Size, depth and position affect the diversity and structure of rock pool communities in an urban estuary

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Schaefer ◽  
Katherine A. Dafforn ◽  
Emma L. Johnston ◽  
Mariana Mayer-Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Outer Zone ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Rock Pools ◽  
Rock Pool ◽  
Taxa Richness ◽  
Urban Estuary ◽  
Sydney Harbour

Rock pools provide a range of ecological niches that can support diverse assemblages on rocky shores. As intertidal shores are increasingly lost to developments, understanding the drivers of diversity in rock pools is important for the conservation and construction of these key habitats. In this study we investigated relationships between physical characteristics of rock pools and their biota in an urban estuary. We sampled the biota every 6 weeks for 1 year at sites in the inner and outer zones of Sydney Harbour. In the well-flushed and exposed outer zone, sessile and mobile taxa richness was positively related to rock pool width, whereas only mobile taxa richness was related to depth and volume. In the more urbanised and less exposed inner zone, mobile taxa richness was positively related to rock pool width and volume. In both zones, sessile taxa richness decreased with increasing height on shore. Our results suggest that the biodiversity of intertidal rock pools varies depending on their position in Sydney Harbour and the available species pool. Therefore, restoration efforts should consider rock pool size parameters and local environmental conditions, including location, so designs can be optimised to maximise species diversity in these pools.

Corrigendum to: Size, depth and position affect the diversity and structure of rock pool communities in an urban estuary

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 1045
Author(s):  
Nina Schaefer ◽  
Katherine A. Dafforn ◽  
Emma L. Johnston ◽  
Mariana Mayer-Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Outer Zone ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Rock Pools ◽  
Rock Pool ◽  
Taxa Richness ◽  
Urban Estuary ◽  
Sydney Harbour

Rock pools provide a range of ecological niches that can support diverse assemblages on rocky shores. As intertidal shores are increasingly lost to developments, understanding the drivers of diversity in rock pools is important for the conservation and construction of these key habitats. In this study we investigated relationships between physical characteristics of rock pools and their biota in an urban estuary. We sampled the biota every 6 weeks for 1 year at sites in the inner and outer zones of Sydney Harbour. In the well-flushed and exposed outer zone, sessile and mobile taxa richness was positively related to rock pool width, whereas only mobile taxa richness was related to depth and volume. In the more urbanised and less exposed inner zone, mobile taxa richness was positively related to rock pool width and volume. In both zones, sessile taxa richness decreased with increasing height on shore. Our results suggest that the biodiversity of intertidal rock pools varies depending on their position in Sydney Harbour and the available species pool. Therefore, restoration efforts should consider rock pool size parameters and local environmental conditions, including location, so designs can be optimised to maximise species diversity in these pools.

scholarly journals Sympatric Atlantic puffins and razorbills show contrasting responses to adverse marine conditions during winter foraging within the North Sea

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie St. John Glew ◽  
Sarah Wanless ◽  
Michael P. Harris ◽  
Francis Daunt ◽  
Kjell Einar Erikstad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Overwinter Survival ◽  
The North ◽  
Winter Conditions ◽  
The North Sea

Abstract Background Natural environments are dynamic systems with conditions varying across years. Higher trophic level consumers may respond to changes in the distribution and quality of available prey by moving to locate new resources or by switching diets. In order to persist, sympatric species with similar ecological niches may show contrasting foraging responses to changes in environmental conditions. However, in marine environments this assertion remains largely untested for highly mobile predators outside the breeding season because of the challenges of quantifying foraging location and trophic position under contrasting conditions. Method Differences in overwinter survival rates of two populations of North Sea seabirds (Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) and razorbills (Alca torda)) indicated that environmental conditions differed between 2007/08 (low survival and thus poor conditions) and 2014/15 (higher survival, favourable conditions). We used a combination of bird-borne data loggers and stable isotope analyses to test 1) whether these sympatric species showed consistent responses with respect to foraging location and trophic position to these contrasting winter conditions during periods when body and cheek feathers were being grown (moult) and 2) whether any observed changes in moult locations and diet could be related to the abundance and distribution of potential prey species of differing energetic quality. Results Puffins and razorbills showed divergent foraging responses to contrasting winter conditions. Puffins foraging in the North Sea used broadly similar foraging locations during moult in both winters. However, puffin diet significantly differed, with a lower average trophic position in the winter characterised by lower survival rates. By contrast, razorbills’ trophic position increased in the poor survival winter and the population foraged in more distant southerly waters of the North Sea. Conclusions Populations of North Sea puffins and razorbills showed contrasting foraging responses when environmental conditions, as indicated by overwinter survival differed. Conservation of mobile predators, many of which are in sharp decline, may benefit from dynamic spatial based management approaches focusing on behavioural changes in response to changing environmental conditions, particularly during life history stages associated with increased mortality.

