Bryozoan diversity on a whale bone: an uncommon substrate from the continental shelf off NW Spain

Javier Souto,Oscar Reverter-Gil

doi:10.1007/s12526-021-01189-6

Javier Souto, Oscar Reverter-Gil

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-021-01189-6

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Abstract

Carcasses and bones of whales are interesting yet poorly understood habitats for invertebrates and microbial communities. Nevertheless, bryozoans have never before been reported in this particular habitat at the present day. Here, we present the first study on a bryozoan community colonizing a whale bone from the continental shelf off NW Spain at 128 m depth. Thirty-three species of bryozoans were identified, representing 50% of the known bryozoan diversity from this area and depth range. Despite this high biodiversity, no potential whale-fall specialists were detected: all the species are already known in the area, with several being more frequent in shallower or deeper waters. Our results support the hypothesis that the number of specialist taxa on whale-fall habitats decreases drastically on whale remains at depths of less than 260 m. These results also support the theory that whale-falls can serve as intermediate habitats where no other suitable substrate is present, facilitating habitat colonization.

Highlights

Carcasses and bones of whales, known as whale-falls, have been reported as interesting but poorly understood habitats, mainly for invertebrates and microbial communities
Thirty-three species of bryozoans were identified growing on the whale bone (Table 1)
For 15 of these species, the results show an extension of the known depth range in the area

Summary

Introduction

Carcasses and bones of whales, known as whale-falls, have been reported as interesting but poorly understood habitats, mainly for invertebrates and microbial communities. Previous studies have focused on different aspects of the biology, ecology and taxonomy of the invertebrate faunas and communities associated with natural and experimentally introduced whale carcasses. Such communities have been studied in different parts of the world at a wide range of depths, from a few meters down to about 3000 m depth (Smith and Baco 2003; Smith 2006; Braby et al 2007; Lundsten et al 2010a, 2010b; Glover et al 2013; Smith et al 2015; Taboada et al 2016).

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