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Environmental drivers of nematode abundance and genus composition at two spatial scales on an estuarine intertidal flat

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Abstract

Estuarine intertidal flats are important ecosystems characterized by high primary production of microphytobenthos and high secondary production of macro- and meiofauna, especially nematodes. However, the link between both ecosystem components (microphytobenthos and faunal communities) is not fully established yet. In this study, spatial patterns and drivers of nematode density and genus composition were investigated at two different spatial scales (i.e. meso- and microscale), with drivers including sediment granulometry, inundation period and food availability as indicated by various phytopigments. Our study has shown that specific food sources, as represented by different pigments and measures of freshness, are important drivers of nematode genus composition and densities at both scales, especially for the surface layers of the sediments. These food sources mainly comprise microphytobenthos, but also deposited phytodetritus and zooplankton faecal pellets, a resource which had hitherto been largely overlooked in intertidal flats. Tidal level and grain size also had a more pronounced structuring effect in the surface layer of the sediment, while their assumed larger importance at the mesoscale was not outspoken. At both scales, vertical heterogeneity in nematode assemblages was larger than horizontal variability, which has repercussions for future studies into the spatial variability of nematode assemblages of tidal flats.

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Acknowledgements

Field samples from the microscale stations were collected in collaboration with NIOZ, which provided the necessary permit for field sampling, issued by the Province of Zeeland, The Netherlands, “Directie Ruimte, Milieu en Water.” Annick Van Kenhove and Guy De Smet provided invaluable support with making slides of nematodes. Dirk Van Gansbeke performed the pigment analyses and Bart Beuselinck completed the sediment granulometry analyses and total organic matter measurements. Niels Viaene is acknowledged for help during field sampling and extraction of nematodes. Renata Mamede da Silva Alves is acknowledged for making sampling maps. Two anonymous reviewers provided valuable feedback that helped to improve the manuscript.

Funding

The first author received a Ph.D. Grant of the Chinese Scholarship Council (2011633060) from November 2011 to November 2015, and received further financial support from the Flemish Science Fund FWO (G0H3817N). Additional support was provided by the special research fund of Ghent University (BOF 01SC3312) from March 2012 to October 2015.

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  1. Marine Biological Laboratory, Biology Department, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281/S8, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Xiuqin Wu, Ann Vanreusel, Freija Hauquier & Tom Moens

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Wu, X., Vanreusel, A., Hauquier, F. et al. Environmental drivers of nematode abundance and genus composition at two spatial scales on an estuarine intertidal flat. Hydrobiologia 846, 193–214 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-019-04064-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-019-04064-5

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