Persistent benthic communities in the extreme dynamic intertidal mudflats of the Amazonian coast: an overview of the Tanaidacea (Crustacea, Peracarida)

Abstract

The extreme dynamics of the Amazonian coast and associated mudbanks raises questions about their unknown resistant infauna. In order to fill the gap, we investigated the seasonal variations of species composition, abundance and population structure of Tanaidacea in two dynamic mudbanks near the coast of French Guiana. Despite the low species richness recorded for this taxon, the very high densities and biomass of tanaids constituted a potential plentiful trophic resource for many coastal species, such as shorebirds, fish, shrimps, and crabs. The estuarine habitat at Sinnamary presented more tanaid species than the bare marine mudflat at Awala-Yalimapo. All species showed strong female-biased sex ratios and differed in range of total length and stage of maturity. The species with smaller body size with sexual maturity occurring at an earlier stage were dominant and widely distributed. Pore water salinity and predator pressure may be considered key factors driving seasonal variations of tanaid abundance and population structure. This study gives a novel insight into the macrobenthos communities along the highly dynamic Amazonian coast.