Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Recovery of meiofauna following a short-term disturbance on coral reefs

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biodiversity and Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study experimentally determined the short-term effect of different trampling intensities on the phytal habitat and associated meiofauna, and assessed the recovery of these communities on a coral reef. The experiment was conducted within the protected area on the reef of Porto de Galinhas Beach, northeastern Brazil. Within three areas, 30 × 30 cm2 plots were subjected to different experimental trampling intensities: 0 (control), 32 (low intensity) and 79 (high intensity) footsteps applied during 3 consecutive days. Samples were taken before trampling started and then 1 day and 1, 2 and 3 months after the end of trampling. Multivariate and univariate analyses were used to test for changes in the phytal substrate, the densities of the main meiofaunal major taxa, and the diversity, comparing the trampling intensities and the time periods. The immediate impact of trampling negatively affected the phytal substrate, causing large reductions in sediment content, total substrate weight, and algal turf height. Trampling also drastically decreased the density of the associated meiofauna and modified the community structure. The major meiofauna groups showed different patterns of recovery during the first and second months. However, 3 months after trampling ended, no impact was found for densities of total meiofauna and for most major taxa, and no differences were observed in the community structure among all trampling intensities. Finally, the results for trampling susceptibility and resilience allowed us to extend the discussion to management strategies for the use of reef areas for recreation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alcantara R, Ferreira BP, Travassos P (2004) A pesca artesanal e o turismo em Porto de Galinhas, Pernambuco. Bol Téc Cient CEPENE 12:195–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson MJ (2001) A new method for non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance. Austral Ecol 26:32–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Araújo R, Vaselli S, Almeida M, Serrão E, Sousa-Pinto I (2009) Effects of disturbance on marginal populations: human trampling on Ascophyllum nodosum assemblages at its southern distribution limit. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 378:81–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Araújo R, Sousa-Pinto I, Serrão E, Per Å (2012) Recovery after trampling disturbance in a canopy-forming seaweed population. Mar Biol 159:697–707

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bally R, Griffiths CL (1989) Effects of human trampling on an exposed rocky shore. Int J Environ Stud 34:115–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beauchamp KA, Gowing MM (1982) A quantitative assessment of human trampling effects on a rocky intertidal community. Mar Environ Res 7:279–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berkström C, Jones GP, McCormick MI, Srinivasan M (2012) Ecological versatility and its importance for the distribution and abundance of coral reef wrasses. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 461:151–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bertocci I, Araújo R, Vaselli S, Sousa-Pinto I (2011) Marginal populations under pressure: spatial and temporal heterogeneity of Ascophyllum nodosum and associated assemblages affected by human trampling in Portugal. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 439:73–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birkeland C (1997) Life and death of coral reefs. Chapman and Hall, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Brosnan DM, Crumrine LL (1994) Effects of human trampling on marine rocky shore communities. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 177:79–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown PJ, Taylor RB (1999) Effects of trampling by humans on animals inhabiting coralline algal turf in the rocky intertidal. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 235:45–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casu D, Ceccherelli G, Castelli A (2006a) Immediate effects of experimental human trampling on mid-upper intertidal benthic invertebrates at the Asinara Island MPA (NW Mediterranean). Hydrobiologia 555:271–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casu D, Ceccherelli G, Curini-Galletti M, Castelli A (2006b) Human exclusion from rocky shores in a Mediterranean marine protected area (MPA): an opportunity to investigate the effects of trampling. Mar Environ Res 62:15–32

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chandrasekara WU, Frid CLJ (1996) Effects of human trampling on tidalflat infauna. Aquat Conserv 6:299–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiappone M, Dienes H, Swanson DW, Miller SL (2005) Impacts of lost fishing gear on coral reef sessile invertebrates in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Biol Conserv 121:221–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Claudet J, Lenfant P, Schrimm M (2010) Snorkelers impact on fish communities and algae in a temperate marine protected area. Biodivers Conserv 19:1649–1658

