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Effects of physical disturbance on a sub-Antarctic middle intertidal bivalve assemblage

Effects of physical disturbance on a sub-Antarctic middle intertidal bivalve assemblage
Effects of physical disturbance on a sub-Antarctic middle intertidal bivalve assemblage
Physical stress is known as the prevailing environmental force structuring many intertidal communities globally. Here, we present for the first time the vulnerability to disturbance of a bivalve assemblage situated in the middle intertidal in the Atlantic coast of the Southern tip of South America (ca 53º 36´S, 67º 58’W). This intertidal zone is characterized by a high level of sand movement preventing any establishment of sessile organisms on vertical sides of rock outcrops. The benthic assemblage inhabiting rock surfaces of this physically dynamic intertidal zone has been poorly studied although this coast is prone to potential spills from nearby hydrocarbon marine platforms. In February 2001, we exposed the assemblage to two different experimental conditions: a complete removal and a physical disturbance, and tracked its recovery during the following 4 years. The disturbance lowered the diversity of associated fauna and made disappear the sediment layer trapped among bivalves, which was not restored any longer. Mytilus chilensis recruited massively into crevices or between byssi in the following settlement season, i.e. summer 2002. The recuperation of mussel coverage to predisturbance levels took 3 years after the total removal. In April 2004 the size frequency distributions, density and biomass/number ratio of M. chilensis were similar to those at the start of the experiment. Perumytilus purpuratus recovered slower than M. chilensis probably due to its lower growth rate compared to M. chilensis and dependence of an adequate byssus matrix for settlement. Moreover, the main apparent stressor was the irruption of sand that can cover the bivalve assemblage for variable periods of time. This assemblage is characterized by low predatory pressure and therefore we hypothesize that this bivalve assemblage is predominantly controlled by competition for space.
1745-1000
937-953
Calcagno, J.A.
da8a9054-ff70-4269-9edf-7bc38606ca29
Curelovich, J.N.
5e3c9528-76f3-4fe6-94c0-1e7df9e2f1eb
Fernandez, V.M.
534d073c-b328-4ad1-812b-814a796f9e43
Thatje, S.
f1011fe3-1048-40c0-97c1-e93b796e6533
Lovrich, G.A.
f68a9fda-5f21-4f0e-81ea-382d19d02abd
Calcagno, J.A.
da8a9054-ff70-4269-9edf-7bc38606ca29
Curelovich, J.N.
5e3c9528-76f3-4fe6-94c0-1e7df9e2f1eb
Fernandez, V.M.
534d073c-b328-4ad1-812b-814a796f9e43
Thatje, S.
f1011fe3-1048-40c0-97c1-e93b796e6533
Lovrich, G.A.
f68a9fda-5f21-4f0e-81ea-382d19d02abd

Calcagno, J.A., Curelovich, J.N., Fernandez, V.M., Thatje, S. and Lovrich, G.A. (2012) Effects of physical disturbance on a sub-Antarctic middle intertidal bivalve assemblage. Marine Biology Research, 8, 937-953. (doi:10.1080/17451000.2012.702911).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Physical stress is known as the prevailing environmental force structuring many intertidal communities globally. Here, we present for the first time the vulnerability to disturbance of a bivalve assemblage situated in the middle intertidal in the Atlantic coast of the Southern tip of South America (ca 53º 36´S, 67º 58’W). This intertidal zone is characterized by a high level of sand movement preventing any establishment of sessile organisms on vertical sides of rock outcrops. The benthic assemblage inhabiting rock surfaces of this physically dynamic intertidal zone has been poorly studied although this coast is prone to potential spills from nearby hydrocarbon marine platforms. In February 2001, we exposed the assemblage to two different experimental conditions: a complete removal and a physical disturbance, and tracked its recovery during the following 4 years. The disturbance lowered the diversity of associated fauna and made disappear the sediment layer trapped among bivalves, which was not restored any longer. Mytilus chilensis recruited massively into crevices or between byssi in the following settlement season, i.e. summer 2002. The recuperation of mussel coverage to predisturbance levels took 3 years after the total removal. In April 2004 the size frequency distributions, density and biomass/number ratio of M. chilensis were similar to those at the start of the experiment. Perumytilus purpuratus recovered slower than M. chilensis probably due to its lower growth rate compared to M. chilensis and dependence of an adequate byssus matrix for settlement. Moreover, the main apparent stressor was the irruption of sand that can cover the bivalve assemblage for variable periods of time. This assemblage is characterized by low predatory pressure and therefore we hypothesize that this bivalve assemblage is predominantly controlled by competition for space.

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Accepted/In Press date: May 2012
Published date: 2012
Organisations: Ocean Biochemistry & Ecosystems

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Local EPrints ID: 338123
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/338123
ISSN: 1745-1000
PURE UUID: 5ee7240b-a14e-49c2-afcf-7c4edc6a6cf8

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Date deposited: 09 May 2012 16:12
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 11:02

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Contributors

Author: J.A. Calcagno
Author: J.N. Curelovich
Author: V.M. Fernandez
Author: S. Thatje
Author: G.A. Lovrich

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