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Impact of habitat edges on density and secondary production of seagrass-associated fauna

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Abstract

Species richness and abundance of seagrass-associated fauna are often positively correlated with seagrass biomass and structure complexity of the habitat. We found that while shoot density and plant biomass were greater in interior portions of turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) beds than at edges, mean faunal density was significantly greater at edges than interior sites during 1994. This pattern was also observed in 1995, although differences were not significant. The four numerically dominant taxonomic groups showed varying degrees of elevated densitities at edges ofT. testudinum beds. Peracarids and polychaetes had significantly greater densities at edges oft. testudinum beds, while both decapods and gastropods showed dramatic temporal variability in density, with reversals in density between edge and interior occurring during the course of the study. This within-habitat variability in abundance may reflect both active accumulation of fauna at edges and settlement shadows for species with pelagic larvae. Active accumulation of highly mobile taxa seeking refuge in seagrass beds may explain the differences in density between edge and interior ofT. testudinum patches for peracarids in 1994 and in 1995. Active accumulation at edges may also explain differeces in density for some decapod taxa. Chauges in gastropod densities between habitats may reflect larval settlement patterns. Results showed a distinct settlement shadow for the gastropodCaecum nitidum whose densities (primarily second stage protoconch) increased by more than an order of magnitude in 1994. Settlement shadows and post-settlement processes may also explain density differences of polychaetes between the edge and interior ofT. testudinum patches. The differences in faunal densities between edge and interior habitat resulted in habitat specific differences in secondary production among the major taxonomic groups. On four of five dates in 1994 and in 1995, secondary production was greater at edge than interior locations. These unexpected results suggest that differences in faunal densities and secondary production between edges and interiors of seagrass patches represent a potentially vital link in seagrass trophic dynamics. If this elevated secondary production leads to increases in trophic transfer, then edges may serve as a significant trophic conduit to higher-level consumers in this system.

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  1. Paul A. X. Bologna

    Present address: Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences, Fairleigh Dickinson University, 285 Madison Avenue, M-EC1-01, 07940, Madison, New Jersey

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  1. Department of Marine Sciences, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, University of South Alabama, 101 Bienville Boulevard, 36528, Dauphin Island, Alabama

    Paul A. X. Bologna & Kenneth L. Heck

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Bologna, P.A.X., Heck, K.L. Impact of habitat edges on density and secondary production of seagrass-associated fauna. Estuaries 25, 1033–1044 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02691350

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