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Spatial patterns and environmental correlates in leaf-associated epifaunal assemblages of temperate seagrass (Zostera marina) meadows

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Abstract

We estimated and tested variability of seagrass leaf-associated epifaunal assemblages at a range of scales. Sampling was performed in 36 seagrass (Zostera marina) meadows within three regions along the Swedish west coast following a hierarchical design (samples separated by 10 s m, km or 100 km). Results showed strongest variability (43–81%) at the intermediate amongst-meadow (km) scale using biomass of functional categories, while considering taxa composition the within-meadow (10 s m) scale contributed most to variability (60%). Using functional categories, we found that embayment exposure and seagrass shoot density were the most important predictor variables explaining part of the variability in biomass of suspension feeders (bivalves and barnacles) and grazers. In contrast, variability in epifaunal taxa composition was predicted mainly by sediment chemistry, substratum coverage and geographical positioning. Our findings suggest that models to develop predictive power and mechanistic understanding should focus on variables and processes varying at small and intermediate scales rather than those varying at larger scales.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Maria Bodin, Bo Gustafsson and Anna Scherer for great support during the field period and also Maria Asplund, Elisa Alonso Aller, Maria Bodin and Anna Scherer for assistance with the laboratory work. We are also grateful to Per G. Nilsson for statistical advice. Comments from Maria Asplund, Christoffer Boström, Glenn Hyndes and Per-Olav Moksnes greatly improved earlier versions of the manuscript. The study was financially supported by the County of Västra Götaland, World Wide Fund for Nature and the Bonus programme PREHAB (with funding from the European Community’s 7th Framework Programme—FP/2007-2013—under grant agreement no. 217246).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Ecology-Kristineberg, University of Gothenburg, 451 78, Fiskebäckskil, Sweden

    Martin Gullström & Susanne Baden

  2. Department of Marine Ecology-Tjärnö, University of Gothenburg, 452 96, Strömstad, Sweden

    Martin Gullström & Mats Lindegarth

  3. Department of Systems Ecology, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden

    Martin Gullström

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  1. Martin Gullström
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  2. Susanne Baden
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Correspondence to Martin Gullström.

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Communicated by F. Bulleri.

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Gullström, M., Baden, S. & Lindegarth, M. Spatial patterns and environmental correlates in leaf-associated epifaunal assemblages of temperate seagrass (Zostera marina) meadows. Mar Biol 159, 413–425 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-011-1819-z

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