The Influence of Rocky Reefs on Structure of Benthic Macrofauna in Nearby Soft-sediments

doi:10.1006/ecss.2000.0734

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

Volume 52, Issue 2, February 2001, Pages 191-199

https://doi.org/10.1006/ecss.2000.0734 Get rights and content

Abstract

Influences of rocky reefs on composition and abundances of species in assemblages of macrofauna in nearby subtidal, soft-sediments were examined by sampling at three distances from four rocky reefs, three natural and one man-made, in Botany Bay, NSW, Australia. There was significant spatial variation in structure of assemblages between transects and among reefs. The proportion of coarse material in sediments was generally larger close to, than far from, reefs. Assemblages sampled close to reefs were generally different in structure from those sampled away from rocky reefs. In multivariate analyses, assemblages close to reefs were spatially more variable than were those far from reefs. Analyses demonstrated that there were more species close to, than far from, the reefs; polychaetes of the family Syllidae were more abundant far from, than near to, rocky reefs. Artificial and natural rocky reefs influenced nearby benthic assemblages in sediments and various models are discussed to explain the patterns detected, especially those concerning predation and characteristics of the sediments.

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Citation Excerpt :
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Regular ArticlesThe Influence of Rocky Reefs on Structure of Benthic Macrofauna in Nearby Soft-sediments

Abstract

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

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Trends in Ecology and Evolution

The role of soft-bottom benthic communities in tropical mangrove and coral reef ecosystems

Reviews in Aquatic Sciences

Influence of artificial reef on the surrounding infaunal community

Marine Biology

Artificial reef research: a review with recommendations for future priorities

Bulletin of Marine Science

Maintenance of an exceptional intertidal grazer biomass in South Africa: subsidy by subtidal kelps

Ecology

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Bulletin of Marine Science

Relationships between spatial patterns of benthic assemblages in a mangrove forest using different levels of taxonomic resolution

Marine Ecology Progress Series

Non-parametric multivariate analyses of changes in community structure

Australian Journal of Ecology

Statistical design & analysis for a ‘ biological effects ’ study

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Marine Ecology Progress Series

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Regular Articles
The Influence of Rocky Reefs on Structure of Benthic Macrofauna in Nearby Soft-sediments