Mangrove fragments as key coastal reservoirs of taxonomic and functional biodiversity

Author(s)

Corte, Guilherme N. ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Checon, Helio H. ^{[1, 2]} ; Shah Esmaeili, Yasmina ^[4] ; Lefcheck, Jonathan S. ^[5] ; Amaral, A. Cecilia Z. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Oceanog, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Vale Itajai, Escola Mar Ciencia & Tecnol, Itajai, SC - Brazil

^[4] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Programa Posgrad Ecol, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[5] Smithsonian Environm Res Ctr, Tennenbaum Marine Observ Network, MarineGEO, POB 28, Edgewater, MD 21037 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION; v. 30, n. 5, p. 1573-1593, APR 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Mangrove forests globally suffer from habitat destruction and fragmentation, which may result in severe reductions in mangrove ecosystem biodiversity and functioning. We explored the influence of mangrove fragments on the taxonomic and functional biodiversity of invertebrate macrobenthic assemblages in a coastal seascape that has undergone substantial changes over the past decades, including a 60% reduction of mangrove areas between 1960s and now. Samples for macrobenthic invertebrate diversity (infauna and epifauna) and environmental variables were collected inside three fragmented mangrove stands and in an adjoining sandflat. We found that the total density of individuals was, on average, lower inside the existing stands; however, this outcome was driven by the higher abundance of small-sized opportunistic species in the sandflat. On the other hand, taxonomic and functional metrics were higher inside the stands, and species associated with mangroves had larger body size, higher mobility, longer lifespan, and belonged to a larger variety of trophic guilds than species inhabiting the adjacent sandflat. We also found that local environmental features such as wave exposure and total organic carbon content influenced mangrove biodiversity, and different stands harbor different set of species. Interestingly, the area of mangrove stand did not affect taxonomic or functional metrics. Overall, our results provide empirical evidence that even small mangrove fragments enhance functional and taxonomic coastal biodiversity relative to bare sediment and therefore should be preserved to safeguard coastal biodiversity. (AU)

• 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
• FAPESP's process: 17/17071-9 - Preserving sandy beaches: biodiversity, goods and services, and impacts on a neglected ecosystem
• Grantee: Guilherme Nascimento Corte
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 18/22036-0 - Evaluating the potential of different benthic indicators to assess sandy beach ecological integrity: subsides for management and monitoring practices
• Grantee: Hélio Hermínio Checon
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 18/05099-9 - Fish communities of sandy beach surf zones: unraveling the myths, exploring different methodologies and providing knowledge for management strategies
• Grantee: Yasmina Michel Liliane Shah Esmaeili
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate