Distribution patterns in the benthic diversity of the eastern English Channel

Type Article
Date 2013
Language English
Author(s) Foveau AurelieORCID1, Desroy NicolasORCID1, Dauvin Jean-Claude2, Dewarumez Jean-Marie3
Affiliation(s) 1 : IFREMER, Lab Environm Ressources Finistere Bretagne Nord, CRESCO, F-35801 Dinard, France.
2 : Univ Caen Basse Normandie, Lab Morphodynam Continentale & Cotiere, CNRS, UMR M2C 6143, F-14000 Caen, France.
3 : Univ Lille Nord France, Stn Marine Wimereux, UMR CNRS LOG 8187, F-62930 Wimereux, France.
Source Marine Ecology Progress Series (0171-8630) (Inter-research), 2013 , Vol. 479 , P. 115-126
DOI 10.3354/meps10128
WOS© Times Cited 6
Keyword(s) Benthic community distribution, Species richness gradient, Mid-domain effect, Chao index
Abstract Understanding the distribution of specific diversity is currently an important focus in marine research, and the role of marine biodiversity has been fully recognised as essential for the proper functioning of the biosphere. The objective of this study was to explain the distribution of macrobenthic taxonomic richness (vagile epifauna, endofauna and sessile epifauna) in the eastern part of the English Channel using both classical methods and applying the mid-domain effect (MDE) model. High diversity was encountered in the eastern English Channel (875 taxa), with high-diversity areas often comprising gravelly or pebbly sediments. Sessile epifauna represented 25% of this inventory, revealing the importance of this group. Our results underline the existence of randomness in the observed species richness distribution due to large number of species with restricted ranges.
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