TITLE:
Spatial and Temporal Structures of the Macrozoobenthos from the Intertidal Zone of the Kneiss Islands (Central Mediterranean Sea)
AUTHORS:
Nawfel Mosbahi, Jean-Philippe Pezy, Jean-Claude Dauvin, Lassad Neifar
KEYWORDS:
Kneiss Islands, Zostera noltei, Spatial Distribution, Seasonal Variability, Benthic Macrofauna
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Marine Science,
Vol.6 No.2,
April
11,
2016
ABSTRACT: The present study analyses
the spatio-temporal variability of the macrozoobenthos from the intertidal zone
of the Kneiss Islands (Gulf of Gabès, Tunisia). Samples were collected once
from 34 stations, while seasonal variations were studied by sampling four times
at 12 stations over the period 2013-2014. A total of 159 macrobenthos taxa
associated with intertidal Zostera
noltei beds are identified
from the 34 stations, with a taxonomic dominance of crustaceans (32%), molluscs
(29%) and annelids (27%). Abundance varies from 9244 to 36,844 ind·m-2 with a mean value of 14,346 ind·m-2.
Analysis of the trophic structure shows that the majority of stations are
strongly represented by carnivores (41%), followed by the non-selective deposit
feeders (16%). Cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling allow
identification of three main benthic assemblages based on species abundance,
corresponding to different sediment types and organic matter contents. The
seasonal variability in abundance, diversity and community structure is mainly
due to spring and summer recruitment. The biotic indices (i.e. AMBI, BO2A and BENTIX) show that the
intertidal area of Kneiss Islands exhibits a good ecological status.