Mangrove vegetation decreases density but does not affect species richness and trophic structure of intertidal polychaete assemblages

Author(s)

Checon, Helio Herminio ; Corte, Guilherme Nascimento ; Silva, Camila Fernanda ; Schaeffer-Novelli, Yara ; Amaral, Antonia Cecilia Z.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Hydrobiologia; v. 795, n. 1, p. 169-179, JUL 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 9

Abstract

The positive influence of mangrove vegetation on macrobenthic communities has been widely investigated, but studies mainly focused on epibenthic assemblages. Given the contrasting characteristics between epifauna and infauna, we expected that mangrove vegetation would not exert the same positive effect on infaunal assemblages. To test this hypothesis, we investigated polychaete assemblages in mangrove stands in a tidal flat in Southeast Brazil. Specifically, we focused on (a) whether polychaete assemblages (i.e., density, richness, community, and feeding guild composition) are different inside and outside mangrove stands, and (b) if changes are related to root biomass. Our results showed that mangrove areas have lower polychaete density than that of adjacent sandflats, and polychaete density is negatively related to root biomass. Species richness was not affected by the presence of vegetation, but the number of exclusive species was higher inside the mangrove. Changes in composition of polychaete assemblages were mainly attributable to reductions in species density rather than species replacement. Trophic structure was not influenced by mangrove vegetation, as subsurface-feeders dominated inside and outside mangrove zones. Our results contrast with the richness enhancement found for epibenthic fauna inside mangroves, and highlight that mangrove vegetation does not exert the same influence on epibenthic as that on infaunal assemblages. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/10130-3 - Macrobenthic communities of soft-bottom sediments at Araçá bay, Northern coast of São Paulo
• Grantee: Guilherme Nascimento Corte
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 16/10810-8 - Benthic ecology of Araçá Bay: analysis of fauna associated with sediment and relationship environment/biodiversity
• Grantee: Guilherme Nascimento Corte
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 11/50317-5 - Biodiversity and functioning of a subtropical coastal ecosystem: a contribution to integrated management
• Grantee: Antonia Cecília Zacagnini Amaral
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants