Polychaetes associated with different facies of the photophilic algal community in the Chafarinas Archipelago (SW Mediterranean)

• Published in: Bulletin of marine science Vol. 67; no. 1; pp. 55 - 72
• Main Authors: Tena, José, Capaccioni-Azzati, Romana, Torres-Gavila, Francisco Javier, García-Carrascosa, Antonio Manuel
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrence, KA University of Miami - Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmos 01.07.2000; Allen
• Subjects: Amphiglena mediterranea; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Cladostephus hirsutus; Corallina elongata; Corallinaceae; Cystoseira tamariscifolia; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Marine; Mediterranean Sea; Odontosyllis ctenostoma; Padina pavonica; Perinereis cultrifera; Platynereis dumerilii; Polychaeta; Sea water ecosystems; Spain; Sphaerosyllis hystrix; Stypocaulum scoparium; Syllis prolifera; Synecology; Mediterranean Sea; West Mediterranean; MED, Spain, Chafarinas Is; Plant community; Polychaeta; Algae; Guild; Island; Annelida; Marine environment; Species diversity; Faunal survey; Diet; Geographic distribution; Animal community; Animal plant relation; Invertebrata; Species richness; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0007-4977; 1553-6955

To study the polychaetes associated with different facies of the photophilic algal community in the Chafarinas Islands, 18 samples measuring 625 cm2 were scraped by SCUBA dives (0-6 m). Five algal facies were sampled: (1) Stypocaulum scoparium - Cladostephus hirsutus, (2) Padina pavonica, (3) Cystoseira tamariscifolia, (4) Corallina elongata and (5) crustose calcareous rhodophytes (Corallinaceae) with sea urchins. Polychaetes collected belonged to 21 families and 105 species. Syllidae, Nereididae and Sabellidae were the dominant families. Odontosyllis ctenostoma, Sphaerosyllis hystrix, Syllis prolifera, Perinereis cultrifera, Platynereis dumerilii, and Amphiglena mediterranea were found throughout the community. The Bray-Curtis similarity analysis, took into account feeding guilds and life styles, showed rather high similarity of this five facies. Two main clusters were identified according to the increasing of high of algal cover and the spatial heterogeneity. The first group is formed by the facies with Padina pavonica and the facies with Corallina elongata, the second group contains the facies of Stypocaulum scoparium - Cladostephus hirsutus and Cystoseira tamariscifolia. The facies of crustose calcareous rhodophytes with sea urchins, was clearly separated from the rest.