Latitudinal Variation into the Macrofaunal Assemblages Associated to Zostera noltei Seagrass along the Atlantic Coast of Morocco

Oussama Bououarour,Reda El Kamcha,Hocein Bazairi,Soilam Boutoumit,Marco Cucco

doi:10.1155/2021/9199654

Abstract

Large-scale research on seagrass-associated benthic fauna is very important for future regional marine conservation. In our study, we investigated spatial and latitudinal variation of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages associated to Zostera noltei Hornemann, 1832 beds from five semi-enclosed coastal systems (SECSs) ranging from 23°N to 34°N along the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Overall, 17,320 individuals were reported as belonging to 96 taxa. The ecological community descriptors differ significantly at the level of the site. Specific richness showed an inconsistent significant pattern with latitude. The multivariate analyses of the assemblage’s composition showed 57% of total variation observed in benthic assemblages, while the PERMANOVA analysis confirmed that this variation is significant at the level of the site. According to DistLM results, variations in belowground biomass, and percentage of mud, were the important predictor variables explaining this variation along the large scale of the studied SECS. However, such patterns could be related to other factors such as habitat heterogeneity and regional, biogeographic, and anthropogenic factors. The present study marked the first attempt on broad-scale ecological research of seagrass beds in Morocco and offers baseline data for planning the broad-scale conservation of biodiversity in seagrass beds that remain suffering from multiple human-induced threats such as coastal developments and climate change.

Highlights

Changes in the composition of community or species assemblages have been and continue to be the subject of intense interest
Ecologists have been interested in the global pattern of biodiversity for a long time [2], and the comprehension of the distribution of life on the earth is the major goal of ecology and biogeography [3]. e latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is one of the most outstanding ecological patterns on our planet
It is generally defined as an increase in species richness from the poles towards the equator and is a striking ecological pattern that has fascinated biologists over centuries [4]. e main drivers behind the LDG are focused on theories that are broadly linked to the current climate, historical effects, and biome area [5, 6]

Summary

Introduction

Changes in the composition of community or species assemblages have been and continue to be the subject of intense interest. E latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is one of the most outstanding ecological patterns on our planet. It is generally defined as an increase in species richness from the poles towards the equator and is a striking ecological pattern that has fascinated biologists over centuries [4]. E latitudinal gradient of diversity is well defined in different taxonomic groups and many geographical regions [7, 8], whereas land diversity patterns and their predictors are known for numerous taxa [9], and our understanding of global marine diversity has been more limited, with recent findings revealing some striking contrasts to widely held terrestrial paradigms [10]. The similarity of species composition is probable to decline with distance because variations in environmental conditions generally upsurge with the distance between regions [11].

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Discussion

Conclusion