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Spatial distribution of subtidal meiobenthos along estuarine gradients in two southern European estuaries (Portugal)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 July 2009

Ana Sofia Alves ,
Helena Adão ,
Joana Patrício ,
João Magalhães Neto ,
Maria José Costa  and
João Carlos Marques
Ana Sofia Alves
Affiliation:
IMAR (Institute of Marine Research), c/o Biology Department, University of Évora, Apartado 94, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal
Helena Adão*
Affiliation:
IMAR (Institute of Marine Research), c/o Biology Department, University of Évora, Apartado 94, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal
Joana Patrício
Affiliation:
IMAR (Institute of Marine Research), c/o Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
João Magalhães Neto
Affiliation:
IMAR (Institute of Marine Research), c/o Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
Maria José Costa
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanography, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
João Carlos Marques
Affiliation:
IMAR (Institute of Marine Research), c/o Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: H. Adão, IMAR (Institute of Marine Research), c/o Biology Department, University of Évora, Apartado 94, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal email: hadao@uevora.pt
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Abstract

The spatial variation in abundance and composition of subtidal meiobenthos communities was studied in two Portuguese estuaries under distinct degrees of anthropogenic pressure. Samples were collected from 20 sampling stations along both estuarine gradients from freshwater (<0.5) to euhaline areas (>30). Of these stations 11 were located in the Mondego estuary, a system exposed to high anthropogenic stress, and 9 in the Mira estuary, a naturally stressed system located inside the Natural Park ‘Costa Vicentina’ (south-western coast of Portugal).

Total meiobenthos density was higher in the Mira estuary and in both estuaries the community was dominated by nematodes. Among the twelve taxa identified in the Mira estuary, Harpacticoid copepods and Polychaeta were the second and the third most abundant groups respectively. In the Mondego estuary, Polychaeta was the second while Harpacticoid copepods was the third most abundant group in the thirteen total taxa recorded.

Estuarine gradients of salinity, particles size and water nutrients were clearly detected in both estuaries and there was significant spatial heterogeneity in abundance and composition of the subtidal meiobenthos communities along these environmental gradients. Accordingly, three distinct sections were identified in both estuaries: (i) freshwater sections, where total density, and density of nematodes and Harpacticoid copepods reached minimum values; (ii) oligohaline and mesohaline sections, where the total density was low and diversity was poor; and (iii) polyhaline and euhaline sections, where both total density and diversity reached the highest values.

The similar spatial distribution of meiobenthos assemblages in both estuaries suggests that natural stressors may be the major factors controlling the physicochemical conditions that determine meiobenthos community patterns. The mesoscale variability of subtidal meiobenthos density and composition within estuaries (in the order of kilometres) seems to be more important than the variability between estuaries (at the scale of hundreds of kilometres), a common feature in intertidal systems. From the management point of view, these results, based on higher taxa resolution, represent an obvious constraint to the applicability of ecological quality evaluation tools.

Keywords

subtidal meiofaunaestuarine gradientsnatural versus anthropogenic disturbancePortugal
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 89 , Issue 8 , December 2009 , pp. 1529 - 1540
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2009

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