Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Polychaetes associated to a Cymodocea nodosa meadow in the Canary Islands: assemblage structure, temporal variability and vertical distribution compared to other Mediterranean seagrass meadows

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The structure, diversity and temporal distribution of the infaunal polychaetes associated with Cymodocea nodosa meadows were studied in Tenerife (Canary Islands). The samples were collected monthly throughout a year, to depths of 13–16 m. The sediment was extracted by means of PVC cores, in which four layers were separated (i.e. 0–5 cm, 5–10 cm, 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm). A total of 1,167 polychaete specimens, belonging to 69 taxa were collected, representing one of the most dominant groups in the benthic assemblage throughout the entire year. The most common families were Syllidae, Paraonidae and Spionidae, both in terms of abundance and species richness. The dominant species were Streptosyllis bidentata, Aricidea assimilis and Exogone parahomoseta mediterranea, representing also the only constant species throughout the year. The highest values of species richness, diversity, equitability and abundance of polychaetes occurred in September. The multifactorial analysis of abundances (i.e. cluster analysis and non-metric, multi-dimensional scaling) indicated temporal segregation of the samples from July, August and September (i.e. the warmest months) with respect to those from the rest of the year, due to structural differences in the assemblage. Polychaete species have been found to a depth of up to 30 cm in the sediment. Nevertheless, most of them (89%) occurred in the upper 5 cm of the sediment, with an increase of specimens in deeper layers in February (i.e. due to sporadic episodes of higher hydrodynamics). To compare the vertical distribution of polychaetes, additional core samples were collected in two seagrass meadows (i.e. C. nodosa and Ruppia cirrhosa) at Ebro’s Delta (NW Mediterranean); these were separated into five layers (i.e. 0–5 cm, 5–10 cm, 10–15 cm, 15–20 cm, 20–25 cm). The results obtained for the R. cirrhosa meadow (98% of the polychaetes within the upper 5 cm) agree with those for the Canarian C. nodosa meadow, while the polychaetes reached up to 15 cm depth in the Mediterranean C. nodosa meadow (i.e. ~39% between 0 and 5 cm, ~41% between 5 and 10 cm, ~20% between 10 and 15 cm). Our results indicated that the structural characteristics of the assemblages appeared to be more strongly controlled by the combined characteristics of the sediment (i.e. lack of oxygen, granulometry and degree of compaction) than by the seagrass species building the meadow.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Afonso-Carrillo J, Gil-Rodríguez MC (1980) Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson (Zannichelliaceae) y las praderas submarinas o sebadales de las Islas Canarias. Vieraea 8:365–376

    Google Scholar 

  • Allison LE, Moodie CD (1965) Carbonate. In: Black CA (ed) Methods of soil analysis. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisc., pp 1389–1392

  • Alós C (1988) Anélidos poliquetos de Cabo de Creus (Alt Empordà). Doctoral thesis, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona

  • Besteiro C, Urgorri V, Parapar J (1990) Estratificación vertical y variación temporal de la fauna mesopsámmica de arenas de Amphioxus en la ría de Ferrol (Galicia). Thalassas 8:107–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Bilyard GR (1987) The value of benthic infauna in marine pollution studies. Mar Pollut Bull 18:581–585

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bloom SA, Simon JL, Hunter VD (1972) Animal–sediment relations and community analysis of a Florida estuary. Mar Biol 15:43–56

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Brito MC, Núñez J (2002) A new genus and species of Questidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the Central Macaronesia Region and a cladistic analysis of the family. Sarsia 87:281–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brito MC, Núñez J, San Martín G (2000a) The genus Streptosyllis Webster and Benedict, 1884 (Polychaeta: Syllidae: Eusyllinae) from the Canary Islands, with description of a new species. Bull Mar Sci 67:603–615

    Google Scholar 

  • Brito MC, Núñez J, San Martín G (2000b) Parapionosyllis macaronesiensis, a new species of Exogoninae (Polychaeta: Syllidae) from the Macaronesian Region. Proc Biol Soc Wash 113:1147–1150

