Succession of sessile organisms on experimental plates immersed in Nabeta Bay, Izu Peninsula, Japan III. Temporal changes in community structure

Abstract

AbstractFrom percentage covers of sessile organisms obtained over about 3 yr by suspending concrete plates at depths of 1.0, 2.5, 4.0 and 5.5 m in Nabeta Bay, Shimoda, Pacific coast of Japan, changes of five indices of community structure, i.e. number of species (S), Shannon‐Weaver diversity (H′), evenness (J′), McNaughton's dominance (MD) and Horn's similarity (HS), were investigated throughout succession. Colonization curves became horizontal after reaching a maximum at 6 months after immersion at all depths. The number of species appeared to approach equilibrium during the first year of immersion. In the period from 13 to 37 months after immersion, the five indices indicated that communities at the upper two depths had stabilized structures within a limited range of variation, as represented by low HS values, whereas those at the lower two depths had simplified structures, as indicated by low S or H′ values. Furthermore, the results of cluster analysis of samples at four depths indicated that 13 to 37‐month communities at the upper two depths had advanced, converged structures, whereas those at the lower depths had young, non‐converged structures. The stability of community structure observed at the upper two depths could be due to domination of two long‐lived species, the kelp Eisenia bicyclis and the oyster Crassostrea nippona. On the other hand, the simplification of community structure at the lower two depths seems to be due to reduced domination of these two species as a result of disturbances such as scouring by sand.