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Drivers of variation in seagrass-associated amphipods across biogeographical areas

Authors :
Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología Aplicada
Navarro-Mayoral, Sandra
Tuya, Fernando
Prado, Patricia
Marco-Méndez, Candela
Fernandez-Gonzalez, Victoria
Fernández-Torquemada, Yolanda
Espino, Fernando
de-la-Ossa-Carretero, Jose Antonio
Mateu Vilella, David
Machado, Margarida
Martínez-Crego, Begoña
Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología Aplicada
Navarro-Mayoral, Sandra
Tuya, Fernando
Prado, Patricia
Marco-Méndez, Candela
Fernandez-Gonzalez, Victoria
Fernández-Torquemada, Yolanda
Espino, Fernando
de-la-Ossa-Carretero, Jose Antonio
Mateu Vilella, David
Machado, Margarida
Martínez-Crego, Begoña
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Amphipods are one of the dominant epifaunal groups in seagrass meadows. However, our understanding of the biogeographical patterns in the distribution of these small crustaceans is limited. In this study, we investigated such patterns and the potential drivers in twelve Cymodocea nodosa meadows within four distinctive biogeographical areas across 2000 Km and 13° of latitude in two ocean basins (Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean). We found that species abundances in the assemblage of seagrass-associated amphipods differed among areas following a pattern largely explained by seagrass leaf area and epiphyte biomass, while the variation pattern in species presence/absence was determined by seagrass density and epiphyte biomass. Seagrass leaf area was also the most important determinant of greater amphipod total density and species richness, while amphipod density also increased with algal cover. Overall, our results evidenced that biogeographical patterns of variation in amphipod assemblages are mainly influenced by components of the habitat structure, which covary with environmental conditions, finding that structurally more complex meadows harboring higher abundance and richness of amphipods associated.

Details

Database :
OAIster
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1376651103
Document Type :
Electronic Resource