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Benthic assemblage composition on subtidal reefs along a latitudinal gradient in Western Australia

Benthic assemblage composition on subtidal reefs along a latitudinal gradient in Western Australia
Benthic assemblage composition on subtidal reefs along a latitudinal gradient in Western Australia
At regional scales, the distribution of species and the structure of assemblages vary with latitude within many marine and terrestrial systems. The oligotrophic coastal waters of Western Australia (WA) support highly speciose and endemic assemblages, yet spatial patterns in benthic structure are currently poorly known. We examined benthic assemblage composition along a latitudinal gradient of 28.5–33.5°S and a depth gradient of 14–62 m, on subtidal reefs in warm-temperate WA. We surveyed benthos using a remotely triggered digital stills camera. In total, we sampled macroalgae and sessile invertebrates at 201 sites spread across four locations. Percent cover of coarse taxonomic groups and dominant species was estimated from over 2000 photoquadrat samples. We recorded significant differences in benthic assemblage composition between locations, and along depth gradients within each location. However, the magnitude of change with depth was not consistent between locations, and shifts in assemblage composition along the depth gradients were not as pronounced as expected. The percent cover of all dominant benthic groupings differed between locations, and several key taxa, such as the kelp Scytothalia dorycarpa, brown foliose macroalgae, hard corals and sponges, changed predictably along the latitudinal gradient. Our study adopted a coarse taxonomic, but assemblage-wide, approach to describing macrobenthic assemblages, and clear differences between locations and depths were detected. The surveys have provided baseline data on broad scale ecosystem structure against which to detect future ecological change.
benthos, ecklonia radiata, gradients, leeuwin current, subtidal assemblages, temperate reefs
0272-7714
83-92
Smale, D.A.
19528a3a-f66c-474d-ae13-c6405b8014ab
Kendrick, G.A.
657f5842-9f67-4954-9c00-5c93faf62c16
Waddington, K.I.
55c8729d-84be-43cd-98cd-4b8b0be1df84
Van Niel, K.P.
dea818cc-5d01-4889-8c55-bda27fe8f1f3
Meeuwig, J.J.
06a19384-1371-4e66-bcb9-93465b08a9f7
Harvey, E.S.
175c2361-a03f-4d32-91fe-c184f06f6050
Smale, D.A.
19528a3a-f66c-474d-ae13-c6405b8014ab
Kendrick, G.A.
657f5842-9f67-4954-9c00-5c93faf62c16
Waddington, K.I.
55c8729d-84be-43cd-98cd-4b8b0be1df84
Van Niel, K.P.
dea818cc-5d01-4889-8c55-bda27fe8f1f3
Meeuwig, J.J.
06a19384-1371-4e66-bcb9-93465b08a9f7
Harvey, E.S.
175c2361-a03f-4d32-91fe-c184f06f6050

Smale, D.A., Kendrick, G.A., Waddington, K.I., Van Niel, K.P., Meeuwig, J.J. and Harvey, E.S. (2010) Benthic assemblage composition on subtidal reefs along a latitudinal gradient in Western Australia. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 86 (1), 83-92. (doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2009.10.016).

Record type: Article

Abstract

At regional scales, the distribution of species and the structure of assemblages vary with latitude within many marine and terrestrial systems. The oligotrophic coastal waters of Western Australia (WA) support highly speciose and endemic assemblages, yet spatial patterns in benthic structure are currently poorly known. We examined benthic assemblage composition along a latitudinal gradient of 28.5–33.5°S and a depth gradient of 14–62 m, on subtidal reefs in warm-temperate WA. We surveyed benthos using a remotely triggered digital stills camera. In total, we sampled macroalgae and sessile invertebrates at 201 sites spread across four locations. Percent cover of coarse taxonomic groups and dominant species was estimated from over 2000 photoquadrat samples. We recorded significant differences in benthic assemblage composition between locations, and along depth gradients within each location. However, the magnitude of change with depth was not consistent between locations, and shifts in assemblage composition along the depth gradients were not as pronounced as expected. The percent cover of all dominant benthic groupings differed between locations, and several key taxa, such as the kelp Scytothalia dorycarpa, brown foliose macroalgae, hard corals and sponges, changed predictably along the latitudinal gradient. Our study adopted a coarse taxonomic, but assemblage-wide, approach to describing macrobenthic assemblages, and clear differences between locations and depths were detected. The surveys have provided baseline data on broad scale ecosystem structure against which to detect future ecological change.

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More information

Published date: 1 January 2010
Keywords: benthos, ecklonia radiata, gradients, leeuwin current, subtidal assemblages, temperate reefs
Organisations: Ocean Biochemistry & Ecosystems

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 348308
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/348308
ISSN: 0272-7714
PURE UUID: ec73f924-88ef-462f-a8ef-218746c982c3

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Date deposited: 12 Feb 2013 11:57
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 12:57

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Contributors

Author: D.A. Smale
Author: G.A. Kendrick
Author: K.I. Waddington
Author: K.P. Van Niel
Author: J.J. Meeuwig
Author: E.S. Harvey

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