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Meiofauna as descriptor of tourism-induced changes at sandy beaches
Gheskiere, T.; Vincx, M.; Weslawski, J.M.; Scapini, F.; Degraer, S. (2005). Meiofauna as descriptor of tourism-induced changes at sandy beaches. Mar. Environ. Res. 60(2): 245-265. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2004.10.006
In: Marine Environmental Research. Applied Science Publishers: Barking. ISSN 0141-1136; e-ISSN 1879-0291
Related to:
Gheskiere, T.; Vincx, M.; Weslawski, J.M.; Scapini, F.; Degraer, S. (2005). Meiofauna as descriptor of tourism-induced changes at sandy beaches, in: Gheskiere, T. Nematode assemblages from European sandy beaches: diversity, zonation patterns and tourist impacts = Nematodengemeenschappen van Europese zandstranden: diversiteit, zonatiepatronen en impacts van toerisme. pp. 65-87, more
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
Keywords
    Aquatic communities > Benthos > Meiobenthos
    Biodiversity
    Classification > Taxonomy
    Environmental factors > Anthropogenic factors
    Topographic features > Landforms > Coastal landforms > Beaches
    Tourism
    Nematoda [WoRMS]
    ANE, Baltic [Marine Regions]; Mediterranean [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    meiofauna; free-living nematodes; sandy beach; taxonomic diversity; tourist impacts; Mediterranean; Baltic
Authors  Top 
  • Gheskiere, T.
  • Vincx, M., more
  • Weslawski, J.M.
  • Scapini, F.
  • Degraer, S., more
Abstract
    Tourism has long been considered as a ‘clean industry’ with almost no negative effects on the environment. This study demonstrated, in two different coastal systems (Mediterranean and Baltic), that tourism related activities are particularly affecting the sandy beach meio- and nematofauna in the upper beach zone, the specific ecotone in which many meiofauna species from both the marine and the terrestrial environment congregate. Tourist upper beaches are characterized by a lower % total organic matter (%TOM), lower densities, lower diversities (absence of Insecta, Harpacticoida, Oligochaeta, terrestrial nematodes and marine Ironidae nematodes) and higher community stress compared to nearby non-tourist locations. The %TOM was found to be the single most important factor for the observed differences in meiofauna assemblage structure at tourist versus non-tourist beaches in both the Mediterranean and the Baltic region. The free-living nematode assemblages from tourist upper zones depart significantly from expectations based on random selections from the regional nematode species pool. Furthermore upper zone assemblages are characterised by a low species diversity consisting of taxonomically closely related nematode species with r-strategist features. Generally, faunal differences between tourist and non-tourist beaches are decreasing towards the lower beach zones.
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