Fish and Fish-Leeches on Rocky Shores Around Britain

1995 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.A. Hussain ◽  
E.W. Jones-Knight
Keyword(s):  
The Arctic ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Rock Pools ◽  
Southern Limit ◽  
Cleaner Fish ◽  
South West ◽  
Summer Temperatures ◽  
Myoxocephalus Scorpius

Collecting water from rock pools just above rising tides, usually in winter and spring, yielded 1412 Lipophrys pholis, 255 Pholis gunnellus and 29 Coryphoblennius galerita, bearing respectively 172, 8 and 1 Oceanobdella blennii, 744 Taurulus bubalis bearing six Oceanobdella microstoma and 14 Sanguinothus pinnarum, and a Myoxocephalus scorpius with a single O. microstoma; fishes of 23 other species totalled 1243, but none bore leeches externally. Oceanobdella blennii was found mainly in February and March (some in gill chambers), at temperatures generally below 8°C, with lower numbers (all external) in April and May and none later. Infestation was highest in Northumberland. Leeches on P. gunnellus were smaller than those on L. pholis, which they would not attack. They were confined to Northumberland and Scotland, where L. pholis was scarcer. The southern limit of O. blennii seemed to be in north Cornwall, but O. microstoma, though more stenothermal, extends from the Arctic to south Devon, its hosts living mostly subtidally. It is hidden under the chin of Cottidae, whereas S. pinnarum is easily seen on the fins. Abundance in south-west Britain of the ‘cleaner fish’ Crenilabrus melops may explain why S. pinnarum, though common in Scotland and tolerant of summer temperatures, is scarce in Anglesey and not found further south.

Intertidal assemblages on seawalls and vertical rocky shores in Sydney Harbour, Australia

2005 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 655-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. BULLERI ◽  
M. G. CHAPMAN ◽  
A. J. UNDERWOOD
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Sydney Harbour

Intertidal zonation and seasonality of the marine hydroid Dynamena pumila (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa)

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (9) ◽  
pp. 1526-1536
Author(s):  
Lea-Anne Henry
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Wave Exposure ◽  
Tidal Range ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Four Seasons ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Number Of Branches

The vertical zonation and temporal dynamics of the marine hydroid Dynamena pumila were assessed across a wave-exposure gradient on five rocky shores in the Bay of Fundy, Atlantic Canada. Hydroid abundance and occupancy (i.e., percentage occurrence in a quadrat) were measured in 0.25-m2 quadrats at eight vertical elevations for each site over four consecutive seasons. Hydroid abundance and occupancy were highly correlated (R2 = 0.877). Estimates of hydroid fertility (percentage of sexually reproductive colonies) and size (stem height and number of branches) were obtained in five quadrats at every elevation over the four seasons. Abundance peaked at about 37.5–62.5% of the mean tidal range, with maximum abundance at the site with moderate wave exposure. Abundance peaked during the summer and dropped dramatically over the winter, particularly at the more wave-exposed sites. Winter ice scour and unfavourable environmental conditions reduced hydroid abundance, fertility, and size during the winter. This study demonstrates dramatic shifts in the distribution, fertility, and size of a marine hydroid. The importance of wave action, ice scour, and seasonal changes in environmental conditions is highlighted to emphasize their roles in regulating intertidal hydroid communities on boreal rocky shores.

scholarly journals Tree species diversity affects decomposition through modified micro-environmental conditions across European forests

