Biomass of macrobenthic tidal flat fauna of the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania
Wolff, W.J.; Duiven, P.; Esselink, P.; Gueve, A. (1993). Biomass of macrobenthic tidal flat fauna of the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania. Hydrobiologia 258(1-3): 151-163
In: Hydrobiologia. Springer: The Hague. ISSN 0018-8158; e-ISSN 1573-5117, more
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| Keywords |
Aquatic communities > Benthos
Aquatic communities > Benthos > Zoobenthos
Environments > Aquatic environment > Marine environment
Environments > Aquatic environment > Marine environment > Intertidal environment
Faunal provinces
Population characteristics > Biomass
Population characteristics > Population structure
Topographic features > Landforms > Coastal landforms > Tidal flats
Anadara senilis (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]
ASE, Mauritania [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Wolff, W.J., more
- Duiven, P.
- Esselink, P.
- Gueve, A.
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| Abstract |
The biomass of the benthic macrofauna of the tidal flats of the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania, retained by a sieve of 0.6 mm, has been estimated. The total biomass amounts to about 17.0 g ash-free dry weight (AFDW) m-2 in the area sampled (about 300 km²). The large bivalve Anadara senilis) is responsible for 8.1 g AFDW m-2, over 100 other species for another 8.9 g m-2. The largest biomasses are found near the continental shore; at the offshore tidal flats benthic filter-feeders are lacking. Seagrass beds, which occupy the larger part of the tidal flats, have an under average biomass. Sebkhas, extremely saline flats above mean high-water mark, contain no live animals. To sustain the consumption of benthic prey by the very abundant wintering shorebirds relatively low P/B ratios are sufficient. |
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