Spatial and temporal patterns of benthic invertebrates in the Tagus estuary, Portugal: comparison between subtidal and an intertidal mudflat

Susana França; Catarina Vinagre; Miguel A. Pardal; Henrique N. Cabral

doi:10.3989/scimar.2009.73n2307

Autores/as

Susana França Instituto de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa
Catarina Vinagre Instituto de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa
Miguel A. Pardal IMAR – Institute of Marine Research, Department of Zoology, University of Coimbra
Henrique N. Cabral Instituto de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2009.73n2307

Palabras clave:

macroinvertebrados bentónicos, estructura de la comunidad, marismas intermareales, submareales, estuario del Tajo

Resumen

Las marismas intermareales son características de muchos sistemas estuáricos y pueden abarcar un componente significativo de las áreas de alimentación disponibles para muchas especies de peces y aves. Por tanto, es crucial determinar la importancia y el papel que juega este hábitat para las diferentes comunidades estuarinas. Se evaluaron las dinámicas espaciales y temporales de las comunidades macrobentónicas en una marisma intermareal del estuario del Tajo, determinando el papel de este hábitat en el conjunto del funcionamiento de estuario. Las comunidades de macroinvertebrados bentónicos se muestrearon, mensualmente durante un año, en dos áreas intermareales (superior e inferior) y en las áreas submareales adyacentes. La densidad y la biomasa de los macroinvertebrados en las marismas intermareales fueron superiores que en el área submareal, y no se encontraron claras tendencias entre el intermareal superior e inferior. Los patrones espaciales en la comunidad fueron más pronunciados que los estacionales. Esta comunidad bentónica estuvo caracterizada por altas densidades de Pygospio elegans, Scrobicularia plana, Cyathura carinata, Hydrobia ulvae y Nereis diversicolor. Los valores de abundancia y biomasa en esta marisma intermareal fueron considerados bajos cuando se comparan con otros hábitats estuarinos como las praderas de fanerógamas. No obstante, este hábitat juega un importante papel para las principales especies presentes en la comunidad, actuando como un área clave para el reclutamiento, con altas concentraciones de muchas especies de invertebrados.

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