Subtidal benthic megafauna in a productive and highly urbanised semi-enclosed bay (Ria de Vigo, NW Iberian Peninsula)

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2015

Autores

Aneiros, F (Autor) Outra; M Rubal (Autor) FCUP; Troncoso, JS (Autor) Outra; Banon, R (Autor) Outra

Revista

Título: Continental Shelf Research

Vol. 110

Páginas: 16-24

ISSN: 0278-4343

Editora: Elsevier

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citação

Scopus - 0 Citações

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-00G-Q41

DOI: 10.1016/j.csr.2015.09.018

Abstract (EN): The Ria de Vigo is a semi-enclosed bay with high primary productivity due to the influence of coastal upwelling-downwelling dynamics. The area is heavily populated and affected by numerous human activities, which lead to sediment modification. Epibenthic megafauna from the non-estuarine zones of this bay has been studied in order to describe its spatial distribution, testing possible differences between inner and outer areas. With that purpose, 75 sites have been sampled by means of a towing dredge. Megafauna was identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible, and each taxon counted and weighted. 113 different taxa were identified and a high spatial heterogeneity was observed in terms of abundance, biomass, taxa richness, diversity and evenness. Suspension-feeding molluscs dominated the innermost part of the studied area, and were substituted by echinoderms towards the external zones; this spatial pattern was also reflected in the results of multivariate analyses. These shifts in taxonomic and trophic guild composition of the assemblages have been tentatively related to differences in pollution levels and primary productivity along the main axis of the bay.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 9