Essence of the patterns of cover and richness of intertidal hard bottom communities: a pan-European study

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2017

Authors

Kotta, J (Author) Other; Orav Kotta, H (Author) Other; Janes, H (Author) Other; Hummel, H (Author) Other; Arvanitidis, C (Author) Other; Van Avesaath, P (Author) Other; Bachelet, G (Author) Other; Benedetti Cecchi, L (Author) Other; Bojanic, N (Author) Other; Como, S (Author) Other; Coppa, S (Author) Other; Coughlan, J (Author) Other; Crowe, T (Author) Other; Dal Bello, M (Author) Other; Degraer, S (Author) Other; Juanes De La Pena, JAJ (Author) Other; Kirienko, V (Author) Other; De Matos, F (Author) Other; Espinosa, F (Author) Other; Faulwetter, S (Author) Other; Frost, M (Author) Other; Guinda, X (Author) Other; Jankowska, E (Author) Other; Jourde, J (Author) Other; Kerckhof, F (Author) Other; Lavesque, N (Author) Other; Leclerc, JC (Author) Other; Magni, P (Author) Other; Pavloudi, C (Author) Other; Pedrotti, ML (Author) Other; Peleg, O (Author) Other; Perez Ruzafa, A (Author) Other; Puente, A (Author) Other; Ribeiro, P (Author) Other; Rilov, G (Author) Other; Rousou, M (Author) Other; Ruginis, T (Author) Other; Silva, T (Author) Other; Simon, N (Author) Other; Isabel Sousa Pinto (Author) FCUP; Troncoso, J (Author) Other; Warzocha, J (Author) Other; Weslawski, JM (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

Vol. 97

Pages: 525-538

ISSN: 0025-3154

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 12 Citations

Scopus - 12 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00N-XRC

DOI: 10.1017/s0025315416001351

Abstract (EN): Coastal ecosystems are highly complex and driven by multiple environmental factors. To date we lack scientific evidence for the relative contribution of natural and anthropogenic drivers for the majority of marine habitats in order to adequately assess the role of different stressors across the European seas. Such relationship can be investigated by analysing the correlation between environmental variables and biotic patterns in multivariate space and taking into account non-linearities. Within the framework of the EMBOS (European Marine Biodiversity Observatory System) programme, hard bottom intertidal communities were sampled in a standardized way across European seas. Links between key natural and anthropogenic drivers and hard bottom communities were analysed using Boosted Regression Trees modelling. The study identified strong interregional variability and showed that patterns of hard bottom macroalgal and invertebrate communities were primarily a function of tidal regime, nutrient loading and water temperature (anomalies). The strength and shape of functional form relationships varied widely however among types of organisms (understorey algae composing mostly filamentous species, canopy-forming algae or sessile invertebrates) and aggregated community variables (cover or richness). Tidal regime significantly modulated the effect of nutrient load on the cover and richness of understorey algae and sessile invertebrates. In contrast, hydroclimate was more important for canopy algae and temperature anomalies and hydroclimate separately or interactively contributed to the observed patterns. The analyses also suggested that climate-induced shifts in weather patterns may result in the loss of algal richness and thereby in the loss of functional diversity in European hard bottom intertidal areas.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14