Skip to main content
Log in

Classification and community structure of macrobenthos in the Hampton Roads area, Virginia

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Benthic macrofauna was sampled by grab at 16 stations in Hampton Roads and the adjacent Elizabeth River, Virginia, USA. Samples were taken in February, May and August. Sampling sites and species were grouped by a classification strategy which basically consisted of the Canberra metric dissimilarity-measure and flexible and group average clustering. Following reallocations, 8 site groups and 16 species groups instructively classified the 47 sites and 93 species considered in the analysis. The sites were grouped into “associations” on mud, muddy-sand and sand-bottom, and those in the Elizabeth River. Species groupings distinguished a few species most frequent at Elizabeth River or mud and muddy-sand sites, larger numbers of species restricted to muddy-sand and sand or solely to sand sites, ubiquitous species, epifaunal species which were microhabitat-restricted, and seasonal species. An analysis of numerically dominant species in the different associations indicated the relative importance of ubiquitous species and seasonally abundant species. Community-structure statistics (species diversity, species richness and evenness) showed definite spatial and temporal patterns. Diversity was high at sand and muddy-sand sites and low at mud and Elizabeth River sites. This spatial pattern was predominantly one of species richness. At Elizabeth River and mud stations, diversity increased from February to August because of increased evenness, while at sand and muddy-sand stations, diversity peaked in May in response to both high species richness and high evenness. The applicability of “community concepts”, the causes of substrate specificity, seasonality and species diversity, and the effects of pollution on community structure are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Armstrong, N. E., P. N. Storrs and E. A. Pearson: Development of a gross toxicity criterion in San Francisco Bay. Proc. 5th int. Conf. Wat. Pollut. Res. 3, 1–15 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Austin, M. P. and I. Noy-Mier: The problem of non-linearity in ordination: experiments with two-gradient models. J. Ecol. 59, 763–773 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bechtel, T. J. and B. J. Copeland: Fish species diversity indices as indicators of pollution in Galveston Bay, Texas. Contr. mar. Sci. 15, 103–132 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bender, M. E., R. J. Huggett and H. D. Slone: Heavy metals — an inventory of existing conditions. J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 62, 144–153 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Boesch, D. F.: Distribution and structure of benthic communities in a gradient estuary, 120 pp. Ph. D. Thesis, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Species diversity of marine macrobenthos in the Virginia area. Chesapeake Sci. 13, 206–211 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bray, J. R. and J. T. Curtis: An ordination of the upland forest communities of southern Wisconsin. Ecol. Monogr. 27, 325–349 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahlberg, M. D. and E. P. Odum: Annual cycles of species occurrence, abundance, and diversity in Georgia estuarine fish populations. Am. Midl. Nat. 83, 382–392 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebeling, A. W., R. M. Ibara, R. J. Lavenberg and F. J. Rohlf: Ecological groups of deep-sea animals off Southern California. Bull. Los Ang. Cty Mus. nat. Hist. Sci. 6, 1–43 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fager, E. W.: Determination and analysis of recurrent groups. Ecology 38, 586–595 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  • Field, J. G.: A numerical analysis of changes in the softbottom fauna along a transect across False Bay, South Africa. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 7, 215–253 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Folk, R. L.: Petrology of sedimentary rocks, 154 pp. Austin, Texas: Hemphills 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gower, J. C.: Multivariate analysis and multidimensional geometry. Statistician 17, 13–28 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanks, R. W.: Benthic community formation in a “new” marine environment. Chesapeake Sci. 9, 163–172 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, R. N. and M. L. H. Thomas: The classification and ordination of shallow-water benthic samples from Prince Edward Island, Canada. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 7, 1–39 (1971a).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Classification and ordination of benthic samples from Bedeque Bay, an estuary in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Mar. Biol. 10, 227–235 (1971b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Inman, D. L.: Measures for describing the size distribution of sediments. J. sedim. Petrol. 22, 125–145 (1952).

