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Abstract
This study examines the distribution of primary and secondary space holders integrated in morphological and feeder functional groups as well as the species richness over the seasons on northern Patagonian rocky shores. We also evaluated whether the temporal changes in species richness, assemblage structure and species turnover were related to seasonal changes. These patterns were studied by non-destructive samplings between December 2013 and March 2015. Thirty taxa were identified, including six algal morphological functional and three invertebrate feeder groups. The cover of seaweeds and invertebrates was positively correlated with changes in the environmental factors. The marked seasonality in this Patagonian zone changed between two contrasting periods. Species richness and assemblage structure were associated with seasonal changes and were influenced by the more abundant morphological and feeder functional groups. We suggest that habitat-formers, such as articulated calcareous and suspensor feeder groups, can expand and retract over time-scales of months to seasons, generating available space for the colonization and growth of other organisms. We conclude that seasonal changes and the dynamics of articulated calcareous and suspensor feeder groups drive changes in the algal and invertebrate abundances, in turn driving changes in species richness and assemblage structure.
Highlights
Seaweeds as primary-space holders are major components of intertidal and subtidal communities in intertidal rocky systems; they contribute significantly to primary marine production and form nursery habitats for a diverse benthic fauna (Lüning 1990)
Seaweeds were represented by 18 taxa and the invertebrates by 14 (Tables I and II, respectively)
Two main biogeographical provinces have been proposed for the Atlantic coast of Argentina: the Magellan province, with coldwater covering southern Patagonia, and the Argentinean province, with warmer waters extending from North Patagonia northwards (Lutz et al 2003)
Summary
Seaweeds as primary-space holders are major components of intertidal and subtidal communities in intertidal rocky systems; they contribute significantly to primary marine production and form nursery habitats for a diverse benthic fauna (Lüning 1990). In rocky shore benthic communities, the primary-space holders include primary producers and filter feeders (Menge & Sutherland 1987) and the secondary-space holders include herbivores and carnivores, which are mobile consumers, but many secondary-space holders are primary producers or filter feeders (Bruno et al 2003). Species richness expressed as the number of species in a community is one of the main traits of communities because it influences stability, productivity and susceptibility to invasion (Scrosati et al 2011). Temporal variability in primary-space holders richness and their associated secondary-space holders and mobile species can cause variability in a regional species pool (Menge & Sutherland 1987, Bruno et al 2003). The species richness in functional groups influences the community functioning (Cardinale et al 2006, Duffy et al 2007, Bruno & Cardinale 2008).
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