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coull BC (1988) Ecology of the marine meiofauna. In: Higgins RP, Thiel H (eds) Introduction to the study of meiofauna. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, pp 18–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Danovaro R, Fraschetti S (2002) Meiofaunal vertical zonation on hard-bottoms: comparison with soft-bottom meiofauna. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 230:159–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danovaro R, Scopa M, Gambi C, Franschetti S (2007) Trophic importance of subtidal metazoan meiofauna: evidence from in situ exclusion experiments on soft and rocky substrates. Mar Biol 152:339–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denis TG, Murray SN (2001) Among-site variation in the effects of trampling disturbance on Silvetia compressa (O. Fucales) populations. J Phycol 37:16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elmqvist T, Folke C, Nyström M, Peterson G, Bengtsson J, Walker B, Norberg J (2003) Response diversity, ecosystem change, and resilience. Front Ecol Environ 1:488–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira MN, Rosso S (2009) Effects of human trampling on a rocky shore fauna on the São Paulo coast, southeastern Brazil. Braz J Biol 69:993–999

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher H, Frid CLJ (1996) Impact and management of visitor pressure on rocky intertidal algal communities. Aquat Conserv 6:287–297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Folke C, Carpenter S, Walker B, Scheffer M, Elmqvist T, Gunderson L, Holling CS (2004) Regime shifts, resilience, and biodiversity in ecosystem management. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 35:557–581

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gambi C, Bianchelli S, Pérez M, Invers O, Ruiz JM, Danovaro R (2009) Biodiversity response to experimental induced hypoxic-anoxic conditions in seagrass sediments. Biodivers Conserv 18:33–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghazanshahi J, Huchel TD, Devinny JS (1983) Alteration of southern California rocky shore ecosystems by public recreational use. J Environ Manage 16:379–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons MJ, Griffiths CL (1986) A comparison of macrofaunal and meiofaunal distribution and standing stock across a rocky shore, with an estimate of their productivities. Mar Biol 3:181–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giere O (2009) Meiobenthology: the microscopic motile fauna of aquatic sediments, 2nd edn. Springer-Verlag, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Huff TM (2011) Effects of human trampling on macro- and meiofauna communities associated with intertidal algal turfs and implications for management of protected areas on rocky shores (Southern California). Mar Ecol 2011:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Irvine K (2005) Influence of trampling intensity versus hydration state on loss of biomass from the intertidal rockweed, Fucus gardneri. Coastal Manage 33:471–481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins C, Haas ME, Olson A, Ruesink JL (2002) Impacts of trampling on a rocky shoreline of San Juan Island, Washington, USA. Nat Areas J 22:260–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay AM, Liddle MJ (1989) Impact of human trampling in different zones of a coral reef flat. Environ Manage 13:509–520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy A, Jacoby C (1999) Biological indicators of marine environmental health: meiofauna–a neglected benthic component? Environ Monit Assess 54:47–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keough MJ, Quinn GP (1998) Effects of periodic disturbances from trampling on rocky intertidal algal beds. Ecol Appl 8:141–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramer MJ, Bellwood O, Bellwood DR (2013) The trophic importance of algal turfs for coral reef fishes: the crustacean link. Coral Reefs 32:575–583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leão ZMAN, Dominguez JML (2000) Tropical coast of Brazil. Mar Pollut Bull 41:112–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leão ZMAN, Kikuchi RKP (2005) A relic coral fauna threatened by global changes and human activities, Eastern Brazil. Mar Pollut Bull 51:599–611

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leite LG, Ciotti AM, Christofoletti RA (2012) Abundance of biofilm on intertidal rocky shores: can trampling by humans be a negative influence? Mar Environ Res 79:111–115

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Machado RCA, Gusmão LC, Vila-Nova DA, Leal AFG, Oliveira ACA, Soares CLRS (2009) Tourists and workers of the Porto de Galinhas beach (Pernambuco-Brasil) and their knowledge about the reef ecosystem. J Integr Coast Zone Manage 9(3):71–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Maida M, Ferreira BP (1997) Coral reefs of Brazil: an overview. Proceedings of the 8th International Coral Reef Symposium 1:263–274

  • Milazzo M, Badalamenti F, Riggio S, Chemello R (2004) Patterns of algal recovery and small-scale effects of canopy removal as a result of human trampling on a Mediterranean rocky shallow assemblage. Biol Conserv 117:191–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neubert MG, Caswell H (1997) Alternatives to resilience for measuring the responses of ecological systems to perturbations. Ecology 78:653–665

