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Comparison of macrobenthic assemblages of three fish estuarine nurseries and their importance as foraging grounds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 April 2011

Jonathan Selleslagh ,
Sandric Lesourd  and
Rachid Amara
Jonathan Selleslagh*
Affiliation:
Université Lille Nord de France ULCO, LOG, F-62930 Wimereux, France CNRS, UMR 8187, F-62930 Wimereux, France
Sandric Lesourd
Affiliation:
Université Lille Nord de France ULCO, LOG, F-62930 Wimereux, France CNRS, UMR 8187, F-62930 Wimereux, France
Rachid Amara
Affiliation:
Université Lille Nord de France ULCO, LOG, F-62930 Wimereux, France CNRS, UMR 8187, F-62930 Wimereux, France
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: J. Selleslagh, Cemagref, UR EPBX, F-33612 Cestas Cedex, France email: Jonathan.Selleslagh@cemagref.fr
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Abstract

Macrobenthic assemblages were examined in three fish estuarine nurseries and related to environmental variables, as well as fish and macrocrustaceans, in order to assess and compare the potential foraging ground value of these systems. Macrobenthos was sampled in spring 2007 in the Canche, Authie and Somme estuaries (eastern English Channel, France). A total of 17, 28 and 23 macrobenthic taxa, with a clear dominance of amphipods (mainly Bathyporeia sarsi), polychaetes and bivalves, were recorded in the three estuaries respectively. Although predators (fish and macrocrustaceans) were abundant, relatively high densities of macrobenthos were observed: 876.2 ± 389.1, 595.4 ± 197.2 and 854.3 ± 281.2 ind. m-2 in the Canche, Authie and Somme, respectively. No significant difference in species richness, Shannon–Wiener diversity and density (total and dominant groups) of macrobenthos was observed between the three estuaries. Although the analysis of similarity and similarity percentages analyses indicated that macrobenthic assemblage was variable between Authie and Somme, results showed that macrobenthos resource was relatively high and similar in the three estuaries. Taking into account these considerations, the present study indicated a similar relative importance of the Canche, Authie and Somme estuaries as foraging grounds for fish and macrocrustaceans during spring. Multivariate analysis showed that macrobenthic assemblages were mainly driven by salinity and sediment characteristics in the Canche and Authie estuaries while in the Somme estuary sediment characteristics were the most influencing parameters.

Keywords

estuariesmacrobenthic assemblagesspatial variationsenvironmental influencefish nurseriesEastern English Channel
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 92 , Issue 1 , February 2012 , pp. 85 - 97
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2011

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