2017 ◽  
Vol 214 (3) ◽  
pp. 1281-1293 ◽  
Author(s):  
François-Xavier Joly ◽  
Alexandru Milcu ◽  
Michael Scherer-Lorenzen ◽  
Loreline-Katia Jean ◽  
Filippo Bussotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Tree Species Diversity ◽  
European Forests

XVII.— The Ecology of Exposed Rocky Shores of Caithness

1955 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 695-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
British Isles

SynopsisThe vertical and horizontal distributions of important plants and animals on exposed rocky shores in Caithness are described, and comparisons are made with other shores of the British Isles. The environmental conditions which cause a marked uplift in the zonation of inter-tidal species in Caithness are considered.

scholarly journals Microhabitat Use Affects Brain Size and Structure in Intertidal Gobies

2015 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma E. White ◽  
Culum Brown
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Learning ◽  
Brain Size ◽  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Rock Pool ◽  
Environmental Complexity ◽  
Learning Abilities ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Dorsal Medulla

The ecological cognition hypothesis poses that the brains and behaviours of individuals are largely shaped by the environments in which they live and the associated challenges they must overcome during their lives. Here we examine the effect of environmental complexity on relative brain size in 4 species of intertidal gobies from differing habitats. Two species were rock pool specialists that lived on spatially complex rocky shores, while the remainder lived on dynamic, but structurally simple, sandy shores. We found that rock pool-dwelling species had relatively larger brains and telencephalons in particular, while sand-dwelling species had a larger optic tectum and hypothalamus. In general, it appears that various fish species trade off neural investment in specific brain lobes depending on the environment in which they live. Our previous research suggests that rock pool species have greater spatial learning abilities, enabling them to navigate their spatially complex environment, which may account for their enlarged telencephalon, while sand-dwelling species likely have a reduced need for spatial learning, due to their spatially simple habitat, and a greater need for visual acuity. The dorsal medulla and cerebellum size was unaffected by the habitat in which the fish lived, but there were differences between species indicative of species-specific trade-offs in neural investment.

scholarly journals Is this rock pool suitable habitat? Fish diversity in intertidal rock pools of El Zonte, El Salvador

2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 913099
Author(s):  
Saúl González-Murcia ◽  
Sandra Erdmann ◽  
Raquel Alvarado-Larios
Keyword(s):  
El Salvador ◽  
Fish Diversity ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Rock Pools ◽  
Rock Pool

scholarly journals KEANEKARAGAMAN JENIS IKAN DI SUNGAI EMBALOH DESA BANUA UJUNG KECAMATAN EMBALOH HULU KABUPATEN KAPUAS HULU

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Odilo Noplantino Ajai ◽  
M Sofwan Anwari ◽  
M Dirhamsyah
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Palm Oil ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Clear Water ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Fish Species Diversity ◽  
River Fish

The condition of Embaloh River is still well maintained, with clear water and a large variety of fishes. This is because the forest around Embaloh River is still dense; there is no deforestation, mining, and palm oil garden. In such a condition, the river is capable of maintaining a large variety of fishes that have not listed yet. Therefore, this research has the purpose of studying the variety of fishes in Embaloh River, and also to categorize the fishes based on their benefits, whether as decorative fishes, to be eaten, or even as a decorative fish and also to be eaten. The research was conducted on the Embaloh River, Banua Ujung Village, Embaloh Hulu District, Kapuas Hulu Regency. Research Data is obtained by the use of fishing equipment such as mesh, Bubu, Sauk, trawler, burst, and Talom. The method of research using the survey method, the selection of observation stations conducted with (purposive sampling) based on consideration of environmental conditions of the water. This location is made 3 (three) stations on the Embaloh River and 1 (one) station is on the lake (oxbow) called Lake Loane. Lake Loane is a stream of the Embaloh River Moreover, fish of species taken from Embaloh River and Loane Lake, which water from Embaloh River flows to, consist of several families of fish; Cobitidae (1 species), Cyprinidae (13 species), Elopidae (1 species), Grynocheilidae (1 species), Helostomatidae (1 species), Osphronemidae (2 species), Polynemidae (1 species), Pristolepididae (1 species), Sisoridae (1 species), and Syngnathidae (1 species).Keywords: Banua Ujung Village, Embaloh River, Fish Species Diversity, Loane Lake.

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