|
NISCAIR ONLINE PERIODICALS REPOSITORY (NOPR) >
NISCAIR PUBLICATIONS >
Research Journals >
Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences (IJMS) >
IJMS Vol.36 [2007] >
IJMS Vol.36(3) [September 2007] >
| Title: | Structure and secondary production of the macrobenthic community in an aquatic transition environment of the Gulf of Olbia, Mediterranean Sea |
| Authors: | Munari, Cristina
Mistri, Michele |
| Keywords: | Gulf of Olbia
Macrobenthic community
Secondary production
Musculista senhousia
Mediterranean Sea |
| Issue Date: | Sep-2007 |
| Publisher: | CSIR |
| Abstract: | The composition and the secondary production of the macrobenthic community of Rio Padrongiano Delta (the Gulf of Olbia, Tyrrhenian Sea) was investigated. Three sites (L, S and C) were sampled quarterly for macrofauna; environmental variables were measured monthly at each site. A total of 115 taxa, representing 9 phyla were identified. Data were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses to discriminate among sites. Two-way ANOVA indicated that abundance N and other community measures (H’, Δ* and Δ⁺) differed greatly among sites. Two sites were numerically dominated by Polychaetes (54.6% and 58.3% of total abundance, respectively), while, at the third site, they represented only 24.1%. Molluscs made the greatest contribution to the community biomass at all sites, accounting for 96%, 89.4% and 80.7% of the total biomass, respectively. Benthic production was estimated by an indirect method. Mean annual secondary production of macrobenthic community varied among 8.5, 23.8 and 94 g/m²/yr. Differences among sites were mostly dependent on the different contribute of an invasive mussel, Musculista senhousia. Musculista senhousia seems to facilitate other macrobenthic taxa and seems to have a fundamental role on secondary production of the macrobenthic community. |
| Page(s): | 216-226 |
| ISSN: | 0379-5136 |
| Source: | IJMS Vol.36(3) [September 2007]
|
|
