Influence of environmental variables over multiple spatial scales on the population structure of a key marine invertebrate

Autor(es)

Pardal, Andre ^{[1, 2]} ; Cordeiro, Cesar A. M. M. ^{[2, 3]} ; Ciotti, Aurea M. ^[4] ; Jenkins, Stuart R. ^[5] ; Gimenez, Luis ^[5] ; Burrows, Michael T. ^[6] ; Christofoletti, Ronaldo A. ^[2]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Fed Univ ABC CCNH UFABC, Ctr Nat & Human Sci, Rua Santa Adelia 166, BR-09210170 Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ Sao Paulo IMar UNIFESP, Inst Marine Sci, Rua Dr Carvalho Mendonca 144, BR-11070100 Santos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Fed Fluminense Univ LECAR UFF, Marine Biol Dept, Outeiro Sao Joao Batista S-N, BR-24020141 Niteroi, RJ - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo CEBIMar USP, Ctr Marine Biol, Km 131-5, BR-1160000 Sao Sebastiao, SP - Brazil

^[5] Bangor Univ, Sch Ocean Sci, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, Gwynedd - Wales

^[6] Scottish Marine Inst, Scottish Assoc Marine Sci, Oban, Argyll - Scotland

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH; v. 170, AUG 2021.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Quantifying scale-dependent patterns and linking ecological to environmental variation is required to understand mechanisms regulating biodiversity. We conducted a large-scale survey in rocky shores along the SE Brazilian coast to examine spatial variability in body size and density of an intertidal barnacle (Chthamalus bisinuatus) and its relationships with benthic and oceanographic predictors. Both the size and density of barnacles showed most variation at the smallest spatial scales. On average, barnacle body size was larger on shores located in areas characterised by higher chlorophyll levels, colder waters, low wave action and low influence of freshwater. Barnacles were more abundant at wave-exposed shores. We identified critical scales of spatial variation of an important species and linked population patterns to essential environmental predictors. Our results show that populations of this barnacle are coupled to scale-dependent oceanographic variation. This study offers insights into the mechanisms regulating coastal populations along a little studied coastline. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 16/24551-4 - Força de interações ecológicas e a mediação ambiental em sistemas costeiros
• Beneficiário: Ronaldo Adriano Christofoletti
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 15/26859-3 - Integração de processos ecológicos em diferentes escalas espaciais: o exemplo de um sistema presa-predador do entremarés
• Beneficiário: Andre Luiz Pardal Souza
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado