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Characteristic benthic size-spectra: potential sampling artefacts

Characteristic benthic size-spectra: potential sampling artefacts
Characteristic benthic size-spectra: potential sampling artefacts
Simple mathematical simulations were carried out to examine the potential influence of sampling protocol on the production of characteristic benthic size spectra (in biomass and species richness). The use of separate samples and sieve meshes for meio- and macro-benthos readily produced a biomass trough at intermediate body sizes, where no trough existed in the sampled population (set by simple body size-abundance allometry). The number of specimens sampled per size class was also bimodal across the meio- to macro-benthos size range, providing a simple mechanism by which bimodal species size spectra may result, i.e. a general positive relationship between estimated species richness and the number of specimens examined. These sampling artefacts have the potential to generate characteristic benthic biomass and species size spectra that reflect the sampling protocol rather than the underlying structure of the benthic community. The results suggest the need for caution in regarding the meio- and macro-benthos as coherent entities with distinct ecological attributes. They also raise the prospect of a useful, single mathematical formulation of standing stock and body size for the metazoan benthos as a whole in biogeochemical modelling.
body size relations, benthic biomass size spectra, benthic species size spectra, benthic sampling, benthic modelling
1-6
Bett, B.J.
61342990-13be-45ae-9f5c-9540114335d9
Bett, B.J.
61342990-13be-45ae-9f5c-9540114335d9

Bett, B.J. (2013) Characteristic benthic size-spectra: potential sampling artefacts. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 487, 1-6. (doi:10.3354/meps10441).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Simple mathematical simulations were carried out to examine the potential influence of sampling protocol on the production of characteristic benthic size spectra (in biomass and species richness). The use of separate samples and sieve meshes for meio- and macro-benthos readily produced a biomass trough at intermediate body sizes, where no trough existed in the sampled population (set by simple body size-abundance allometry). The number of specimens sampled per size class was also bimodal across the meio- to macro-benthos size range, providing a simple mechanism by which bimodal species size spectra may result, i.e. a general positive relationship between estimated species richness and the number of specimens examined. These sampling artefacts have the potential to generate characteristic benthic biomass and species size spectra that reflect the sampling protocol rather than the underlying structure of the benthic community. The results suggest the need for caution in regarding the meio- and macro-benthos as coherent entities with distinct ecological attributes. They also raise the prospect of a useful, single mathematical formulation of standing stock and body size for the metazoan benthos as a whole in biogeochemical modelling.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: June 2013
Published date: July 2013
Keywords: body size relations, benthic biomass size spectra, benthic species size spectra, benthic sampling, benthic modelling
Organisations: Marine Biogeochemistry

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 353959
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/353959
PURE UUID: b2455bf5-7a20-4a09-bfe7-13f69349d7ad

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Date deposited: 25 Jun 2013 15:03
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 14:12

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Author: B.J. Bett

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