Polychaete assemblages on non-encrusting infralittoral algae from the Chafarinas Islands (SW Mediterranean)
López, E.; Viéitez, J.M. (1999). Polychaete assemblages on non-encrusting infralittoral algae from the Chafarinas Islands (SW Mediterranean). Cah. Biol. Mar. 40(4): 375-384
In: Cahiers de Biologie Marine. Station Biologique de Roscoff: Paris. ISSN 0007-9723; e-ISSN 2262-3094, more
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| Abstract |
The present study describes polychaete assemblages from the Chafarinas Islands (SW Mediterranean) and their relationships with different infralittoral communities of non-encrusting algae. Thirty-one samples were taken from the following infralittoral algal communities: Photophilic Algae in Exposed Water (PEW), Photophilic Algae in Calm Water (PCW), Sciaphilic Algae in Calm Water (SCW), and Hemiphotophilic Algae (HP). A total of 177 polychaete species was recorded. Each assemblage was characterized by a set of constant and dominant species. Diversity (Shannon index) for this taxocoenosis in every assemblage was high, ranging from 3.23 to 4.04. Evenness (Pielou index) values were also high, ranging from 0.61 to 0.72. One-way ANOSIM (Analysis of similarities) and ordination analyses showed that polychaete assemblages inhabiting different algal communities differed slightly. They also exhibited an environmental gradient with PEW at one extreme and HP and SCW at the other. The gradient was also apparent in the study of diversity, evenness and trophic guilds of each assemblage, especially with respect to numbers of filter-feeders. |
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