Secondary Production of Macrobenthic Communities in Seagrass (Zostera marina, Eelgrass) Beds and Bare Soft Sediments Across Differing Environmental Conditions in Atlantic Canada

doi:10.1007/s12237-017-0286-2

	Secondary Production of Macrobenthic Communities in Seagrass (Zostera marina, Eelgrass) Beds and Bare Soft Sediments Across Differing Environmental Conditions in Atlantic Canada
	Wong, Melisa C.
刊名	ESTUARIES AND COASTS
	2018-03
卷号	41 期号:2 页码:536-548
关键词	Benthic invertebrates Canonical correspondence analysis Ecosystem functioning Nova Scotia
ISSN号	1559-2723
DOI	10.1007/s12237-017-0286-2
英文摘要	In nearshore ecosystems, habitats with emergent structure are often assumed to have higher ecosystem functioning than habitats lacking structure. However, such habitat-specific differences may depend on the surrounding environment. In this study, I examine the robustness of habitat-specific differences in ecosystem functioning for seagrass (Zostera marina) and adjacent bare soft sediments across varying environmental conditions on the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, using secondary production as a metric. I also examine relationships of community secondary production and faunal structure with measured environmental variables (water depth, temperature, exposure, sediment, and plant properties). Benthic secondary production (invertebrates >500 mu m) was higher in seagrass compared to bare sediments only at exposed sites with sandy sediments low in organic content, deep and cool water, and high belowground plant biomass. A regression relating community secondary production to the environmental variables explained 56% of the variance, while a constrained ordination explained 16% of the community structure. Important environmental determinants of community production were shoot density, temperature, depth, exposure, sediment organic content, and belowground plant biomass. Community structure was influenced by these variables plus sediment sand content and canopy height. This study shows that habitat-specific differences in secondary production may not be consistent across varying environmental conditions. Furthermore, seagrass beds are not always associated with higher ecosystem functioning than adjacent bare sediment. Both the surrounding environmental conditions and the presence of habitat structure should be considered for optimal management of nearshore ecosystems.
WOS研究方向	Environmental Sciences & Ecology ; Marine & Freshwater Biology
语种	英语
出版者	SPRINGER
WOS记录号	WOS:000423581200016
内容类型	期刊论文
源URL	[http://ir.fio.com.cn:8080/handle/2SI8HI0U/10937]
专题	自然资源部第一海洋研究所
通讯作者	Wong, Melisa C.
作者单位	Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Bedford Inst Oceanog, 1 Challenger Dr, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2, Canada
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Wong, Melisa C.. Secondary Production of Macrobenthic Communities in Seagrass (Zostera marina, Eelgrass) Beds and Bare Soft Sediments Across Differing Environmental Conditions in Atlantic Canada[J]. ESTUARIES AND COASTS,2018,41(2):536-548.
APA	Wong, Melisa C..(2018).Secondary Production of Macrobenthic Communities in Seagrass (Zostera marina, Eelgrass) Beds and Bare Soft Sediments Across Differing Environmental Conditions in Atlantic Canada.ESTUARIES AND COASTS,41(2),536-548.
MLA	Wong, Melisa C.."Secondary Production of Macrobenthic Communities in Seagrass (Zostera marina, Eelgrass) Beds and Bare Soft Sediments Across Differing Environmental Conditions in Atlantic Canada".ESTUARIES AND COASTS 41.2(2018):536-548.