scholarly journals Habitat-Diversity Relations between Sessile Macrobenthos and Benthic Copepods in the Rocky Shores of a Marine Protected Area

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1020
Author(s):  
Claudia Sbrocca ◽  
Marleen De Troch ◽  
Valentina Losi ◽  
Eleonora Grassi ◽  
Maria Balsamo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Shore ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Ecosystem Engineer ◽  
Harpacticoid Copepod ◽  
Assemblage Structure ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Ligurian Sea ◽  
Rich Diversity ◽  
Macrobenthic Assemblages

In rocky shore systems, sessile macrobenthic assemblages may act as “ecosystem engineers” for many smaller benthic organisms. Thus, the influence of macrobenthic coverage on the diversity and assemblage structure of the harpacticoid copepod fauna was investigated in the rocky shores of a Marine Protect Area (MPA) in the Ligurian Sea (NW, Mediterranean Sea). Two sampling sites were investigated in two seasons at three different depths on both sub-vertical and inclined reefs. A total of 61 species of copepods mainly represented by Miraciidae, Laophontidae, Longipediidae and Thalestridae were found. The complex micro-topography of these substrata provided a wide variety of niches for many species with different lifestyles that suggests the important role of rocky shores to ensure the functioning of coastal ecosystems. The harpacticoid assemblage structure seemed mainly influenced by season and depth. The temporal spread observed is likely one of the underlying mechanisms of niche segregation that allows many species to co-occur in this specific environment along with a subordinate spatial segregation corresponding to the depth gradient. The results seem to support the hypothesis that the different species composition of the “ecosystem engineer” (and consequently its structure changes) are relevant in structuring the copepod assemblages. The comparison with previous data on general meiofauna underlines that higher surrogacy of the taxonomic identification could be used to study rocky shore communities, but the rich diversity that these systems host can only be understood at the lower taxonomic levels. The same holds for future evaluations of impact of environmental changes (including MPA regulations) on meiofaunal assemblages.

Dust-borne microbes affect Ulva ohnoi’s growth and physiological state

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nimrod Krupnik ◽  
Dorin Theodora Asis ◽  
Natalia Belkin ◽  
Maxim Rubin-Blum ◽  
Álvaro Israel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Aerosols ◽  
Ecosystem Engineer ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Marine Macroalgae ◽  
Morphological Development ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Dust Deposition ◽  
Rich Diversity ◽  
Airborne Microbes ◽  
Marine Flora

Abstract The marine macroalgae Ulva sp. is considered an ecosystem engineer in rocky shores of temperate waters worldwide. Ulva sp. harbors a rich diversity of associated microbial epibionts, which are known to affect the algae's typical morphological development and ‘health’. We examined the interaction between airborne microbes derived from atmospheric aerosols and Ulva ohnoi growth and physiological state. Specifically, we measured U. ohnoi growth rates and photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm), alongside its microbial epibionts abundance, activity and diversity following dust (containing nutrients and airborne microorganisms) or UV-treated dust (only nutrients) amendments to filtered seawater. Parallel incubations with epibionts-free U. ohnoi (treated with antibiotics that removed the algae epibionts) were also tested to specifically examine if dust-borne microbes can replenish the epibiont community of U. ohnoi. We show that viable airborne microbes can restore U. ohnoi natural microbial epibionts communities, thereby keeping the seaweed alive and ‘healthy’. These results suggest that microbes delivered through atmospheric aerosols can affect epiphyte biodiversity in marine flora, especially in areas subjected to high annual atmospheric dust deposition such as the Mediterranean Sea.

scholarly journals Rocky shores of a major southern African Marine Protected Area are almost free from intertidal invertebrate alien species

Koedoe ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanlie Malherbe ◽  
Michael Samways
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Rocky Shore ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
Marine Alien Species

A major threat to marine ecosystems is the establishment and proliferation of invasive alien species. This study addresses gaps in our knowledge regarding marine alien invertebrate species in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve (KBR) and adjacent Betty’s Bay Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Western Cape of South Africa, together a potentially important area for south-coast marine conservation. Understanding the distribution and geographical expansion of these species is critical for conservation planning. A quantitative systematic survey of the intertidal rocky shore region was undertaken. The mytilid Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, and the bryozoan Watersipora subtorquata were the only alien species recorded along the coastline, which included the MPA. The abundance of M. galloprovincialis was significantly higher outside the MPA, and the abundance of W. subtorquata was significantly higher inside the MPA. With only two alien species recorded, the Betty’s Bay MPA and its surroundings support relatively few marine alien species with regards to rocky shore invertebrate biodiversity. Conservation implications: It is important that the Betty’s Bay MPA and its adjacent coastline maintain its current status as an area with relatively few marine alien species. The conservation implications on management require routine surveys of this region to detect early introductions of any additional species.

Intensity of Human Predation on Rocky Shores at Las Cruces in Central Chile

1987 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. René Durán ◽  
Juan Carlos Castilla ◽  
Doris Oliva
Keyword(s):  
Activity Pattern ◽  
Rocky Shore ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Central Chile ◽  
Temporal Grouping ◽  
Human Predation

The rocky shore of central Chile is heavily harvested by mariscadores de orilla and skin-divers, but their catches are not considered in the fishery statistics. The aim of the present paper is to estimate the intensity of human predation and annual catch of each of the species taken at Las Cruces, Central Chile. The activity pattern of both categories of collectors demonstrate a temporal grouping. The observation of mariscadores de orilla and skin-divers in 3 sectors of fringe totalling 1,500 m of rocky shore during 12 months allowed us to estimate the annual catch per species caught (kg per year).

