| Abstract | Submerged sea caves are priority areas for conservation according to the Habitat Directive 92/43/CEE because of their unique biodiversity. A limited number of publications exist about communities living on sediments inside caves, mostly focused on the macrofaunal fraction (>0.5-mm body size). Meiofaunal communities (0.062-0.5-mm body size) have been largely neglected in ecological studies about communities inhabiting sea caves. In the present study, we analysed meiofaunal communities from Los Cerebros cave, a shallow marine cave (3-8 m in depth, 80 m long), with secondary openings in the inner parts and freshwater infiltrations. Sediment samples were taken by scuba divers using cylinders (cores), with known inner diameter. Sampling stations were sampled from the different sections of the cave (entrance, twilight zone, dark zone and jameos). Five surveys were carried out, from June 2003 to February 2005. Nematodes, copepods, and polychaetes dominated overwhelmingly the meiofaunal composition, with the remaining taxonomic groups being scarce. Generalized linear models showed that the high spatial and temporal variability observed among on the abundance of major meiofaunal groups inside the cave was better explained by the surveys, the section of the caves and the presence of freshwater. Higher abundances are observed near the entrance and in the station with regular freshwater input. Nematodes and polychaetes were clearly dominated by species extensively recorded in shallow subtidal sandy sediments on the study area. |
| Text | 398873 2018 10.1007/s12526 016 0586 y Scopus 2 s2.0 84991107128 ISI Web of Science WOS 000428260400017 Cave Meiofauna Nematodes Polychaetes Marine Freshwater influence Canary Islands Atlantic Ocean Distribution of meiofaunal abundances in a marine cave complex with secondary openings and freshwater filtrations Riera R.; Monterroso O.; Nunez J.; Martinez A. Centro de Investigaciones Medioambientales del Atlantico CIMA SL , de Tenerife, Canary Islands, 38107 SC, , Spain; Benthos Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, 38206, , Spain; Marine Biological Section, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, , Denmark; Center of Ecosystems Study, National Research Council, Verbania, , Italy Submerged sea caves are priority areas for conservation according to the Habitat Directive 92/43/CEE because of their unique biodiversity. A limited number of publications exist about communities living on sediments inside caves, mostly focused on the macrofaunal fraction >0.5 mm body size . Meiofaunal communities 0.062 0.5 mm body size have been largely neglected in ecological studies about communities inhabiting sea caves. In the present study, we analysed meiofaunal communities from Los Cerebros cave, a shallow marine cave 3 8 m in depth, 80 m long , with secondary openings in the inner parts and freshwater infiltrations. Sediment samples were taken by scuba divers using cylinders cores , with known inner diameter. Sampling stations were sampled from the different sections of the cave entrance, twilight zone, dark zone and jameos . Five surveys were carried out, from June 2003 to February 2005. Nematodes, copepods, and polychaetes dominated overwhelmingly the meiofaunal composition, with the remaining taxonomic groups being scarce. Generalized linear models showed that the high spatial and temporal variability observed among on the abundance of major meiofaunal groups inside the cave was better explained by the surveys, the section of the caves and the presence of freshwater. Higher abundances are observed near the entrance and in the station with regular freshwater input. Nematodes and polychaetes were clearly dominated by species extensively recorded in shallow subtidal sandy sediments on the study area. 48 Published version http //www.scopus.com/inward/record.url eid=2 s2.0 84991107128 partnerID=q2rCbXpz Articolo 2018_Mar_Biodiv_48_203_215.pdf Articolo in rivista Springer 1867 1616 Marine biodiversity Print Marine biodiversity Print Mar. biodivers. Print Marine biodiversity. Print alejandro.martinezgarcia MARTINEZ GARCIA ALEJANDRO |
