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Amphipod community associated with invertebrate hosts in a Mediterranean marine cave
The present study explored the amphipod communities associated with the dominant host invertebrates inhabiting a marine cave of South Spain in order to describe their species composition and distribution patterns. Although they play a key role in the structure of mobile epifaunal communities inhabit...
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Published in: | Marine biodiversity 2016-03, Vol.46 (1), p.105-112 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | The present study explored the amphipod communities associated with the dominant host invertebrates inhabiting a marine cave of South Spain in order to describe their species composition and distribution patterns. Although they play a key role in the structure of mobile epifaunal communities inhabiting most rocky reef ecosystems, this component of marine caves communities has often been overlooked. Colonies of six sessile species were collected:
Astroides calycularis, Parazoanthus axinellae, Pentapora fascialis, Aldeonella calveti, Filograna implexa
, and
Ircinia fasciculata
. In each sample the mobile epifaunal community (mainly focusing on the amphipod group) was characterized, with Arthropoda and Amphipoda being the dominant phylum and order, respectively. Among amphipods, the gammarid
Lembos websteri
and the caprellids
Phtisica marina
and
Pseudoprotella phasma
were the most abundant species. The endangered coral
Astroides calycularis
showed the most distinctive amphipod community and multivariate analysis highlighted the existence of significant differences in the amphipod assemblages among invertebrate hosts in the cave. However, no host-specific species were found. Benthic hosts inside the cave are mainly used as a refuge by amphipods and all the sessile species studied seem to play an equivalent facilitation role. To what extent changes in the composition of sessile species may affect other associated species was also discussed. |
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ISSN: | 1867-1616 1867-1624 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s12526-015-0328-6 |