Ecology of a key ecosystem engineer on hard coastal infrastructure and natural rocky shores

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 ◽  
pp. 88-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo M. Martins ◽  
Ana I. Neto ◽  
Eva Cacabelos
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Engineer ◽  
Rocky Shores

scholarly journals Discovery of a new species of genus Typhlodromus Scheuten (Acari: Phytoseiidae: Typhlodrominae) on rocky shore habitat from Lanyu Island

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 1639
Author(s):  
Jhih-Rong Liao ◽  
Chyi-Chen Ho ◽  
Chiun-Cheng Ko
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Rocky Shore ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Morphological Description ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Phytoseiid Mites ◽  
First Time ◽  
A New Species

Phytoseiid mites have been intensively surveyed in Taiwan during the past decades because of their potential as biological control agent. Despite the fact, many regions of Taiwan remain under-explored especially in mountain areas and neighboring islands. Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) crossostephium sp. nov. was collected from Crossostephium chinense (L.) Makino (Asteraceae) on rocky shore habitat during a survey on Lanyu Island. In this paper, presence of a phytoseiid mite on rocky shores is reported for the first time. A detailed morphological description of the new species and a key to the Taiwanese species of subgenus Anthoseius are provided.

Preliminary Study of Fish Assemblage Structure of the Marine Protected Area of Cayar in Senegal

2018 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ousmane Diankha ◽  
Fatima BA ◽  
Alassane Sarr ◽  
Hameth Diaw Diadhiou ◽  
Mamadou Diop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Assemblage ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Assemblage Structure ◽  
Fish Assemblage Structure ◽  
Preliminary Study

Rocky shores and development of the Pliocene-Pleistocene Arroyo Blanco Basin on Isla Carmen in the Gulf of California, Mexico

2006 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 1149-1164 ◽  
Author(s):  
James M Eros ◽  
Markes E Johnson ◽  
David H Backus
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Gulf Of California ◽  
Rocky Shore ◽  
Normal Faults ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
Marine Terraces ◽  
Shell Beds ◽  
History Of ◽  
Cap Rock

Arroyo Blanco Basin on Isla Carmen preserves a 157 m thick, nearly complete record of Pliocene–Pleistocene history in the Gulf of California. Examples of rocky-shore geomorphology occur on all margins of this trapezoidal-shaped, 3.3 km2 basin. A shoreline is developed in low relief on Miocene andesite from the Comondú Group at the rear of the basin parallel to the long axis of the island. Two end walls trace normal faults that stayed active during the life of the basin and maintained steep rocky shores. The basin is 64% filled by calcarudite and calcarenite derived from crushed rhodolith debris. Other facies include shell beds and stringers of andesite conglomerate that define a 4°–6° ramp. The ramp expanded onshore through Pliocene time, based on a succession of overlapping range zones for 22 macrofossils typical of Lower through Upper Pliocene strata in the Gulf of California. The unconformity exposed 1 km inland at the rear of the basin is between Miocene volcanics and Pleistocene cap rock at an elevation of 170 m above sea level. Whole rhodoliths encrusted on andesite pebbles occur above this unconformity. Presumably, the older Miocene-Pliocene unconformity is buried beneath the ramp. Four marine terraces with sea cliffs notched in Pliocene limestone occur at elevations of 68, 58, 37, and 12 m. The 12 m terrace is associated regionally with the last interglacial epoch between 120 000 and 135 000 years ago. Juxtaposition of ramp and terrace features in the same exhumed basin supports a long history of gradual Pliocene subsidence followed by episodic Pleistocene uplift.

scholarly journals Seasonal changes in size, sex-ratio and body condition of the damselfishChromis chromisin the central Mediterranean Sea

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 1053-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Bracciali ◽  
Susanna Piovano ◽  
Gianluca Sarà ◽  
Cristina Giacoma
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Monthly Basis ◽  
Spawning Period

Chromis chromisis one of the most abundant fish species on the Mediterranean rocky shores. Acting as a by-pass of nutrients from the pelagic to the rocky littoral system, it plays an important role as a resource provider and has a relevant function in the community assemblage.Chromis chromishas many of the characteristics required of an indicator species (e.g. it is easy to recognize in the field, small sized, widespread and abundant). In this study we focused on individual size, sex-ratio and body condition in a damselfish population occurring in a central Mediterranean marine protected area. Fishing trials on a monthly basis (April–November) allowed us to assess seasonal changes in population structure. Fish were measured and weighed and a subsample was aged and sexed. On average, males were larger than females. The allometric coefficient,b, for the whole population was 2.99; the maximum age recorded was 7.5 yr. Before reproduction sex-ratio was close to parity (M:F 1:0.78), while a larger proportion of females was captured during the reproductive period. In conclusion, our results show that the population dynamics ofC. chromisis influenced by both sex and size. Since males and females have different behavioural strategies, and since the length of the spawning period is shorter in the smaller than in the larger-sized individuals, this is reflected in temporal changes observed in the population structure.

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