Spatial variability of intertidal rocky shore assemblages in the northwest coast of Portugal

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2005

Autores

Araujo, R (Autor) Outra; Barbara, I (Autor) Outra; Sousa Pinto, I (Autor) FCUP; Quintino, V (Autor) Outra

Revista

Título: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

Vol. 64

Páginas: 658-670

ISSN: 0272-7714

Editora: Elsevier

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 45 Citações

Scopus - 50 Citações

Classificação Científica

FOS: Ciências exactas e naturais > Ciências da terra e ciências do ambiente

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-000-1GK

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2005.03.020

Abstract (EN): The spatial variability of rocky shore assemblages of the northwest Portuguese coast was studied in a total of 12 transects, visited twice between March and August 2003. Each transect was positioned from the upper to the lower shore and four replicate samples (50 X 50 cm) were taken at each visually identified assemblage. Multivariate analysis was used to test the null hypothesis of no significant differences among assemblages located on different heights along the transect and among assemblages located at the same height on different transects. The distribution pattern of organisms along the height was not consistent across transects and significant variability could be found in assemblages located at the same height on the shore. Globally, the variability from the lower to the upper shore (vertical axis) was larger than from transect to trausect (horizontal axis) but the distribution pattern along height was clearer in sheltered transects than in exposed ones. The heterogeneity in composition between the visually identified assemblages, within the same transect, was, however, the major source of variability in the study area. In the rocky intertidal northwest coast of Portugal, where tidal amplitude is broad and extremely wave-exposed sites are scarce, height above chart datum was the most important factor determining the distribution and species composition of the assemblages. However, variability along the horizontal axis was also significant and should be considered in studies of spatial patterns of distribution of organisms within this area.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 13