Determination of functional structure of soft-bottom marine macrobenthic communities of the Samsun Shelf Area using biological traits analysis


Van A., Gümüş A.

OCEANOLOGICAL AND HYDROBIOLOGICAL STUDIES, vol.50, no.4, pp.473-487, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 50 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.2478/ohs-2021-0040
  • Journal Name: OCEANOLOGICAL AND HYDROBIOLOGICAL STUDIES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Geobase, Pollution Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.473-487
  • Keywords: biological traits, benthiccommunities, fishing pressure, Black Sea, LONG-TERM CHANGES, BENTHIC COMMUNITIES, NORTH-SEA, INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES, SECONDARY PRODUCTION, SPECIES TRAITS, SEDIMENT, ASSEMBLAGES, DISTURBANCE, GRADIENTS
  • Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Biological Traits Analysis (BTA) was used to investigate the functional structure of marine macrobenthic communities along the Samsun Shelf Area (SSA). Benthic samples were collected seasonally from five different locations and at four different depths using a Van Veen grab sampler. Macrofaunal communities distributed in the SSA were assessed using 10 biological traits to identify characteristic traits for each depth and location. It was found that variability of benthic ecosystem functions in the SSA was driven by biological traits such as maximum size, living habit, sediment position, feeding mode and type of reproductive behavior. Bivalves, polychaetes and crustaceans of small to medium size, biodepositing, burying themselves in the sediment (burrowers) and feeding in suspension were relatively more abundant at depths of 0-60 m. However, the biomass of Amphiura, Abra, Papillicardium and some polychaetes characterized by medium to large sizes, diffusive mixing, free living and feeding on deposit and subsurface deposit showed higher values at depths below 60 m. In general, it is concluded that the functional structure of the benthic infauna in the SSA has adapted to physical disturbance, and communities distributed in this area consist mainly of taxa resistant to mechanical pressure.