The composition and the secondary production of the macrobenthic community in an area (Rio Padrongiano Delta) of the Gulf of Olbia, a transition environment located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, was investigated. Three sites (L, S and C) were sampled quarterly for macrofauna and monthly for environmental variables. A total of 115 taxa, representing 9 phyla were identified. Data were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses to discriminate among sites. Two-way ANOVA was performed to test the differences among sites and seasons on macrobenthic community measures. Benthic production was estimated by an indirect method. Macrobenthic community at the site C was dominated by the phylum Annelida, while in term of biomass Mollusca made the greatest contribution at all sites (L, S and C), accounting for 96%, 89.4% and 80.7% of the total biomass, respectively. Mean annual secondary production of macrobenthic community varied between 8.5 g AFDW m-2 yr-1, at site C, to about 94 g AFDW m-2 yr-1 at site L. Differences among sites were mostly dependent on the different contribute of an invasive mussel, Musculista senhousia. M. senhousia seems to facilitate other macrobenthic taxa and seems to have a fundamental role on secondary production of the macrobenthic community.
Structure and secondary production of the macrobenthic community in an aquatic transition environment of the Gulf of Olbia, Mediterranean Sea
MUNARI, Cristina;MISTRI, Michele
2007
Abstract
The composition and the secondary production of the macrobenthic community in an area (Rio Padrongiano Delta) of the Gulf of Olbia, a transition environment located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, was investigated. Three sites (L, S and C) were sampled quarterly for macrofauna and monthly for environmental variables. A total of 115 taxa, representing 9 phyla were identified. Data were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses to discriminate among sites. Two-way ANOVA was performed to test the differences among sites and seasons on macrobenthic community measures. Benthic production was estimated by an indirect method. Macrobenthic community at the site C was dominated by the phylum Annelida, while in term of biomass Mollusca made the greatest contribution at all sites (L, S and C), accounting for 96%, 89.4% and 80.7% of the total biomass, respectively. Mean annual secondary production of macrobenthic community varied between 8.5 g AFDW m-2 yr-1, at site C, to about 94 g AFDW m-2 yr-1 at site L. Differences among sites were mostly dependent on the different contribute of an invasive mussel, Musculista senhousia. M. senhousia seems to facilitate other macrobenthic taxa and seems to have a fundamental role on secondary production of the macrobenthic community.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
