Zoeken
Zoeken kan via de modus 'eenvoudig zoeken' (één veld) of uitgebreid via 'geavanceerd zoeken' (meerdere velden). Zo kan je bv. zoeken op een combinatie van een auteursnaam (auteur), een jaartal (jaar) en een documenttype.
Boekenmand
Nuttige resultaten kan je aanvinken en toevoegen aan een mandje. De inhoud hiervan kan je exporteren of afdrukken (naar bv. PDF).
RSS
Op de hoogte blijven van nieuw toegevoegde publicaties binnen uw interessegebied? Dit kan door een RSS-feed (?) te maken van jouw zoekopdracht.
nieuwe zoekopdracht
Ecological implications of the presence of the tube-building polychaete Lanice conchilega on soft-bottom benthic ecosystems
Van Hoey, G.; Guilini, K.; Rabaut, M.; Vincx, M.; Degraer, S. (2008). Ecological implications of the presence of the tube-building polychaete Lanice conchilega on soft-bottom benthic ecosystems. Mar. Biol. (Berl.) 154(6): 1009-1019. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-008-0992-1
In: Marine Biology: International Journal on Life in Oceans and Coastal Waters. Springer: Heidelberg; Berlin. ISSN 0025-3162; e-ISSN 1432-1793
| |
Auteurs | | Top |
- Van Hoey, G.
- Guilini, K.
- Rabaut, M.
|
|
|
Abstract |
The common tube-building polychaete Lanice conchilega is known as a habitat structuring species and can form dense aggregations. The effects of L. conchilega on the surrounding benthic community have received little attention, especially in subtidal areas. Therefore, the presence of L. conchilega in different habitats in the North Sea and its effect on the abundance, species richness, diversity and community structure in these habitats are evaluated in the present paper, based on data from the ICES North Sea Benthos Survey of 2000. Lanice conchilega has a wide geographical distribution and a low habitat specialization, but optimally occurs in shallow fine sands. In the present study, the presence of L. conchilega resulted in a density increase and a significant (positive) correlation of the benthos density with the density of L. conchilega. Furthermore, the species richness (number of species) increased with increasing density of L. conchilega. This trend was, however, not consistent: the number of species reached more or less an asymptotic value or even decreased after reaching a critical density of L. conchilega (>500–1,000 ind/m²), as observed in shallow fine sands. The same overall pattern was detected concerning the expected number of species. The N1-diversity index showed similar or slightly higher values in L. conchilega patches compared to patches without L. conchilega. From the results of the community analysis, it can be concluded that the species, which were responsible for the increase of the diversity, belonged to the overall species-pool of that habitat. The effects on density and diversity differed between the four discerned habitats (shallow muddy sand, shallow fine sand, shallow medium sand and deep fine sand), and were most pronounced in shallow fine sands. These patterns can be attributed to the habitat structuring capacity of L. conchilega. The mechanisms responsible for the increase of the habitat quality in patches of L. conchilega can be summarized as (1) changes in the hydrodynamics, (2) increases of the habitat stability and oxygen supply, and (3) a creation of habitat heterogeneity in a uniform environment. In this way, L. conchilega alters the habitat characteristics and affects other organisms, and can therefore even be considered as an ecosystem engineer. In other words, L. conchilega patches are responsible for an increased habitat quality in an otherwise uniform habitat, which results in a higher survival of the surrounding benthic species. |
IMIS is ontwikkeld en wordt gehost door het VLIZ.