Article (Scientific journals)
Seagrass amphipod assemblages in a Mediterranean marine protected area: a multiscale approach
Sturaro, Nicolas; Lepoint, Gilles; Pérez-Perera, Amanda et al.
2014In Marine Ecology. Progress Series, 506, p. 175–192
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Keywords :
Amphipod assemblages; Posidonia oceanica; seagrass; hierarchical sampling design; marine protected area
Abstract :
[en] Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a key tool for conservation purposes, but few studies have assessed the responses of small macrozoobenthic assemblages to different protection levels in the Mediterranean Sea. In this study, we used a hierarchical sampling design spanning three orders of magnitude (1-10-100 metres) to investigate whether a marine protected area exerts an effect on amphipod assemblages associated with Posidonia oceanica meadows. This study reports spatial and temporal variability patterns of amphipod assemblages in four different protection levels and discusses potential confounding effects, such as habitat features. The structure of amphipod assemblages based on density data was patchy at all spatial scales investigated, but differed markedly among protection levels. Among outstanding points, multiscale analyses showed that lower densities and/or biomasses of several taxa occurred within fully protected and external areas in comparison with partially protected areas (PPAs). Furthermore, Posidonia oceanica meadow features (shoot density, leaf and epiphyte biomasses, coefficient A and litter biomass) accounted for only a low proportion of the total variability. We can consequently infer that the observed patchiness is likely to occur for multiple and interconnected reasons, ranging from the ecological and behavioural traits of amphipod species to protection-dependent processes (e.g. fish predation). Long term multiscale spatial and temporal monitoring, as well as experimental manipulations, are clearly needed to fully understand the effects of protection on macrozoobenthic assemblages.
Disciplines :
Environmental sciences & ecology
Aquatic sciences & oceanology
Zoology
Author, co-author :
Sturaro, Nicolas ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanologie
Lepoint, Gilles  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanologie
Pérez-Perera, Amanda
Vermeulen, Simon
Pieraugusto, Panzalis
Navone, Augusto
Gobert, Sylvie  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanologie
Language :
English
Title :
Seagrass amphipod assemblages in a Mediterranean marine protected area: a multiscale approach
Publication date :
2014
Journal title :
Marine Ecology. Progress Series
ISSN :
0171-8630
eISSN :
1616-1599
Publisher :
Inter-Research Science Publishing, Oldendorf Luhe, Germany
Volume :
506
Pages :
175–192
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 23 April 2014

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