: Central Mediterranean Sea)

et al. 2020

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The structure, diversity, spatial and seasonal distributions of amphipod assemblages associated with intertidal Zostera (Zosterella) noltei meadows were studied around the Kneiss Islands (central Mediterranean Sea). This site represents a site of international interest in terms of its ornithological diversity (Important Bird Area, Ramsar Site and SPAMI). The amphipod fauna was sampled at 32 stations in spring 2014. A total of 6,482 individuals belonging to 78 species and 22 families were identified; among these taxa, Lysianassa ceratina is new for the Tunisian amphipod inventory, whereas 25 species are identified for the first time in the Gulf of Gabès. The dominant species are Cymadusa filosa, Microdeutopus gryllotalpa, Gammarus insensibilis, Dexamine spiniventris, Monocorophium insidiosum, Elasmopus rapax, Melita palmata and Leucothoe incisa. Four amphipod assemblages are identified using MDS analysis. The distribution of amphipod assemblages is linked to several environmental factors, such as sediment type, organic matter content and distance from the shore, which is itself associated with a clear inshore–offshore gradient. Seasonal variations of the amphipod assemblage patterns at eight stations, sampled between April 2014 and January 2015, show a maximum abundance and diversity during summer and autumn, with a minimum in winter. These seasonal fluctuations may be related to many factors such as variations of climatic factors (e.g. temperature, salinity), the growth and production rates of Zostera noltei meadows and seasonal patterns in the life cycle of dominant species.

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Temporal distribution of intertidal macrozoobenthic assemblages in a Nanozostera noltii-dominated area (Lagoon of Venice)

Cited by 13 publications

References 38 publications

Composition, uniqueness and connectivity across tropical coastal lagoon habitats in the Red Sea

Composition, uniqueness and connectivity across tropical coastal lagoon habitats in the Red Sea

Spatial and Temporal Structures of the Macrozoobenthos from the Intertidal Zone of the Kneiss Islands (Central Mediterranean Sea)

Do intertidal Zostera noltei meadows represent a favourable habitat for amphipods? The case of the Kneiss Islands (Gulf of Gabès: Central Mediterranean Sea)

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