Polychaete patterns from an oceanic island in the eastern Central Atlantic : La Gomera (Canary Archipelago)
Herrando-Pérez, S.; San Martín, G.; Núñez, J. (2001). Polychaete patterns from an oceanic island in the eastern Central Atlantic : La Gomera (Canary Archipelago). Cah. Biol. Mar. 42(3): 275-287
In: Cahiers de Biologie Marine. Station Biologique de Roscoff: Paris. ISSN 0007-9723; e-ISSN 2262-3094, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Herrando-Pérez, S.
- San Martín, G.
- Núñez, J.
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| Abstract |
The polychaete macrofauna along the shallow sublittoral of La Gomera (Canary Islands, eastern Central Atlantic) was surveyed during the summer 1995 with a 0.01 m2) van Veen grab. Sampling resulted in a moderate number of specimens per sample unit, which influenced the assessment of alpha and beta diversity. Diversity patterns followed sediment and hydrographic gradients between the north of the island (coarse sandy bottoms directly exposed to the open ocean), and the south (sheltered fine sandy bottoms). Of the 81 taxa recorded, two species were new to science, while a further 24 species were cited for the first time from the Canaries. Spionids (46 % of faunal density), syllids (14 species) and onuphids were locally well represented and their distribution responded to life history features and sediment types. Polychaetes with a wide biogeographic range and relying on meroplanktonic phases, for dispersal, predominated. Factors controlling the access of polychaete populations to oceanic islands are discussed, including the role of major surface oceanic currents in the dispersion of larvae and reproductive adaptations of species. |
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