Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS)

Data Policy
Persons | Institutes | Publications | Projects | Datasets
[ report an error in this record ]basket (1): add | show Print this page

one publication added to basket [123393]
Spatial variability of epifaunal communities from artificial habitat: shipwrecks in the Southern Bight of the North Sea
Zintzen, V.; Norro, A.; Massin, C.; Mallefet, J. (2008). Spatial variability of epifaunal communities from artificial habitat: shipwrecks in the Southern Bight of the North Sea. Est., Coast. and Shelf Sci. 76(2): 327-344. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2007.07.012
In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. Academic Press: London; New York. ISSN 0272-7714; e-ISSN 1096-0015
Related to:
Zintzen, V.; Norro, A.; Massin, C.; Mallefet, J. (2007). Spatial variability of epifaunal communities from artificial habitat: shipwrecks in the Southern Bight of the North Sea, in: Zintzen, V. Biodiversity of shipwrecks from the Southern Bight of the North Sea. pp. 185-228, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Population characteristics > Biomass
    Structures > Hydraulic structures > Offshore structures > Underwater structures > Habitat > Underwater habitats
    Wrecks
    Metridium senile (Linnaeus, 1761) [WoRMS]; Metridium senile (Linnaeus, 1761) [WoRMS]; Tubularia Linnaeus, 1758 [WoRMS]
    ANE, North Sea, Southern Bight [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    artificial substrata; epizoites; population density; biomass; Tubularia; Metridium senile; North Sea

Authors  Top 

Abstract
    We investigated the cover, community structure and abiotic environment of nine shipwrecks lying at increasing distance from the Belgian coast. Results indicated that all shipwrecks were strongly dominated by cnidarians in terms of biomass and by amphipods in terms of abundances. Based on their epifaunal composition, three groups of shipwrecks could be determined. Metridium senile dominated a species poor community of the coastal sites. On the same sites, a Tubularia larynx community with a more species-rich assemblage was also developing. The T. larynx community had a lower biomass value (102 g AFDW m-2) and significantly lower species richness compared to the other sites. The coastal sites were characterized by periodic salinity decreases, large seasonal temperature fluctuation, high total suspended matter load and reduced current velocity. Channel water masses influence the offshore sites causing a more stable temperature and salinity environment, less turbid waters and high current speed. Tubularia indivisa dominated this community, with an average biomass of 229 g AFDW m-2. Intermediate sites were also dominated by T. indivisa, but a higher biomass (424 g AFDW m-2) was observed. They showed intermediate results for the abiotic parameters and fast current velocities. Hypotheses for the observed variation in community structures are discussed in the light of the abiotic characterization of the shipwrecks.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors 
[Back]