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Organism responses to habitat fragmentation in two shallow-water brackish environments: the Goro Lagoon (Adriatic Sea) and the Padrongiano Delta (Tyrrhenian Sea)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 July 2008

Cristina Munari
Cristina Munari*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology and Evolution, University of Ferrara, via L. Borsari 46, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Cristina Munari, Department of Biology and Evolution, University of Ferrara, via L. Borsari 46, 44100 Ferrara, Italy email: mnc@unife.it
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Abstract

Habitat fragmentation from natural or human-mediated causes is a common phenomenon in terrestrial and aquatic environments. In this study, the effects of varying the size of habitat patches on the abundance of benthic invertebrates inhabiting date mussel (Musculista senhousia) patches was studied at two different transition environments, the Goro Lagoon (Adriatic Sea) and the Padrongiano Delta (Tyrrhenian Sea). Benthic fauna responded to habitat patchiness in a complex manner that varied according to habitat type, taxon and animal body size (small: 0.5–2.0 mm; large >2 mm). Small invertebrates were mostly polychaetes, nemertea, amphipods and isopods. Large invertebrates were mostly large polychaetes, bivalves, gastropods and crabs. Invertebrate population size and diversity seemed to be maximized in landscapes that include both small and large patches of mussel beds ‘embedded’ in a continuous matrix. Musculista senhousia patches served as a critical refuge and foraging habitat for many species. Patchy and continuous areas may promote the persistence of organisms with different life histories, especially in environments like those studied where mussel patches represent the only structural refuge available.

Keywords

organism responseshabit fragmentationshallow-water brackish environmentsGoro Lagoon (Adriatic Sea)Padrongiano Delta (Tyrrhenian Sea)
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 88 , Issue 7 , November 2008 , pp. 1309 - 1317
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

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