Short-term effects of experimental trampling on polychaetes of a rocky intertidal substratum (Asinara Island MPA, NW Mediterranean)

Daniela Casu; Giulia Ceccherelli; Marco Curini-Galletti; Alberto Castelli

doi:10.3989/scimar.2006.70s3179

Short-term effects of experimental trampling on polychaetes of a rocky intertidal substratum (Asinara Island MPA, NW Mediterranean)

Authors

Daniela Casu Dipartimento di Zoologia e Genetica Evoluzionistica, University of Sassari, Sarrari
Giulia Ceccherelli Dipartimento di Botanica e Ecologia Vegetale, University of Sassari, Sassari
Marco Curini-Galletti Dipartimento di Zoologia e Genetica Evoluzionistica, University of Sassari, Sarrari
Alberto Castelli Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Pisa, Pisa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2006.70s3179

Keywords:

polychaetes, NW Mediterranean, MPA, Asinara Island

Abstract

Rocky intertidal platforms at Asinara Island Marine Protected Area (Italy, Mediterranean Sea) were experimentally trampled to assess the impact of human visitation on polychaetes. Trampling at two different experimental intensities (60,120 steps/20x20 cm quadrat) and controls were applied at two locations (“no-entry, no-take” zones) of the MPA. One day after the experimental trampling, benthic samples were collected and the polychaetes counted and identified. Overall 1146 individuals were collected; Salvatoria clavata, Polyophthalmus pictus, Syllis prolifera, Amphiglena mediterranea, Fabricia stellaris, Platynereis dumerilii and Sphaerosyllis taylori were the most abundant species. Analyses of variance on all polychaetes and on each of the important polychaete species showed a significant higher abundance in controls than in trampled plots. Given the short-term decline in abundance, these results suggest that polychaetes are vulnerable even to the lowest experimental level of trampling.

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Author Biography

Daniela Casu, Dipartimento di Zoologia e Genetica Evoluzionistica, University of Sassari, Sarrari

Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italia

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Published

2006-12-30

How to Cite

Casu D, Ceccherelli G, Curini-Galletti M, Castelli A. Short-term effects of experimental trampling on polychaetes of a rocky intertidal substratum (Asinara Island MPA, NW Mediterranean). Sci. mar. [Internet]. 2006Dec.30 [cited 2025May1];70(S3):179-86. Available from: https://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/122

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Issue

Vol. 70 No. S3 (2006)

Section

Articles

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