Community structure and spatial variation of benthic invertebrates associated with Zostera marina (L

Author(s): Boström C, Bonsdorff E

Abstract

The distribution and bed structure of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.), and its importance for associated faunal communities in the coastal areas of the northern Baltic Sea are poorly known. The spatial distribution of the fauna associated with Zostera was studied at five localities in SW Finland in 1993–1994. Zostera was common on all localities, but the beds varied in terms of area (1–5 m diameter), density (50–500 shoots/m2) and blade length (20–110 cm). A total of about 40 species or taxa were recorded. The zoobenthic infauna showed significant spatial differences, and total abundance and species diversity were significantly higher in the Zostera beds than in adjacent bare sand. The total abundance in Zostera ranged from 25 000 to 50 000 ind/m2 and in sand from 2500 to 15 000 ind/m2 The mean number of species in Zostera ranged from 5.9 to 8.8 spp (H′ = 1.76–2.54) and in sand from 2.2 to 5.5 spp (H′ = 1.67–2.31). The epifauna in Zostera was numerically dominated by grazing gastropods (Hydrobiidae) and copepods. The epifauna is an important community component, which contributes to the total diversity of the Zostera assemblage. These systems are among the most species-rich components of the shallow soft-bottom ecosystems in the northern Baltic Sea. The mechanisms structuring both the Zostera and the ambient sand-bottom habitats are presented.

Similar Articles

Basic Ecology

Author(s): Odum EP

The estuarine ecosystem

Author(s): Mc Lusky DS

Differences in benthic fauna and sediment among mangrove (Avicennia marina var

Author(s): Morrisey DJ, Skilleter GA, Ellis JI, Burns BR, Kemp CE, et al.

The seagrasses of the world

Author(s): Den Hartog C

World Atlas of Seagrasses

Author(s): Green EP, Short FT

Accelerating loss of seagrasses across the globe threatens coastal ecosystems

Author(s): Waycott M, Duarte CM, Carruthers TJB, Orth RJ, Dennison WC, et al.

Seagrasses: biology, ecology and conservation

Author(s): Larkum AWD, Orth RJ, Duarte CM

Seagrass Ecology

Author(s): Hemminga MA, Duarte CM

Seagrass community ecology: Marine Community Ecology

Author(s): Williams SL, Heck Jr K.L.

The future of seagrass meadows

Author(s): Duarte C.M

Latitudinal gradients as natural laboratories to infer species’ responses to temperature

Author(s): De Frenne P, Graae BJ, Rodríguez-Sanchez F, Kolb A, Chabrerie O, et al.

(2016b) Cockle infection by Himasthla quissetensis - II

Author(s): de Montaudouin X, Blanchet H, Bazairi H, Nazik A, Desclaux-Marchand C, et al

Consequences of climate-driven biodiversity changes for ecosystem functioning of North European rocky shores

Author(s): Hawkins SJ, Sugden HE, Mieszkowska N, Moore PJ, Poloczanska E, et al.

Changes in North Sea macrofauna communities and species distribution between 1986 and 2000

Author(s): Kröncke I, Reiss H, Eggleton JD, Aldridge J, et al.

Sea level variability and tidal resonance in the Gulf of Gabès, Tunisia

Author(s): Sammari C, Koutitonsky VG, Moussa M

Long-term evolution (1988-2008) of Zostera spp

Author(s): Plus M, Sebastien D, Gilles T, Isabelle A, de Montaudouin X, et al.

The Mathematical theory of communication

Author(s): Shannon CE, Weaver W

Diet of Worms Emended: An Update of Polychaete Feeding Guilds

Author(s): Jumars PA, Dorgan KM, Lindsay SM

Polychaete/amphipod ratio revisited

Author(s): Dauvin JC, Ruellet T

PRIMER v6: User Manual/Tutorial

Author(s): Clarke KR, Gorley RN

Infauna from Zostera marina L

Author(s): Fredriksen S, De Backer A, Böstrom C, Christie H

Seagrass colonization: knock-on effects on zoobenthic community, populations and individual health

Author(s): Do VT, de Montaudouin X, Lavesque N, Blanchet H, Guyard H

A Three-Stage Symbiosis Forms the Foundation of Seagrass Ecosystems

Author(s): van der Heide T, Govers LL, de Fouw J, Olff H, van der Geest M, et al.

The biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: estimates, patterns, and threats

Author(s): Coll M, Piroddi C, Steenbeek J, Kaschner K, Ben Rais Lasram F, et al.

Differential responses of bacteria, meiofauna and macrofauna in a shelf area (Ligurian Sea, NW Mediterranean): role of food availability

Author(s): Albertelli G, Covazzi-Harriague A, Danovaro R, Fabiano M, Fraschetti S, et al.

Complex interactions in a rapidly changing world: responses of rocky shore communities to recent climate change

Author(s): Hawkins SJ, Moore PJ, Burrows MT, Poloczanska E, Mieszkowska N, et al.

The impacts of climate change in coastal marine systems

Author(s): Harley CDG, Hughes AR, Hultgren KM, Miner BG, Sorte CJB, et al.