Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Seasonal Variability in the Vertical Distribution of Benthic Macrofauna and Sedimentary Organic Matter in an Estuarine beach (NW Spain)

  • Published:
Estuaries and Coasts Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate seasonal changes on food available for benthic consumers in relation to tidal levels and sediment depth in an estuarine beach. The relationships between the biochemical characteristics of sedimentary organic matter and benthic macrofauna were analyzed quarterly over 2 years (from January 1997 to January 1999), in an estuarine soft intertidal zone from the NW coast of Spain (42°64′04″N, 8°88′36″W). Sediment samples were collected to provide a two-dimensional view of macroinfauna distribution in the intertidal zone and its relationship with the quantity and quality of the organic matter. The nutritional value of organic matter (i.e., lipid, protein, and carbohydrate) and the content of chlorophyll a of the sediment were measured. Macrofaunal assemblages and food availability in the sediment were studied at three tidal levels on the shore: two intertidal and one supratidal. Macroinfauna and biochemical compounds showed a clear vertical stratification with the highest macrofaunal abundance at the superficial layer of the sediment, where redox potential discontinuity was also observed. Crustaceans were found mainly inhabiting the supratidal level of the estuarine beach, while polychaetes and mollusks occupied the intertidal level. Food availability, measured as biopolymeric carbon, and also chlorophyll a from the sediment were better related to macroinfauna abundance, biomass, and abundance of main taxonomic groups. Macrofauna assemblages showed particular distribution in both vertical and horizontal ranges suggesting specific preferences to several abiotic factors. No clear seasonal pattern was found in macrofauna and sedimentary organic characteristics suggesting that macrofaunal assemblages are controlled by complex and unpredictable factors, including small-scale changes in substrate and hydrological characteristics.

