Does Manila clam cultivation affect habitats of the engineer species Lanice conchilega (Pallas, 1766)?

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 56; no. 8; pp. 1429 - 1438
• Main Authors: Toupoint, Nicolas, Godet, Laurent, Fournier, Jérôme, Retière, Christian, Olivier, Frédéric
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Aquaculture; Biodiversity; Biodiversity and Ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Bivalvia - growth & development; Ecosystem; Environmental Sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Lanice conchilega; Polychaeta - physiology; Population Density; Ruditapes philippinarum; Sea water ecosystems; Synecology; Polychaeta; Ruditapes philippinarum; Annelida; Marine environment; Aquatic environment; Bivalvia; Environment impact; Shellfish breeding; Habitat; Water pollution; Invertebrata; Mollusca; Ecosystem engineer; Aquaculture
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.04.046

The major French site of Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum (Adams and Reeves, 1850) cultivation is located in the Chausey Archipelago where the associated practices are highly mechanized: every steps of production are made with tractor-driven machinery. The Manila clam concessions are concentrated on Lanice conchilega (Pallas, 1766) bioherms, which are known to increase alpha-diversity and to locally modify sediment dynamics. This study focus on the impacts of Manila clam cultivation on (i) the natural populations of L. conchilega and on (ii) the structure of the associated benthic assemblages during the different steps of the farming production cycle. We found that the L. conchilega populations are significantly affected within the concessions where their total abundances drastically decrease, their spatial patterns are modified and the associated benthic assemblages are significantly altered. Our results are discussed in a context of a sustainable management of the Manila clam cultivation in coastal areas.