Drifting algae as a means of re-colonizing defaunated sediments in the Baltic Sea. A short-term microcosm study

被引:29
作者
Arroyo, NL [1 ]
Aarnio, K [1 ]
Bonsdorff, E [1 ]
机构
[1] Abo Akad Univ, Huso Biol Stn, FIN-20500 Turku, Finland
关键词
defaunation; dispersal; drifting algal mats; macrofauna; meiofauna; re-colonization;
D O I
10.1007/s10750-005-1008-5
中图分类号
Q17 [水生生物学];
学科分类号
071004 ;
摘要
We conducted a microcosm experiment to evaluate the capability of fauna inhabiting or being transported by drifting filamentous algae to colonize defaunated sediment. We expected meiofauna would perform a quicker and more effective re-colonization of disturbed areas by means of the algal mats than their macrofaunal counterparts. Similarly, within meiofauna, we expected more mobile taxa such as ostracods and harpacticoids to colonize the sediment more readily than other more sedentary ones such as nematodes. Naturally drifting algae were collected from the field and placed in 1 l aquaria on top of 5 cm of defaunated sediment. After 3 and 6 days, one core sample (5 cm deep) was taken from each aquarium; the first 2 cm were sliced into 2 mm layers, and the remaining fraction into 1 cm layers. The sediment remaining in the aquaria was sieved through a 0.5 mm sieve to collect the re-colonizing macrofauna. The dominant macrofaunal taxa inhabiting the algae were juvenile bivalves and gastropods, with Cerastoderma glaucum accounting for the majority of the bivalves and Hydrobia sp. for most of the gastropods. After 3 and 6 days, the most abundant macrofaunal taxa colonizing the sediment were Cerastoderma glaucum, Hydrobia sp. and gammarid amphipods. Higher abundances were found after 6 days than after 3, though differences were not significant for any of the major taxa. Meiofauna inhabiting the algae were dominated by rotifers, nematodes, ostracods, chironomid larvae and harpacticoid copepods. Contrary to our predictions, nematode and harpacticoid species inhabiting the drifting algae were not driven to sediment re-colonization but remained in the algae. Our results indicate that some benthic animals may indeed benefit from drifting algal mats as a means of dispersal and re-colonization of previously defaunated sediments in relatively short periods of time. Also, they may contribute to explain some of the trends found in other studies, regarding species increase under drifting algae and the recovery patterns found in areas often exposed to algal conglomerates.
引用
收藏
页码:83 / 95
页数:13
相关论文
共 63 条
[1]   Predation by juvenile Platichthys flesus (L.) on shelled prey species in a bare sand and a drift algae habitat [J].
Aarnio, K ;
Mattila, J .
HYDROBIOLOGIA, 2000, 440 (1-3) :347-355
[2]   Hitch-hiking on floating marine debris: macrobenthic species in the Western Mediterranean Sea [J].
Aliani, S ;
Molcard, A .
HYDROBIOLOGIA, 2003, 503 (1-3) :59-67
[3]   Effect of food and sediment pre-treatment in experiments with a deposit-feeding amphipod, Monoporeia affinis [J].
Aljetlawi, AA ;
Albertsson, J ;
Leonardsson, K .
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY, 2000, 249 (02) :263-280
[4]   Biodiversity - Invasions by marine life on plastic debris [J].
Barnes, DKA .
NATURE, 2002, 416 (6883) :808-809
[5]   Seasonal and inter-annual variation in occurrence and biomass of rooted macrophytes and drift algae in shallow bays [J].
Berglund, J ;
Mattila, J ;
Rönnberg, O ;
Heikkilä, J ;
Bonsdorff, E .
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE, 2003, 56 (5-6) :1167-1175
[6]   Effects of macroalgal mats on intertidal sandflats: an experimental study [J].
Bolam, SG ;
Fernandes, TF ;
Read, P ;
Raffaelli, D .
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY, 2000, 249 (01) :123-137
[7]   DRIFTING ALGAE AND ZOOBENTHOS - EFFECTS ON SETTLING AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURE [J].
BONSDORFF, E .
NETHERLANDS JOURNAL OF SEA RESEARCH, 1992, 30 :57-62
[8]  
BONSDORFF E, 1980, OPHELIA, P145
[9]  
BONSDORFF E, 1989, 23RD EUR MAR BIOL S, P349
[10]   Mobile corridors in marine landscapes: enhancement of faunal exchange at seagrass/sand ecotones [J].
Brooks, RA ;
Bell, SS .
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY, 2001, 264 (01) :67-84