Sediment migrations drive the dynamic of macrobenthic ecosystems in subtidal sandy bedforms

Type Article
Date 2021-10
Language English
Author(s) Robert Alexandre1, 2, Quillien Nolwenn1, Bacha Mahmoud3, Caulle Clemence4, Nexer Maelle1, Parent Briz4, Garlan Thierry5, Desroy NicolasORCID2
Affiliation(s) 1 : France Energies Marines Environmental Integration R&D Program, 525 Avenue Alexis de Rochon, 29280 Plouzané, France
2 : IFREMER, Unité Littoral, Laboratoire Environnement et Ressources de Bretagne Nord, CRESCO, 38 rue du Port-Blanc, Dinard 35800, France
3 : Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, UMR 8187, CNRS, Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale, 32 Avenue Foch, 62930 Wimereux, France
4 : Ocean Zoom, 2 chemin de la Houssinière, 44300 Nantes, France
5 : Shom, 29200 Brest, France
Source Marine Pollution Bulletin (0025-326X) (Elsevier BV), 2021-10 , Vol. 171 , P. 112695 (12p.)
DOI 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112695
WOS© Times Cited 2
Keyword(s) Macrobenthos, Ecosystem functioning, Biological traits, Soft sediments, North Sea, Spatio-temporal variations, Sandy bedforms
Abstract

A traditional taxonomic approach coupled to a biological traits analysis was conducted in order to provide a new insight into macrobenthic communities associated with subtidal sandy environments. Results suggest that the macro-scale distribution of benthic communities is mainly driven by the migration rate of bedforms (sandbank, barchan dune and transversal dune) which changes the sediment grain size and reduces macrobenthic diversity. A classic scheme of species/traits succession was also observed from less to more physically disturbed areas. Finally, the high frequency of migration events homogenized macrobenthic communities between the troughs to the crest of bedforms. As bedforms areas are targeted for the commissioning of offshore windfarms the information provided by the present paper will be particularly useful to implement the environmental impact assessment required for such activities at sea.

Full Text
File Pages Size Access
12 5 MB Access on demand
43 KB Access on demand
Author's final draft 37 2 MB Open access
Top of the page