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Temporal and bathymetric variation of epiphyte cover and leaf biomass in a southern P osidonia oceanica ( L .) meadow: the case of M ahdia coast, T unisia
Author(s) -
Mabrouk Lotfi,
Asma Hamza,
Bradai Med N.
Publication year - 2017
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/maec.12394
Subject(s) - epiphyte , posidonia oceanica , biology , biomass (ecology) , dominance (genetics) , seagrass , botany , ecology , ecosystem , biochemistry , gene
The aim of this research was to study spatial and temporal variation in epiphyte cover and leaf biomass of P osidonia oceanica in E astern T unisia. Sampling was conducted at four stations on the M ahdia coast during O ctober and D ecember 2010, and A pril and A ugust 2011, which correspond respectively to autumn, winter, spring and summer in this area. P osidonia oceanica shoots were collected at two depths (5 and 10 m). Cover of macroinvertebrates and macroalgae was estimated on adult leaves. The results showed that leaf and epiphyte biomasses vary significantly according to sampling date, with the highest values recorded in A ugust. We found a high diversity of epiphytic assemblages on the leaves of P . oceanica with clear qualitative and quantitative dominance of Rhodophyceae compared to other groups, followed by P haeophyceae. Most epiphyte species on the leaves of P . oceanica in E astern T unisia are the same as those in other parts of the M editerranean S ea. No bathymetrical variation in the epiphytic community was found in our study area, which can be explained by the high levels of water clarity in M ahdia.