    Google Scholar 

  • Brito MC, Núñez J, San Martín G (2001) Sílidos (Annelida: Polychaeta) intersticiales asociados a praderas de Cymodocea nodosa de las Islas Canarias. Avicennia 14:85–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan JB (1984) Sediment analysis. In: Holme NA, McIntyre AD (eds) Methods for the study of marine benthos. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 41–65

  • Buchanan JB, Kain JM (1971) Measurement of the physical and chemical environment. In: Holme NA, McIntyre AD (eds) Methods for the study of marine benthos. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 30–52

  • Buia MC, Russo GF, Mazzella L (1985) Interrelazioni tra Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Aschers. e Zostera noltii Hornem in un prato misto superficiale dell’isola d’Ischia. Nova Thalassia 7[Suppl]3:406–408

    Google Scholar 

  • Camp J, Romero J, Pérez M, Vidal M, Delgado M, Martínez A (1991) Production–consumption budget in an estuarine bay: How anoxia is prevented in a forced system? Oecol Aquat 10:145–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke KR (1993) Non-parametric multivariate analyses of changes in assemblage structure. Aust J Ecol 18:117–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke KR, Warwick RM (1994) Change in marine community: an approach to statistical analysis and interpretation. Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth

    Google Scholar 

  • Colognola R, Gambi MC, Chessa LA (1984) Polychaetes of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile foliar stratum: comparative observation. In: Boudouresque CF, Jeudy de Grissac A, Olivier J (eds) Proceedings of the first international workshop on Posidonia oceanica beds, vol 1. GIS Posidonia, pp 101–108

  • Cruz E, Vargas JA (1987) Abundancia y distribución vertical de la meiofauna en la playa fangosa de Punta Morales, Golfo de Nicoya, Costa Rica. Rev Biol Trop 35:363–367

    Google Scholar 

  • Gambi MC, Giangrande A, Martilelli M, Chessa LA (1995) Polychaetes of a Posidonia oceanica bed off Sardinia (Italy): spatial and seasonal distribution and feeding guild analysis. Sci Mar 59:129–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Gambi MC, Conti G, Bremec CS (1998) Polychaete distribution, diversity and seasonality related to seagrass cover in shallow soft bottoms of the Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy). Sci Mar 62:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Giangrande A, Gambi MC (1986) Polychètes d’une pelouse a Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Aschers. du Golfe de Salerno (Mer Tyrrhénienne). Vie Milieu 36:185–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard RK, Edgar GJ, Hutchings PA (1989) Faunal assemblages of seagrass beds. In: Larkum AWD, McComb AJ, Shepherd SA (eds) Biology of seagrasses: a treatise on the biology of seagrasses with special reference to the Australian region. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 536–564

  • Hutchings PA (1982) The fauna of Australian seagrass beds. Proc Linn Soc NSW 106:181–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson ML (1960) Soil chemical analysis. Prentice Hall, New York

  • Kikuchi T (1980) Faunal relationships in temperate seagrass beds. In: Phillips RC, McRoy CP (eds) Handbook of seagrass biology: an ecosystem perspective. Garland STPM Press, New York, pp 153–172

  • Lanera P, Gambi MC (1993) Polychaete distribution in some Cymodocea nodosa meadows around the Island of Ischia (Gulf of Naples Italy). Oebalia 19:89–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Marr IL, Cresser MS, Gómez Ariza JL (1990) Química analítica del medio ambiente. Servicio de Publicaciones Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla

  • Martin D, Ballesteros E, Gili JM, Palacín C (1993) Small-scale structure of infaunal polychaete communities in an estuarine environment: methodological approach. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 36:47–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin D, Pinedo S, Sardá R (2000) Distribution patterns and trophic structure of soft-bottom polychaete assemblages in a north-western Mediterranean shallow-water Bay. Ophelia 53:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Molinier R, Picard J (1952) Recherches sur les herbiers de phanérogames marines du littoral Méditerranéen français. Ann Inst Oceanogr Paris NS 27:157–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Palacín C, Martin D, Gili JM (1991) Features of spatial distribution of benthic infauna in a Mediterranean shallow-water bay. Mar Biol 110:315–321

