Structural complexity of macroalgae influences epifaunal assemblages associated with native and invasive species

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Puri Veiga (Author) Other; M Rubal (Author) FCUP; Isabel Sousa Pinto (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Marine Environmental Research

Vol. 101

Pages: 115-123

ISSN: 0141-1136

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 59 Citations

Scopus - 61 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Basic medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00A-151

DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2014.09.007

Abstract (EN): Habitat structure is a primary factor determining the organism distribution. Here, two native and one invasive macroalgal species, apparently different in morphology, were sampled to examine the effects of habitat complexity on the abundance (N), taxon richness (S) and structure of their associated epifaunal assemblages by means of univariate and multivariate techniques. Dry weight and fractal measures were used as proxies of habitat quantity and habitat architecture respectively. Results revealed significant differences in the complexity and in N, S and the structure of epifaunal assemblages among macroalgae and significant correlations between complexity and epifauna. Results suggested that, beside the effect of habitat quantity, the habitat architecture also seems to play a significant role in shaping epifaunal assemblages. Complexity of the studied invasive macroalga significantly differed from that of native species and hosted also different assemblages. Therefore, our findings suggest that invasive macroalgae, if structurally different from native species, induce changes in the associated epifauna.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9