Effects of habitat complexity on the structure of macrobenthic association in a Spartina altemiflora marsh

RESEARCH ARTICLES

Effects of habitat complexity on the structure of macrobenthic association in a Spartina altemiflora marsh

Maurea Nicoletti Flynn^*; Airton Santo Tararam; Yoko Wakabara

Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo (Caixa Postal 66149, 05389-970 São Paulo, SP, Brasil)

ABSTRACT

The structure and seasonal variability of macrobenthic associations in four different patches on a Sportillo alterniflora bed at Arrozal Point, Cananéia, São Paulo State are described and compared. In the local intertidal marsh, densities of S. oltemifloro plants appear in sparsely or denscly arranged patches, both in tall and short forms. The infaunal polychaetes Copitella copitata, Isolda pulchella, Laconereis acuta accounted for 44.0% of the total individuals while epifaunal forms such as Helcobia australis, Littorina ollngulifera, Tholozidium rhombofrotalis and Sphoeromopsis mourei were the second most abundant components with 39.5%. Classilication analyses of sampling time in the same sampling patch indicated that species groups were formed basically by spatial similarity and peak densities of macrofauna and secondarily by temporal patterns. Temporal variations were evident with higher number of species in eolder months (winter and spring). Species diversity and evenness did not show clear seasonal pattcrns, although they were sigmlicantly different in sampling patchcs and time. Heleobia australis, Littorina agulifera and Anomalocardia brasilienses were dominant in tall sparse S. alterniflora with density pcaks occurring in winter/spring pcriods. Tholozodium rhombofrontalis and Sphoeromopsis mourei; were dominant in short sparse S. olterniflora with density peaks in summer. In tall, densely distributed S. altemiflora plants the higher densities occurred in winter and the dominant spccies were Nereis oligohoalina, Isolda pulchella and Copitella capitata. The species H. australis, L ongulifera and A. brasiliensis predominated in the short S. alterniflora plants denscly distributed, with faunistic peaks recorded in spring. The results suggcst that differenccs in form and aggregation of S. alternifloraimpart changes in the structure of macrobenthic fauna associated to this vegetation.

Descriptors: Habitat complexity, macrobenthic associalion, Spartina altemiflora marsh, Southern coast of São Paulo State, Brazil.

ABSTRACT

A estrutura e variação temporal de associações macrobentônicas de marismas de Spartina olterniflora, estruturalmente diferentes com rcelação à forma (baixa ou alta) e ao grau de agregação (esparsa ou agregada), foram descritas e comparadas, na Ponta do Arrozal, região de Cananéia, costa sul do Estado de São Paulo. Representantes da infauna como os pohquetos Copitella copitata, Isolda pulchella, Nereis oligohallia eLaconereis acuta perfizeram 44,0% da fauna coletada, enquanto que formas epifaunais como HHeleobia australis, Littorina agulifera,Tholozidium rhombofrotaliseSphoeromopsis mourei atingiram 39,5%. Análises classificatórias dos períodos de amostragem indicaram que os agrupamentos de espécies foram formados basicamente pela similaridade espacial e picos de densidade da macrofauna seguidos pelos padrões de variação temporal. Os maiores valores de diversidade ocorreram no inverno e primavera. Os índices de diversidade e equitatividade, embora significativamente diferentes entre locais de amostra e tempo, não mostraram um padrão sazonal muito claro. Heleobia australis, Littorina agulifera e Anomalocardia brasilienses foram dominantes entre as plantas altas de S. alterniflora, esparsamente distribuídas, com picos de densidade faunística ocorrendo nos períodos de inverno e primavera. Entre as plantas haixas esparsamente distribuídas as espécies dominantes foramTholozodium rhombofrontalis e Sphoeromopsis mourei;, com maior densidade no verão. Nas plantas altas e agregadas as maiores densidades ocorreram no inverno e as espécies dominantes foram Nereis oligohoalina, Isolda pulchella e Copitella copitata. As espécies H. australis, L. ongulifera e A. brasilienses dominaram nas marismas baixas e agregadas, apresentando os maiores valores de densidade na primavera. Os resullados sugerem que diferenças na forma e agregação de S. alterniflora provocam mudanças na estrutura da fauna macrobentônica associada a esta vegetação.

Descrifores: Complexidade de hahitat, Associações macrobentônicas, marisma de Spartino altenriflora, Costa sul do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil.

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Acknowledgements

This study was made possible through post-doc grant provided by CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) - Proc. 300.417.194-2 to the senior author. Sonia Maria Araújo Barreto provided invaluable assistance during the sampling and sorting of biological material.

(Manuscript received 24 November 1995; revised 20 Marsh 1996; accepted 23 April 1996)

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*

Bolsista de pós-doutorado do CNPq Contr. nº 794 do Inst. oceanogr. da Usp.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  22 Apr 2013
• Date of issue
  1996

History

• Accepted
  23 Apr 1990
• Reviewed
  20 Mar 1996
• Received
  24 Nov 1995