Influence of environmental variables on the spatio-temporal dynamics of bentho-pelagic assemblages in the middle slope of the Balearic Basin (NW Mediterranean)

Papiol, Vanesa; Cartes, Joan Enric; Fanelli, Emanuela; Maynou, Francesc

Influence of environmental variables on the spatio-temporal dynamics of bentho-pelagic assemblages in the middle slope of the Balearic Basin (NW Mediterranean)

16 pages, 8 figures,6 tables

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors:	Papiol, Vanesa, Cartes, Joan Enric, Fanelli, Emanuela, Maynou, Francesc
Format:	artículo biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	Elsevier 2012-03
Subjects:	Megafauna, Assemblage structure, Spatio-temporal variations, Environmental variables, Western Mediterranean, Deep sea,
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/10261/45560
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id	dig-icm-es-10261-45560
record_format	koha
spelling	dig-icm-es-10261-455602020-11-26T18:35:53Z Influence of environmental variables on the spatio-temporal dynamics of bentho-pelagic assemblages in the middle slope of the Balearic Basin (NW Mediterranean) Papiol, Vanesa Cartes, Joan Enric Fanelli, Emanuela Maynou, Francesc Megafauna Assemblage structure Spatio-temporal variations Environmental variables Western Mediterranean Deep sea 16 pages, 8 figures,6 tables The spatio-temporal dynamics of benthic and bentho-pelagic assemblages of megafauna from the middle slope of the Catalan Sea (NW Mediterranean Sea) were studied. Nineteen bottom trawls were performed to collect megafauna on 5 cruises between February 2007 and February 2008. Samples were obtained from three depth strata, including a submarine canyon. Simultaneously, environmental variables were recorded and three levels of bottom-boundary layer macrofauna (infauna, suprabenthos and zooplankton), potential prey of megafauna, were sampled. Fish and decapod assemblages were explored individually. Depth was the main factor structuring megafaunal assemblages, with larger organisms usually observed at greater depths (based on mean individual weight). Nevertheless, in April, coinciding with the reproductive period of the dominant species, larger fish and decapods were observed inside the submarine canyon rather than at greater depths. Assemblages inside and outside the submarine canyons differed in species abundance and biomass, rather than in species composition; larger densities of endobenthic species were found inside the canyon. Also, higher abundance and biomass of megafauna were recorded inside the canyon on all cruises, generally linked to higher prey availability there. A seasonal trend related to size was also observed, associated with the stratification (DTsurface-bottom water¼ 8.3770.33 1C for summer–autumn) versus homogeneity (DTsurface-bottom water¼2.0971.76 1C for winter– spring) of the water column. Larger amounts of smaller species feeding at lower trophic levels were found in periods of homogeneity, while assemblages during periods of stratification were characterised by larger species feeding at higher trophic levels. Environmental variables most strongly explaining changes in megafaunal assemblages (from Spearman rank correlation and generalised linear models) were temperature (T) and salinity (S) close to the sea bottom, river discharges and turbidity above the sea bottom. Also, micronekton biomass explained changes in fish assemblages, while Polychaeta biomass and surface primary production were explanatory for decapods. All these variables directly or indirectly affect availability of trophic resources at bathyal depths. T and S are intrinsically related to depth, and are the variables to which organisms may be actually responding. Prey biomass plays an important role in the bathymetric and the topographic distribution of megafauna. T and S are also linked to the stratification or homogeneity of water masses. Peaks of surface primary production (SPP) in February and maximum river discharge in April corresponded to a maximum in megafaunal biomass in summer after ca. 3–5 months. High river discharges, channelled to bathyal depths through submarine canyons, were related to increases in water turbidity, associated with resuspension of organic matter (food for low trophic levels). On the other hand, low turbidity coincided with minimum river discharges, favouring deposition of organic matter in the sediments. Peaks in abundance and biomass of megafauna were observed after peaks in key prey (zooplankton, micronekton and benthic infauna) with a lag of ca. 2 months. Diversity of megafaunal assemblages was coupled to food availability. The authors thank all the participants of the BIOMARE (Ref. CTM2006-13508-CO2-02/MAR) Peer reviewed 2012-02-14T11:25:58Z 2012-02-14T11:25:58Z 2012-03 artículo http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501 Deep-Sea Research Part I 61:84–99 (2012) 0967-0637 http://hdl.handle.net/10261/45560 10.1016/j.dsr.2011.11.008 en https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2011.11.008 none Elsevier
institution	ICM ES
collection	DSpace
country	España
countrycode	ES
component	Bibliográfico
access	En linea
databasecode	dig-icm-es
tag	biblioteca
region	Europa del Sur
libraryname	Biblioteca del ICM España
language	English
topic	Megafauna Assemblage structure Spatio-temporal variations Environmental variables Western Mediterranean Deep sea Megafauna Assemblage structure Spatio-temporal variations Environmental variables Western Mediterranean Deep sea
spellingShingle	Megafauna Assemblage structure Spatio-temporal variations Environmental variables Western Mediterranean Deep sea Megafauna Assemblage structure Spatio-temporal variations Environmental variables Western Mediterranean Deep sea Papiol, Vanesa Cartes, Joan Enric Fanelli, Emanuela Maynou, Francesc Influence of environmental variables on the spatio-temporal dynamics of bentho-pelagic assemblages in the middle slope of the Balearic Basin (NW Mediterranean)
description	16 pages, 8 figures,6 tables
format	artículo
topic_facet	Megafauna Assemblage structure Spatio-temporal variations Environmental variables Western Mediterranean Deep sea
author	Papiol, Vanesa Cartes, Joan Enric Fanelli, Emanuela Maynou, Francesc
author_facet	Papiol, Vanesa Cartes, Joan Enric Fanelli, Emanuela Maynou, Francesc
author_sort	Papiol, Vanesa
title	Influence of environmental variables on the spatio-temporal dynamics of bentho-pelagic assemblages in the middle slope of the Balearic Basin (NW Mediterranean)
title_short	Influence of environmental variables on the spatio-temporal dynamics of bentho-pelagic assemblages in the middle slope of the Balearic Basin (NW Mediterranean)
title_full	Influence of environmental variables on the spatio-temporal dynamics of bentho-pelagic assemblages in the middle slope of the Balearic Basin (NW Mediterranean)
title_fullStr	Influence of environmental variables on the spatio-temporal dynamics of bentho-pelagic assemblages in the middle slope of the Balearic Basin (NW Mediterranean)
title_full_unstemmed	Influence of environmental variables on the spatio-temporal dynamics of bentho-pelagic assemblages in the middle slope of the Balearic Basin (NW Mediterranean)
title_sort	influence of environmental variables on the spatio-temporal dynamics of bentho-pelagic assemblages in the middle slope of the balearic basin (nw mediterranean)
publisher	Elsevier
publishDate	2012-03
url	http://hdl.handle.net/10261/45560
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Influence of environmental variables on the spatio-temporal dynamics of bentho-pelagic assemblages in the middle slope of the Balearic Basin (NW Mediterranean)

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