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Ecophysiological response of meiofauna to physicochemical gradients in intertidal sandy sediments
Author(s) -
Rodríguez José Germán,
Incera Mónica,
López Jesús
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
marine ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.668
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1439-0485
pISSN - 0173-9565
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0485.2007.00203.x
Subject(s) - meiobenthos , intertidal zone , taxon , ecology , oceanography , spatial distribution , chlorophyll a , environmental science , biology , benthic zone , geography , geology , botany , remote sensing
The spatial and ecophysiological preferences of the most abundant meiofaunal taxa inhabiting the sandy intertidal areas of NW Spain are characterised using ecological profiles methodology. Eh and water content are the best variables to explain the spatial distribution of most of the meiofaunal taxa. In general, most of the taxa show good agreement between the spatial and ecophysiological preferences, except for shear strength, mean grain size, carbonate, chlorophyll‐a and depth. Eh and water content are the environmental variables that best explain the occurrence and densities of the majority of the meiofaunal taxa.