Can tidal events shape the taxonomic breadth of periphytic protozoa in intertidal zone ecosystems?

Abstract

To evaluate the influence of tidal events (tidal disruption) on the taxonomic breadth of periphytons in intertidal zone ecosystems, a 1-month baseline survey on protozoan periphyton fauna was studied at five sampling sites from the highest tideline to the lowest (sites A–E) in an intertidal zone of the Yellow Sea, northern China. Samples were collected using an artificial substratum (glass slides) in the sea water with the sediment taken at each sampling site after a 14-day exposure period. The protozoan fauna showed a significant variation in both taxonomic composition and taxonomic distinctness measures along five tidelines. Based on the pair-wised taxonomic distinctness measures (Δ+ and Λ+), the expectation test revealed an increasing departure of the periphyton samples from an expected taxonomic breadth from the highest to the lowest tideline. Therefore, it suggests that tidal events (tidal disruption) may significantly shape the taxonomic breadth of protozoan periphyton fauna in intertidal zones of marine ecosystems.