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, G. F.: The benthic macrofauna of the mainland shelf of southern California. Allan Hancock Monogr. mar. Biol. No. 4, 1–219 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, M. G.: Discrimination and classification. In: Multivariate analysis, pp 165–185. Ed. by P. R. Krishnaiah. New York: Academic Press 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lance, G. N. and W. T. Williams: A general theory of classificatory sorting strategies I. Hierarchical systems. Comput. J. 9, 373–380 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lie, U. and J. C. Kelley: Benthic infauna communities off the coast of Washington and in Puget Sound: identification and distribution of the communities. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 27, 621–651 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • — and D. S. Kisker: Species composition and structure of benthic infauna communities off the coast of Washington. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 27, 2273–2285 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd, M. and R. J. Ghelardi: A table for calculating the “equitability” component of species diversity. J. Anim. Ecol. 33, 217–225 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • McCloskey, L. R.: The dynamics of the community associated with a marine scleractinian coral. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 55, 13–81 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Margalef, R.: Information theory in ecology. Gen. Syst. 3, 36–71 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, G. A.: A seasonal study of Zostera epibiota in the York River, Virginia, 155 pp. Ph. D. Thesis, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills, E. L.: The community concept in marine zoology, with comments on continua and instability in some marine communities: a review. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 26, 1415–1428 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Noy-Mier, I.: Component analysis of semi-arid vegetation in southeastern Australia, 371 pp. Ph. D. Thesis, Australian National University, Canberra 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orloci, L.: An agglomerative method for classification of plant communities. J. Ecol. 55, 193–206 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Orth, R. J.: Observations on the planktonic larvae of Polydora ligni Webster (Polychaeta: Spionidae) in the York River, Virginia. Chesapeake Sci. 12, 121–124 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Phelps, D. K.: Functional relationships of benthos in a coastal lagoon, 146 pp. Ph. D. Thesis, University of Rhode Island, Kingston 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pianka, E. R.: Latitudinal gradients in species diversity: a review of concepts. Am. Nat. 100, 33–46 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pielou, E. C.: The measurement of diversity in different types of biological collections. J. theor. Biol. 13, 134–144 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Popham, J. D. and D. V. Ellis: A comparison of traditional, cluster and Zürich-Montpellier analysis of infaunal pelecypod associations from two adjacent sediment beds. Mar. Biol. 8, 260–266 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Reish, D. J.: An ecological study of pollution in Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbors, California. Occ. Pap. Allan Hancock Fdn 22, 1–119 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhoads, D. C. and D. K. Young: The influence of depositfeeding organisms on sediment stability and community trophic structure. J. mar. Res. 28, 150–178 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sager, P. E. and A. D. Hasler: Species diversity in lacustrine phytoplankton, I. The components of the index of diversity from Shannon's formula. Am. Nat. 103, 51–60 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, H. L.: Benthic studies in Buzzards Bay. I. Animal-sediment relationships. Limnol. Oceanogr. 3, 245–258 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Marine benthic diversity: a comparative study. Am. Nat. 102, 243–282 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, E. M. Goudsmit, E. L. Mills and G. E. Hampson: A study of the intertidal fauna of Barnstable Harbor, Massachusetts. Limnol. Oceanogr. 7, 63–79 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shepard, F. P.: Nomenclature based on sand-silt clay-ratios. J. sedim. Petrol. 24, 151–158 (1954).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sokal, R. R. and P. H. A. Sneath: Principles of numerical taxonomy, 359 pp. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephenson, W., W. T. Williams and S. Cook: Computer analyses of Petersen's original data on bottom communities. Ecol. Monogr. 42, 387–415 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • — and G. N. Lance: The macrobenthos of Moreton Bay. Ecol. Monogr. 40, 459–494 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorrington-Smith, M.: West Indian Ocean phytoplankton: a numerical investigation of phytohydrographic regions and their characteristic phytoplankton associations. Mar. Biol. 9, 115–137 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorson, G.: Bottom communities (sublittoral or shallow shelf). Mem. geol. Soc. Am. 67, 461–534 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Some factors influencing the recruitment and establishment of marine benthic communities. Neth. J. Sea Res. 3, 267–293 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Timonin, A. G.: The structure of plankton communities of the Indian Ocean. Mar. Biol. 9, 281–289 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Travers, M.: Diversité du microplancton du Golfe de Marseille en 1964. Mar. Biol. 8, 308–343 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tulkki, P.: Effect of pollution on the benthos off Gothenburg. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 17, 209–215 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wass, M. L.: Checklist of the marine invertebrates of Virginia. Va Inst. mar. Sci. Spec. Sci. Rep. 24 (revised), 1–55 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wass, M. L., J. C. McCain and J. Kerwin: Biological studies. In: A study of the effects of dredging and dredge spoil disposal on the marine environment. Spec. scient. Rep. Va Inst. mar. Sci. (Appl. mar. Sci. Ocean Engng) 8 1–25 (1967).

  • Wells, H. W.: Sabellaria reef masses in Delaware Bay. Chesapeake Sci. 11, 258–260 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Whittaker, R. H.: Communities and ecosystems, 162 pp. London: Macmillan 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, W. T.: Principles of clustering. A. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 2, 303–326 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, H. T. Clifford and G. N. Lance. Group size dependence: a rational choice between numerical classifications. Comput. J. 14, 157–162 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, D. K. and R. C. Rhoads: Animal-sediment relations in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts. I. A transect study. Mar. Biol. 11, 242–254 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by J. Bunt, Miami

Contribution No. 553, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, Virginia, USA.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Boesch, D.F. Classification and community structure of macrobenthos in the Hampton Roads area, Virginia. Marine Biology 21, 226–244 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00355253

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00355253

Keywords

Navigation