Ability of taxonomic diversity indices to discriminate coastal lagoon environments based on macrophyte communities

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2004.04.004

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Ability of taxonomic diversity indices to discriminate coastal lagoon environments based on macrophyte communities

Publication Type

Publication

Publication date

2005

Language

English

Full Text

http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2005/publication-748.pdf (0.51 Mo)

Author(s)

Mouillot David¹, Gaillard Sylvain¹, Aliaume Catherine¹, Verlaque Marc², Belsher Thomas³, Troussellier Marc¹, Chi Thang¹

Affiliation(s):

1 : Univ Montpellier 2, UMR,UMII 5119, CNRS, F-34095 Montpellier 5, France.
2 : Univ Mediterranee, UMR 6540, Ctr Oceanol Marseille, F-13288 Marseille, France.
3 : IFREMER, Stn Sete, F-34203 Sete, France.

Source:

Ecological Indicators (1470-160X) (Elsevier), 2005 , Vol. 5 , N. 1 , P. 1-17

DOI:

10.1016/j.ecolind.2004.04.004

Subject(s)

Biology, Ecology

Keyword(s)

Languedoc Roussillon, Exotic species, Human impact, Eutrophication, Biodiversity

Abstract

Lagoons are highly productive areas representing more than 50% of the coastline area in Languedoc-Roussillon (South of France, Mediterranean sea). These lagoons are very different in their environmental conditions, human influences, eutrophication levels and aquaculture intensity. Based on macrophyte communities associated with soft substrates, two indices of taxonomic diversity (the "average taxonomic distinctness" (Delta(+)) and the "variation in taxonomic distinctness" (Lambda(+))) were used to discriminate four of these lagoons (Thau, Salse-Leucate, Bages-Sigean and Mauguio). Bages-Sigean presented a significant higher average taxonomic distinctness (p < 0.05) and Salse-Leucate had a significant higher variation in taxonomic distinctness (p < 0.05) without considering exotic species. The index values were neither influenced by sample size nor by presence of exotic species. Thus, the "average taxonomic distinctness" was related to human activities and eutrophication level whereas the "variation in taxonomic distinctness" was more related the environmental variability, associated with the prime stressor of salinity in brackish coastal lagoons.

How to cite this document:

Mouillot David, Gaillard Sylvain, Aliaume Catherine, Verlaque Marc, Belsher Thomas, Troussellier Marc, Chi Thang (2005). Ability of taxonomic diversity indices to discriminate coastal lagoon environments based on macrophyte communities. Ecological Indicators, 5(1), 1-17. Publisher's official version : http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2004.04.004 , Open Access version : http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/748/