Meiofauna and nematode diversity in some Mediterranean subtidal areas of the Adriatic and Ionian Sea

Authors

  • Cristiana de Leonardis Department of Zoology, University of Bari
  • Roberto Sandulli Department of Zoology, University of Bari
  • Jan Vanaverbeke Marine Biology Section, Ghent University
  • Magda Vicx Marine Biology Section, Ghent University
  • Susanna de Zio Department of Zoology, University of Bari

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2008.72n15

Keywords:

meiobenthos, nematodes, community structure, subtidal area, Mediterranean Sea

Abstract


Sediments of three different subtidal areas (15-705 m depth) of the Italian coasts (Manfredonia, Brindisi and Gallipoli) were investigated to study meiofauna and nematode composition. The nematodes were identified to the genus level and their abundances compared using multivariate analysis. Our data showed an evident depth gradient in meiofauna abundance: the shallowest sites had more diverse and abundant meiobenthic communities than the deeper ones. Nematodes were the dominant taxon (83-100%) at all sites, followed by Copepoda (0.5-8%). Sabatieria, Astomonema, Dorylaimopsis, Terschellingia and Daptonema were among the dominant nematode genera in the three areas. Nematode genus H’ diversities were not significantly dissimilar, though at community level some differences were detected among the study areas. The greatest differences were observed in the comparison of the communities from Manfredonia and Gallipoli. Furthermore, there was a difference between shallow (<200 m) and deep sites due to high differential abundances of common genera, i.e. Astomonema, Dorylaimopsis, Sabatieria and Terschellingia.

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Published

2008-03-30

How to Cite

1.
de Leonardis C, Sandulli R, Vanaverbeke J, Vicx M, de Zio S. Meiofauna and nematode diversity in some Mediterranean subtidal areas of the Adriatic and Ionian Sea. Sci. mar. [Internet]. 2008Mar.30 [cited 2024Mar.29];72(1):5-13. Available from: https://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/725

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