    Google Scholar 

  • Pielou EC (1969) An introduction to mathematical ecology. Wiley, New York

  • Reyes J (1993) Estudio de las praderas marinas de Cymodocea nodosa (Cymodoceaceae, Magnoliophyta) y su comunidad de epífitos, en el Médano (Tenerife, Islas Canarias). Doctoral thesis, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands

  • Rizzo AE, Amaral ACZ (2000) Temporal variation of annelids in the intertidal zone of beaches of the São Sebastião Channel, southern Brazil. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 80:1007–1017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanders HL (1969) Benthic marine diversity and the stability-time hypothesis. Brookhaven Symp Biol 22:71–80

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sardá R, Martin D, Pinedo S, Dueso A, Cardell MJ (1995) Seasonal dynamics of shallow-water benthic communities in the western Mediterranean. In: Nicolaidou A (ed) The biology and ecology of shallow coastal waters. Olssen and Olssen, Fredensborg, pp 191–198

  • Shannon CE, Weaver W (1949) The mathematical theory of communication. Illinois University Press, Urbana

  • Soler A, Ballesteros M, Turón X (1997) Poliquetos el Estany des Peix (Formentera, Baleares). Aproximación al estudo faunístico y ecológico. Hist Anim 3:9–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Somaschini A, Gravina MF, Ardizzone GD (1994) Polychete depth distribution in a Posidonia oceanica bed (rhizome and matte strata) and neighbouring soft and hard bottoms. Mar Ecol 15:133–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Soyer J (1970) Bionomie benthique du plateau continental de la côte catalane française. III. Les peuplements de Copépodes Harpacticoides (Crustacea). Vie Milieu 21:337–511

    Google Scholar 

  • Terlizzi A, Russo GF (1998) The molluscan taxocoene of different-exposed Cymodocea nodosa beds: year-long structural patterns and sampling methods. Boll Malacol 33:77–82

    Google Scholar 

  • True-Schlenz R (1965) Données sur les peuplements des sédiments a petites phanérogames marines (Zoostera nana Roth et Cymodocea nodosa Ascherson) comparés a ceux des habitats voisins dépourvus de végétation. Rec Trav Stn Mar Endoume Fac Sci Mars 39:96–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Walkey A (1947) A critical examination of a rapid method for determining organic carbon in soil. Soil Sci 63:251–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitlatch RB (1977) Seasonal changes in the community structure of the macrobenthos inhabiting the intertidal sand and mud flats of Barnstable Harbor, Massachusetts. Biol Bull (Woods Hole) 152:275–294

    Google Scholar 

  • Willsie A (1983) Zonation de la macrofaune endogée de la matte d’herbiers de Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile. Rapp P-V Reun Comm Int Explor Sci Mer Mediterr 28:165–168

  • Young DK, Young MW (1977) Assemblage structure of the macrobenthos associated with seagrasses of the Indian River Estuary, Florida. In: Coull BC (ed) Ecology of Marine Benthos. Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine Biology, University of South Carolina Press, Columbia, pp 339–381

  • Zar JH (1984) Biostatistical analysis. Prentice Hall, Engelwood Cliffs, N.J., USA

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Bentos, Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38206, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

    M. C. Brito & J. Núñez

  2. Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CSIC), Carrer d’accès a la Cala Sant Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Girona, Catalunya, Spain

    D. Martin

Authors
  1. M. C. Brito
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Martin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Núñez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Martin.

Additional information

Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brito, M.C., Martin, D. & Núñez, J. Polychaetes associated to a Cymodocea nodosa meadow in the Canary Islands: assemblage structure, temporal variability and vertical distribution compared to other Mediterranean seagrass meadows. Marine Biology 146, 467–481 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-004-1460-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-004-1460-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation