Taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic macrofauna associated with rhodolith beds in SE Brazil
Rhodoliths are free-living and morphologically diverse marine calcareous algae commonly distributed over the continental shelf seafloor. They increase the seabed structural complexity and are of potential value as feeding and reproductive grounds for a myriad of marine fauna. The higher structural s...
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PeerJ Inc.
2021-07-01
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| author | Patricia Sarcinelli Stelzer Ana Carolina A. Mazzuco Luiz Eduardo Gomes João Martins Sergio Netto Angelo F. Bernardino |
| author_facet | Patricia Sarcinelli Stelzer Ana Carolina A. Mazzuco Luiz Eduardo Gomes João Martins Sergio Netto Angelo F. Bernardino |
| author_sort | Patricia Sarcinelli Stelzer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rhodoliths are free-living and morphologically diverse marine calcareous algae commonly distributed over the continental shelf seafloor. They increase the seabed structural complexity and are of potential value as feeding and reproductive grounds for a myriad of marine fauna. The higher structural seabed complexity within rhodolith beds may also increase benthic diversity by creating microhabitats, but this relationship has been rarely explored within rhodolith beds worldwide. Here we compared benthic macrofaunal (>500 µm) structure on rhodolith beds (nodule epifauna) and within unconsolidated sediments (sediment infauna) under high and low-density beds to test whether rhodolith bed density and nodule morphology influenced macrofaunal assemblages. We observed that macrofaunal density on nodules (2538 ± 288.7 ind·m−2) was 15-fold higher when compared to sediments under those beds (166 ± 38.8 ind·m−2). Rhodolith bed density was positively related to macrofaunal density, composition, and functional diversity on the rhodoliths. Low-density beds (61 ± 27.1 nodules·m−2) with discoid-shape nodules were dominated by peracarid crustaceans whereas high-density beds (204 ± 18.7 nodules·m−2) with spheroidal nodules were dominated by Annelid polychaetes. The sediment macrofauna was also positively influenced by the density of rhodolith nodules, which increased sediment carbonate and organic quality (protein and lipids) under high-density beds. Macrofaunal functional diversity was generally higher on rhodoliths, with low similarity (low nestedness) and high taxa turnover between macrofaunal assemblages of rhodoliths and sediments. These findings indicate that rhodolith beds provide an unique habitat for benthic macrofaunal communities, with exclusive functional and taxonomic richness that are likely not typical in the unconsolidated sediment below these beds in SE Brazil. This study highlights the importance of protecting rhodolith beds from multiple sources of anthropogenic disturbance and exploration on continental shelves. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:23:14Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:23:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-e1c5a39af7b64587be3966d038ed04132023-12-03T11:33:29ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592021-07-019e1190310.7717/peerj.11903Taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic macrofauna associated with rhodolith beds in SE BrazilPatricia Sarcinelli Stelzer0Ana Carolina A. Mazzuco1Luiz Eduardo Gomes2João Martins3Sergio Netto4Angelo F. Bernardino5Department of Oceanography, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitoria, Espirito Santo, BrazilDepartment of Oceanography, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitoria, Espirito Santo, BrazilDepartment of Oceanography, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitoria, Espirito Santo, BrazilLaboratório de Ciências Marinhas, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Tubarão, Santa Catarina, BrazilLaboratório de Ciências Marinhas, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Tubarão, Santa Catarina, BrazilDepartment of Oceanography, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitoria, Espirito Santo, BrazilRhodoliths are free-living and morphologically diverse marine calcareous algae commonly distributed over the continental shelf seafloor. They increase the seabed structural complexity and are of potential value as feeding and reproductive grounds for a myriad of marine fauna. The higher structural seabed complexity within rhodolith beds may also increase benthic diversity by creating microhabitats, but this relationship has been rarely explored within rhodolith beds worldwide. Here we compared benthic macrofaunal (>500 µm) structure on rhodolith beds (nodule epifauna) and within unconsolidated sediments (sediment infauna) under high and low-density beds to test whether rhodolith bed density and nodule morphology influenced macrofaunal assemblages. We observed that macrofaunal density on nodules (2538 ± 288.7 ind·m−2) was 15-fold higher when compared to sediments under those beds (166 ± 38.8 ind·m−2). Rhodolith bed density was positively related to macrofaunal density, composition, and functional diversity on the rhodoliths. Low-density beds (61 ± 27.1 nodules·m−2) with discoid-shape nodules were dominated by peracarid crustaceans whereas high-density beds (204 ± 18.7 nodules·m−2) with spheroidal nodules were dominated by Annelid polychaetes. The sediment macrofauna was also positively influenced by the density of rhodolith nodules, which increased sediment carbonate and organic quality (protein and lipids) under high-density beds. Macrofaunal functional diversity was generally higher on rhodoliths, with low similarity (low nestedness) and high taxa turnover between macrofaunal assemblages of rhodoliths and sediments. These findings indicate that rhodolith beds provide an unique habitat for benthic macrofaunal communities, with exclusive functional and taxonomic richness that are likely not typical in the unconsolidated sediment below these beds in SE Brazil. This study highlights the importance of protecting rhodolith beds from multiple sources of anthropogenic disturbance and exploration on continental shelves.https://peerj.com/articles/11903.pdfRhodolithBenthosEcologySouth AtlanticMacrofauna |
| spellingShingle | Patricia Sarcinelli Stelzer Ana Carolina A. Mazzuco Luiz Eduardo Gomes João Martins Sergio Netto Angelo F. Bernardino Taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic macrofauna associated with rhodolith beds in SE Brazil PeerJ Rhodolith Benthos Ecology South Atlantic Macrofauna |
| title | Taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic macrofauna associated with rhodolith beds in SE Brazil |
| title_full | Taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic macrofauna associated with rhodolith beds in SE Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic macrofauna associated with rhodolith beds in SE Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic macrofauna associated with rhodolith beds in SE Brazil |
| title_short | Taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic macrofauna associated with rhodolith beds in SE Brazil |
| title_sort | taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic macrofauna associated with rhodolith beds in se brazil |
| topic | Rhodolith Benthos Ecology South Atlantic Macrofauna |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/11903.pdf |
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