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Influence of the Thin Drift Algal Mats on the Distribution of Macrozoobenthos in Kõiguste Bay, NE Baltic Sea

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Abstract

Macrozoobenthic communities within and outside of the drift algal mats were compared in Kõiguste Bay, NE Baltic Sea. The patches of the drift algae were on average 0.5–1 km wide in diameter covering about 25% of the total bottom area of the bay. Thickness of the mat did not exceed 6 cm. The biomass of the mat varied between 35 and 1391 g dw m−2. The drift algal mats had no clear negative effect on macrozoobenthos except for a few infaunal species. The drift algae favoured several detrivorous, herbivorous and carnivorous species. Among the studied variables, the thickness of algal mat and oxygen concentration at near-bottom layer explained the best the structure of macrozoobenthos. Total number of invertebrate species increased curvilinearly with the thickness of algal mat having the peak value at 3–5 cm thick algal mat. To conclude, moderate drift algal mats increased habitat complexity and, thus, the diversity of benthic faunal assemblages in otherwise poorly vegetated coastal areas.

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  1. Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu, Mäealuse 10a, 12618, Tallinn, Estonia

    Velda Lauringson & Jonne Kotta

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  1. Velda Lauringson
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  2. Jonne Kotta
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Correspondence to Velda Lauringson.

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Lauringson, V., Kotta, J. Influence of the Thin Drift Algal Mats on the Distribution of Macrozoobenthos in Kõiguste Bay, NE Baltic Sea. Hydrobiologia 554, 97–105 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-1009-4

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