TY - JOUR

T1 - Differences in biological traits composition of benthic assemblages between unimpacted habitats

AU - Bolam, Stefan

AU - Garcia, C

AU - Eggleton, J

AU - Kenny, A.J.

AU - Buhl-Mortensen, L

AU - Gonzalez-Mirelis, G

AU - van Kooten, T

AU - Dinesen, G

AU - Hansen, J

AU - Hiddink, Jan

AU - Sciberras, Marija

AU - Smith, C

AU - Papadopoulou, N

AU - Gumus, A

AU - Van Hoey, G

AU - Eigaard, O.R

AU - Bastardie, F

AU - Rijnsdorp, Adriaan

PY - 2017/5

Y1 - 2017/5

N2 - There is an implicit requirement under contemporary policy drivers to understand the characteristics ofbenthic communities under anthropogenically-unimpacted scenarios.We used a trait-based approach ona large dataset from across the European shelf to determine how functional characteristics of unimpactedbenthic assemblages vary between different sedimentary habitats.Assemblages in deep, muddy environments unaffected by anthropogenic disturbance show increasedproportions of downward conveyors and surface deposit-feeders, while burrowing, diffusive mixing,scavenging and predation traits assume greater numerical proportions in shallower habitats. Deep,coarser sediments are numerically more dominated by sessile, upward conveyors and suspensionfeeders. In contrast, unimpacted assemblages of coarse sediments in shallower regions are proportionallydominated by the diffusive mixers, burrowers, scavengers and predators. Finally, assemblages of gravellysediments exhibit a relatively greater numerical dominance of non-bioturbators and asexual reproducers.These findings may be used to form the basis of ranking habitats along a functional sensitivitygradient.

AB - There is an implicit requirement under contemporary policy drivers to understand the characteristics ofbenthic communities under anthropogenically-unimpacted scenarios.We used a trait-based approach ona large dataset from across the European shelf to determine how functional characteristics of unimpactedbenthic assemblages vary between different sedimentary habitats.Assemblages in deep, muddy environments unaffected by anthropogenic disturbance show increasedproportions of downward conveyors and surface deposit-feeders, while burrowing, diffusive mixing,scavenging and predation traits assume greater numerical proportions in shallower habitats. Deep,coarser sediments are numerically more dominated by sessile, upward conveyors and suspensionfeeders. In contrast, unimpacted assemblages of coarse sediments in shallower regions are proportionallydominated by the diffusive mixers, burrowers, scavengers and predators. Finally, assemblages of gravellysediments exhibit a relatively greater numerical dominance of non-bioturbators and asexual reproducers.These findings may be used to form the basis of ranking habitats along a functional sensitivitygradient.

KW - Biological traits Infauna Unimpacted assemblages European shelf

U2 - 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.01.004

DO - 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.01.004

M3 - Article

VL - 126

SP - 1

EP - 13

JO - Marine Environmental Research

JF - Marine Environmental Research

SN - 0141-1136

IS - May 2017

ER -