Depth-related diversity patterns of free-living nematode assemblages on two tropical rocky shores
Armenteros, M.; del Pino-Machado, A.; González-González, S.; Ruiz-Abierno, A.; Pérez-García, J.A. (2014). Depth-related diversity patterns of free-living nematode assemblages on two tropical rocky shores. Rev. Invest. Mar. 34(1): 49-63
In: Revista de Investigaciones Marinas. Universidad de La Habana, Centro de investigaciones: La Habana. ISSN 0252-1962; e-ISSN 1991-6086, more
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| Keywords |
Nematoda [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Author keywords |
nematodes, biological traits, species composition, a-diversity, ß-diversity, Caribbean Sea, Cuba |
| Authors | | Top |
- Armenteros, M., more
- del Pino-Machado, A.
- González-González, S.
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- Ruiz-Abierno, A.
- Pérez-García, J.A.
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| Abstract |
Depth-related spatial patterns of diversity have been described for freeliving nematode assemblages at four depth horizons (intertidal, 1 m, 5 m and 10 m) at two subtidal rocky shores on the NW coast of Cuba: Bacunayagua and Miramar. The patterns were described based on species identity and biological traits. Species richness was similar across depth horizons ranging from 12 to 18 species; it was also similar between sites with 30 and 33 species for Bacunayagua and Miramar respectively. Diversity variation was higher between the intertidal and the subtidal horizons suggesting that microhabitat plays a key role. Depth was not an important driver of the diversity of nematodes on the studied rocky shores both in terms of species richness and diversity variation. The type of microhabitat and the hydrodynamics may explain the β-diversity patterns within sites. The site-related diversity variation was larger than the depth-related variation suggesting that a regional pattern in β-diversity may be present. The biological traits constituted a useful complementary approach for analyzing diversity patterns indicating the prevalence of nematodes adapted to an epiphytic life-style and the effects of two putative diversity drivers: microhabitat and hydrodynamics. |
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