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Temporal changes of community structure and biomass in two subtidal macroinfaunal assemblages in La Coruña bay, NW Spain

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Abstract

Benthic samples were collected from 1982 to 1985 in two stations in La Coruña Bay in order to study the temporal changes of two subtidal benthic assemblages: (1) a Tellina fabula — Paradoneis armata community, and (2) a Thyasira fluxuosa facies of an Abra alba community. The Tellina station is located in an area with little human disturbance, whereas the Thyasira station is located inside the organically polluted harbour area, where dredging operations took place at the beginning of this study. Temporal changes in both communities follow quite different patterns. The sedimentary environment of the Tellina station remains fairly constant through time: sediment size ranges from 2.80 to 3.85 Φ, and organic matter content (loss by ignition) varies between 3.15 and 4.53%. In the Thyasira station these sedimentary variables cover a much wider range: 3.10 to 5.75 Φ mean diameter and 5.19 to 17.05% organic matter.

Community structure is quite stable in the Tellina station. The mean similarity of every sample with the following ones is relatively high and stable, and diversity (H′) and evenness (J′) fluctuations are small. However, in the Thyasira station the community structure has changed drastically after dredging operations ended as a result of the recolonization and further stabilization of the community.

At the Tellina station biomass varies between 10 and 32 g ashfree DW m−2, and it does not show a discernible temporal pattern. However, at the Thyasira station biomass increased from less than 1 g ash-free DW m−2 during the dredging period up to 16 g ash-free DW m−2 18 months after the end of dredging. In conclusion, the Tellina fabula community seems very stable through time, whereas the Thyasira flexuosa facies has wider fluctuations due to human disturbances.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Costero de La Coruña, Ap. 130, 15080, La Coruña, Spain

    E. López-Jamar, G. González & J. Mejuto

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  1. E. López-Jamar
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  2. G. González
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  3. J. Mejuto
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López-Jamar, E., González, G. & Mejuto, J. Temporal changes of community structure and biomass in two subtidal macroinfaunal assemblages in La Coruña bay, NW Spain. Hydrobiologia 142, 137–150 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026754

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