Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning
EU Network of Excellence

 
Main Menu

· Home
· Contacts
· Data Systems
· Documents
· FAQ
· Links
· MarBEF Open Archive
· Network Description
· Outreach
· Photo Gallery
· Quality Assurance
· Register of Resources
· Research Projects
· Rules and Guidelines
· Training
· Wiki
· Worldconference

 

Register of Resources (RoR)

 People  |  Datasets  |  Literature  |  Institutes  |  Projects 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (1): add | show Print this page

one publication added to basket [229061]
Role of the source community for the recovery of seagrass associated meiofauna: a field colonisation experiment with seagrass mimics in Diani Beach, Kenya
Daudi, L.D.; Uku, J.N.; De Troch, M. (2013). Role of the source community for the recovery of seagrass associated meiofauna: a field colonisation experiment with seagrass mimics in Diani Beach, Kenya. Afr. J. Mar. Sci. 35(1): 1-8. https://dx.doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2013.769913
In: African Journal of Marine Science. NISC/Taylor & Francis: Grahamstown. ISSN 0257-7615; e-ISSN 1814-2338
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Disturbance (ecosystem)
    Meiofauna
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Disturbance; Ecosystem functioning; Harpacticoid copepods; Seagrass beds

Authors  Top 
  • Daudi, L.D.
  • Uku, J.N.
  • De Troch, M., more

Abstract
    Seagrass communities are subject to frequent disturbances that can affect the associated fauna. Seagrass loss in Kenya has been mainly due to extensive grazing by the sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla, leading to habitat fragmentation. The challenge is whether the system can recover fully and function as before. Density, diversity and community structure of meiofauna were studied to evaluate the ability of the ecosystem to recover its associated fauna. Artificial seagrass mimics were planted in natural, replanted and bare seagrass patch types. The associated meiofauna was harvested at different colonisation time intervals (min. 2 days–max. 21 days). Significantly different meiofauna densities between the patch types and the colonisation days were found whereas the harpacticoid copepod densities were only significantly affected by colonisation time. Meiofauna densities on the seagrass mimics recovered quickly in all patch types, i.e. after four days of colonisation their densities were comparable to those on natural seagrasses, but they exhibited an unstable, cyclical pattern. Initial communities consisted mainly of opportunistic non-phytal taxa. Passive and active migrations were deduced for harpacticoid copepods. We recommend the ecosystem approach as seagrass-associated meiofauna (and copepods) responded relatively quickly to new substrates, providing the surrounding (source) communities remains undisturbed.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors 


If any information here appears to be incorrect, please contact us
Back to Register of Resources
 
Quick links

MarBEF WIKI

Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (EMBC)
Outreach

Science
Responsive Mode Programme (RMP) - Marie Nordstrom, copyright Aspden Rebecca

WoRMS
part of WoRMS logo

ERMS 2.0
Epinephelus marginatus Picture: JG Harmelin

EurOBIS

Geographic System

Datasets

 


Web site hosted and maintained by Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) - Contact data-at-marbef.org