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
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bligh, E.G., and W. Dyer. 1959. A rapid method for total lipid extraction and purification. Canadian Journal of Biochemistry and Physiology 37: 911–917.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cividanes, S., M. Incera, and J. López. 2002. Temporal variability in the biochemical composition of sedimentary organic matter in an intertidal flat of the Galician coast (NW Spain). Oceanologica Acta 25: 1–12.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, K.R. 1993. Non-parametric multivariate analyses of changes in community structure. Australian Journal of Ecology 18: 117–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colombini, I., and L. Chelazzi. 2003. Influence of marine allochthonous input on sandy beach communities. Oceanography and Marine Biology: Annual Review 41: 115–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Danovaro, R. 1996. Detritus–Bacteria–Meiofauna interactions in a seagrass bed (Posidonia oceanica) of the NW Mediterranean. Marine Biology 127: 1–13.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Danovaro, R., E. Manini, and M. Fabiano. 2002. Exoenzymatic activity and organic matter composition in sediments of Northern Adriatic Sea: response to a river plume. Microbial Ecology 44(3): 235–251.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Defeo, O., J. Gómez, and D. Lercari. 2001. Testing the swash exclusion hypothesis in sandy beach populations: the mole crab Emerita brasiliensis in Uruguay. Marine Ecology Progress Series 212: 159–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dittmann, S. 2000. Zonation of benthic communities in a tropical tidal flat of north-east Australia. Journal of Sea Research 43: 33–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubois, M., K.A. Gilles, S.K. Hamilton, and P.A. Rebers. 1956. Colorimetric method for determination of sugars and related substances. Analytical Chemistry 28: 350–356.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dugan, J., D.M. Hubbard, M.D. McCrary, and M. Pierson. 2003. The response of macrofauna communities and shorebirds to macrophyte wrack subsidies on exposed sandy beaches of southern California. Estuarine and Coastal Shelf Science 58S: 25–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fabiano, M., R. Danovaro, and S. Fraschetti. 1995. A three-year time series of elemental and biochemical compostiion of organic matter in subtidal sandy sediments of the Ligurian Sea (northwestern Mediterranean). Continental Shelf Research 15: 1453–1469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fabiano, M., V. Marin, C. Misic, M. Moreno, V. Salvo, and L. Vezzulli. 2004. Sedimentary organic matter and bacterial community in microtidal mixed beaches of the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean). Chemistry and Ecology 20(6): 423–435.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fichez, R. 1991. Composition and fate of organic matter in submarine cave sediments; implications for the biogeochemical cycle of organic carbon. Oceanologica Acta 14: 369–377.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grémare, A. 1994. What describes fecundity of Capitella sp. I better: macro- or micronutrient availability? Marine Biology 119: 367–374.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grémare, A., J.M. Amouroux, F. Charles, A. Dinet, C. Riaux-Gobin, J. Baudart, L. Medernach, J.Y. Bodiou, G. Vetion, J.C. Colomines, and P. Albert. 1997. Temporal change in the biochemical composition and nutricional value of the particulate organic matter available to surface deposit-feeders: a two year study. Marine Ecology Progress Series 150: 195–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guisan, A., T.C. Edwards Jr., and T. Hastie. 2002. Generalized linear and generalized additive models in studies of species distributions: setting the scene. Ecological Modelling 157: 89–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Incera, M., M. Lastra, and J. López. 2006. Effect of swash climate and food availability on sandy beach macrofauna along the NW coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Marine Ecology Progress Series 314: 25–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelaher, B.P., and J.S. Levinton. 2003. Variation IN detrital enrichment causes spatio-temporal variation in soft-sediment assemblages. Marine Ecology Progress Series 261: 85–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levin, L.A., D.F. Boesch, A. Covich, C. Dahn, C. Erseus, K.C. Ewel, T.R. Kneib, A. Moldenke, M.A. Palmer, P. Snelgrove, D. Strayer, and J.M. Weslawski. 2001. The function of marine critical transition zones and the importance of sediment biodiversity. Ecosystems 4: 430–451.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzen, C. 1967. Determination of chlorophyll and pheopigments: spectrophotometric equations. Limnology and Oceanography 12: 343–346.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Markwell, M.A.K., S.M. Haas, L.L. Bieber, and M.E. Tolbert. 1978. A modification of the Lowry procedure to simplify protein determination in membrane and lipoprotein samples. Annals of Biochemistry 87: 206–210.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McIntyre, H.L., J.R. Geider, and D.C. Miller. 1996. Microphytobenthos: the ecological role of the “secret garden” of the unvegetated, shallow-water marine habitats. I. Distribution, abundance and primary production. Estuaries 19: 186–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Méndez, G., and F. Vilas. 2005. Geological antecedents of the Rias Baixas (Galicia, northwest Iberian Peninsula). Journal of Marine Systems 54: 195–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nordström, K.F. 1992. Estuarine beaches. London: Elsevier (225 pp.).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordström, M., E. Bonsdorff, and S. Salovius. 2006. The impact of infauna (Nereis diversicolor and Saduria entomon) on the redistribution and biomass of macroalgae on marine soft bottoms. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 333: 58–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norkko, A., and E. Bonsdorff. 1996. Rapid zoobenthic community responses to accumulations of drifting algae. Marine Ecology Progress Series 131: 143–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearson, T.H., and R. Rosenberg. 1987. Feast and famine: structuring factors in marine benthic communities. In Organization of communities past and present, eds. , and PS Giller, 373–395. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, C.H. 1991. Intertidal zonation of marine invertebrates in sand and mud. American Scientist 79: 236–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodil, I.F., M. Lastra, and J. López. 2007. Macroinfauna community structure and biochemical composition of sedimentary organic matter along a gradient of wave exposure in sandy beaches (NW Spain). Hydrobiologia 579: 301–316.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, R., A. Grémare, J.M. Amouroux, and H.C. Nilsson. 2003. Benthic habitats in the northwest Mediterranean characterised by sedimentary organics, benthic macrofauna and sediment profile images. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 57: 297–311.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rossi, F. 2002. Dynamics of the polychaetes Desdemona ornate and Perinereis cultrifera and their resources of food in a Mediterranean mudflat. Marine Ecology 23(4): 285–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rossi, F., S. Como, S. Corti, and C. Lardicci. 2001. Seasonal variation of a deposit-feeder assemblage and sedimentary organic matter in a brackish basin mudflat (Western Mediterranean, Italy). Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 53: 181–191.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steyaert, M., J. Vanaverbeke, A. Vanreusel, C. Barranguet, C. Lucas, and M. Vincx. 2003. The importance of fine-scale, vertical profiles in characterising nematode community structure. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 58: 353–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sokal, R.R., and F.J. Rohlf. 1995. Biometry: the principles and practice of statistics in biological research. 3New York: WH Freeman (887 pp.).

    Google Scholar 

  • Trueblood, D.D., E.D. Gallagher, and D.M. Gould. 1994. Three stages of seasonal succession on the Savin Hill Cove mudflat, Boston Harbour. Limnology and Oceanography 39: 1440–1454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the “Benthos Team” from the University of Vigo for their assistance during sampling. We are grateful to three anonymous reviewers, whose critical and constructive comments strengthened this paper. This research was supported by the Regional Government of Galicia (PGIDIT02RMA30101PR) and the University of Vigo (C505 122F 64102). I.F. Rodil was supported by a Ph.D. grant from the Xunta de Galicia (programa María Barbeito).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ecología y Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain

    I. F. Rodil, S. Cividanes, M. Lastra & J. López

Authors
  1. I. F. Rodil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Cividanes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Lastra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. López
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. F. Rodil.

Appendix A

Appendix A

Table 6 List of species and mean abundance found (individuals per m2) in Barraña
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rodil, I.F., Cividanes, S., Lastra, M. et al. Seasonal Variability in the Vertical Distribution of Benthic Macrofauna and Sedimentary Organic Matter in an Estuarine beach (NW Spain). Estuaries and Coasts: J CERF 31, 382–395 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-007-9017-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-007-9017-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation