The Effects of Habitat Heterogeneity at Distinct Spatial Scales on Hard-Bottom-Associated Communities

Author(s)

Gallucci, Fabiane ^[1] ; Christofoletti, Ronaldo A. ^[1] ; Fonseca, Gustavo ^[1] ; Dias, Gustavo M. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Fed Univ Sao Paulo IMar UNIFESP, Inst Marine Sci, Rua Dr Carvalho Mendonca 144, BR-11070100 Santos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ ABC CCNH UFABC, Ctr Nat & Human Sci, Rua Santa Adelia 166, BR-09210170 Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: DIVERSITY-BASEL; v. 12, n. 1 JAN 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

For marine benthic communities, environmental heterogeneity at small spatial scales are mostly due to biologically produced habitat heterogeneity and biotic interactions, while at larger spatial scales environmental factors may prevails over biotic features. In this study, we investigated how community structure and beta-diversity of hard-bottom-associated meio- and macrofauna varied in relation to small-scale (cm-m) changes in biological substrate (an algae ``turf{''} dominated by the macroalgae Gelidium sp., the macroalgae Caulerpa racemosa and the sponge Hymeniacidon heliophile) in a rocky shore and in relation to larger-scale (10's m) changes in environmental conditions of the same biological substrate (the macroalgae Bostrychia sp) in different habitats (rocky shore vs. mangrove roots). Results showed that both substrate identity and the surrounding environment were important in structuring the smaller-sized meiofauna, particularly the nematode assemblages, whereas the larger and more motile macrofauna was influenced only by larger-scale changes in the surrounding ecosystem. This implies that the macrofauna explores the environment in a larger spatial scale compared to the meiofauna, suggesting that effects of spatial heterogeneity on communities are dependent on organism size and mobility. Changes in taxa composition between environments and substrates highlight the importance of habitat diversity at different scales for maintaining the diversity of the associated fauna. (AU)

• 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