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Temporal and spatial variability of zoobenthos recruitment in a north-east Atlantic marine reserve

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 June 2014

Marta Ronowicz*
Affiliation:
Marine Ecology Department, Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Powstańców Warszawy 55, Sopot 81-712, Poland
Piotr Kukliński
Affiliation:
Marine Ecology Department, Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Powstańców Warszawy 55, Sopot 81-712, Poland Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
Kate Lock
Affiliation:
Skomer Marine Nature Reserve, Countryside Council for Wales, Fishermans Cottage, Martins Haven, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA62 3BJ, UK
Philip B. Newman
Affiliation:
Skomer Marine Nature Reserve, Countryside Council for Wales, Fishermans Cottage, Martins Haven, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA62 3BJ, UK
Mark Burton
Affiliation:
Skomer Marine Nature Reserve, Countryside Council for Wales, Fishermans Cottage, Martins Haven, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA62 3BJ, UK
Jennifer Jones
Affiliation:
Skomer Marine Nature Reserve, Countryside Council for Wales, Fishermans Cottage, Martins Haven, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA62 3BJ, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: M. Ronowicz, Marine Ecology Department, Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Powstańców Warszawy 55, Sopot 81-712, Poland email: [email protected]

Abstract

Submerged artificial surface imitates newly available habitat for settlement of marine fauna. It also enables study of the timing of benthic larval settlement. Such knowledge is important if the model of possible recovery after disturbance in protected areas is to be assessed. During this study recruitment of sessile benthic invertebrate fauna at spatial and temporal scales was investigated using artificial panels submerged in the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve (Wales, UK). Panels were exchanged monthly between May 2009 and September 2011 (with the exclusion of winter time). Recruitment was highly variable with regard to time and distribution; abundance and number of recruiting species varied significantly between sites (about 2 km apart from each other), depths (6 and 12 m), position on panels (top or underside) and years without any obvious trends. The highest number of individuals and highest values of species richness were at Bernies Rocks, at the greater depth and on the underside surface of panels. Bryozoans were the dominant taxon on panels in each studied year and month. Most macrofaunal species noted on panels exhibit a colonial life strategy with short-lived, non-feeding larval stage. Although many species settle all year round, levels of settlement usually peak in summer months, showing a seasonal recruitment pattern (Bugula fulva, Spirobranchus triqueter, Chorizopora brongniarti and Escharoides coccinea). Some species had a pronounced settlement peak in spring (e.g. Electra pilosa and Balanus crenatus).

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2014 

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