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Povey A, Keough MJ (1991) Effects of trampling on plant and animal populations on rocky shores. Oikos 61:355–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts CM, McClean CJ, Veron JEN, Hawkins JP, Allen GR, McAllister DE, Mittermeier CG, Schueler FW, Spalding M, Wells F, Vynne C, Werner TB (2002) Marine biodiversity hotspots and conservation priorities for tropical reefs. Science 295:1280–1284

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers K, Cox E, Newtson C (2003) Effects of mechanical fracturing and experimental trampling on Hawaiian corals. Environ Manage 31:377–384

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Santoro R, Jucker T, Prisco I, Carboni M, Battisti C, Acosta ATR (2012) Effects of trampling limitation on coastal dune plant communities. Environ Manage 49:534–542

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sarmento VC, Santos PJP (2012) Trampling on coral reefs: tourism effects on Harpacticoid Copepods. Coral Reefs 31:135–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarmento VC, Barreto AFS, Santos PJP (2011) The response of meiofauna to human trampling on coral reefs. Sci Mar 75:559–570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schiel DR, Taylor DI (1999) Effects of trampling on a rocky intertidal algal assemblage in southern New Zealand. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 235:213–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schierding M, Vahder S, Dau L, Irmler U (2011) Impacts on biodiversity at Baltic Sea beaches. Biodivers Conserv 20:1973–1985

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlacher TA, Thompson L (2012) Beach recreation impacts benthic invertebrates on ocean-exposed sandy shores. Biol Conserv 147:123–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Secretaria Municipal de Meio Ambiente, Prefeitura Municipal de Porto Seguro, BA (2011) Plano Emergencial de Uso Público—Parque Municipal Marinho do Recife de Fora

  • Silva IB, Fujii MT, Marinho-Soriano E (2012) Influence of tourist activity on the diversity of seaweed from reefs in Maracajaú, Atlantic Ocean, Northeast Brazil. Rev Bras Farmacogn 22:889–893

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith JR, Murray SN (2005) The effects of experimental bait collection and trampling on a Mytilus californianus mussel bed in southern California. Mar Biol 147:699–706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith JR, Fong P, Ambrose RF (2008) The impacts of human visitation on mussel bed communities along the California coast: are regulatory marine reserves effective in protecting these communities? Environ Manage 41:599–612

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ullberg J (2004) Dispersal in free-living, marine, benthic nematodes: passive or active processes? Doctoral dissertation, Stockholm University

  • Underwood AJ (1992) Beyond BACI: the detection of environmental impacts on populations in the real, but variable, world. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 161:145–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uthicke S, Patel F, Ditchburn R (2012) Elevated land runoff after European settlement perturbs persistent foraminiferal assemblages on the Great Barrier Reef. Ecology 93:111–121

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van De Werfhorst LC, Pearse JS (2007) Trampling in the rocky intertidal of central California: a follow-up study. Bull Mar Sci 81:245–254

    Google Scholar 

  • White AT, Vogt HP, Arin T (2000) Philippine coral reefs under threat: the economic losses caused by reef destruction. Mar Poll Bull 40:598–605

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

VC Sarmento acknowledges a MSc scholarship, PJP Santos acknowledges a research fellowship (305609/2004-1), and AFS Barreto an undergraduate scholarship, all from the Conselho Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (CNPq). Thanks are due to Dr. Janet W Reid for English language revision and to Dr. Adilma M Cocentino for the algae identifications. Thanks are also due to anonymous referees for providing comments that improved the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Zoologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Morais Rêgo s/n, Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-420, Brazil

    Visnu C. Sarmento, Aliny F. S. Barreto & Paulo J. P. Santos

Authors
  1. Visnu C. Sarmento
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aliny F. S. Barreto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Paulo J. P. Santos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Visnu C. Sarmento.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sarmento, V.C., Barreto, A.F.S. & Santos, P.J.P. Recovery of meiofauna following a short-term disturbance on coral reefs. Biodivers Conserv 22, 2645–2663 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-013-0548-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-013-0548-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation