Abstract
In the present study, Culbin Sands lagoon, a protected site in NE Scotland, was surveyed every 2 to 4 weeks during a three-year period (1994-1996) to study benthic invertebrate communities. Beds of Mytilus edulis covered 18000 m 2 . 53 macroinfaunal species were identified outside these areas. The most conspicuous were: the lugworm Arenicola marina (mean up to 55 casts m -2 ); and bivalves Cerastoderma edule (mean up to 158 ind. m -2 ) and Macoma balthica (mean up to 79 ind. m -2 ) after settlement. The standing stock ranged from 20 to 32 g AFDW m -2 yr -1 respectively from more exposed to more sheltered areas. Most species showed a clear recruitment peak in autumn, but others (e.g. Capitella capitata , and Spionidae) displayed several peaks in a year. Communities were also compared between the sampling sites before and after an incidental disturbance caused by cockle Cerastoderma edule harvesting, which took place in June 1995. One site showed –0.7% variation in the total standing stock, but +22% for smaller-cockles, as larger filter-feeding cockles were removed therefore enhancing their own larval settlement. Polychaete Spionidae populations also increased after larger cockles were removed. The polychaete Arenicola marina population returned to its normal activities just after the dramatic disturbance of the sediment.
Highlights
In intertidal areas, polychaetes, oligochaetes, molluscs and crustaceans are the most represented benthic macrofauna in sediments, and provide the main food source for many epibenthic predators
We looked in detail at the benthic invertebrate community itself, and analysed the impact of the cockle harvesting event, which took place within the protected area in June 1995
A total of 11 musselbeds of Mytilus edulis were registered at Culbin Sands lagoon, covering an area of 18050 m2 (Fig. 1), and 53 macrobenthic species (11 spp. more than previously recorded in the area) were identified in sediments outside the musselbeds (Table 1)
Summary
Polychaetes, oligochaetes, molluscs and crustaceans are the most represented benthic macrofauna in sediments, and provide the main food source for many epibenthic predators (such as shrimps, crabs and fish; e.g. Raffaelli et al, 1989). These areas are known to be nursery areas for many fish species Gastropod species Hydrobia ulvae and Littorina spp. may reach high densities in the sediment, and be very important for many bird and fish species (e.g. van Gils, 2006a). Amphipod (especially Gammarus spp., Corophium spp. and Bathyporeia spp., which are epibenthic species), isopods (e.g. Eurydice pulchra) and decapod (especially Carcinus maenas) crustaceans are common in sediments, and constitute an important source of energy for many predators (e.g. Bonsdorff et al, 1995)
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