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Community composition and diversity of two Limaria hians (Mollusca: Limacea) beds on the west coast of Scotland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

Colin Trigg ,
Dan Harries ,
Alastair Lyndon  and
Colin G. Moore
Colin Trigg*
Affiliation:
Scottish Natural Heritage, Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness, IV3 8AW Scotland, UK
Dan Harries
Affiliation:
Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS Scotland, UK
Alastair Lyndon
Affiliation:
Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS Scotland, UK
Colin G. Moore
Affiliation:
Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS Scotland, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: C. Trigg, Scottish Natural Heritage, Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness, IV3 8AW Scotland, UK email: colintrigg@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Limaria hians functions as a keystone species in construction of a highly diverse biogenic habitat. An investigation to quantify the biodiversity of two L. hians beds was carried out during the winter and summer seasons at two sites on the west coast of Scotland. Cores were taken semi-randomly through 100% L. hians nest material, organisms removed, identified and enumerated. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the data were used to establish temporal and locational differences. A total of 7275 individuals were found representing 282 species from 16 phyla. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences between the species richness of the two populations, whilst multivariate analysis illustrated differences in the assemblage compositions between sites and times. This study showed that in terms of richness and diversity these beds are among the most important biogenic habitats in the UK.

Keywords

Limariabiogenic reefbivalvebiodiversityassociated communitykeystoneScotland
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 91 , Issue 7 , November 2011 , pp. 1403 - 1412
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2011

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