The distribution and assemblage composition of the ostracod fauna (Crustacea: Ostracoda) on Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire

Abstract

Intertidal algae from rockpools at different tidal heights, along with Laminaria holdfasts and samples of sublittoral algae were collected from both the sheltered and exposed side of Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire. Samples of sediments were also collected from MLWS on the sheltered shore. A total of 1091 individual ostracods, consisting of 32 species, from 20 genera and 12 families, were identified from 15 sites along the Brigg in July 1996. The current study lists the occurrence of thirteen species previously unrecorded for the Yorkshire coast, and confirms presence of three species that were thought to have a general distribution around the British Isles. The seven Paradoxostoma species showed distinct zonation patterns on both the sheltered and exposed shore. Paradoxostoma ensiforme and P. variabile were only found intertidally, P. hibernicum decreased numerically down shore, and P. bradyi and P. abbreviatum were only found in low shore, Laminaria holdfast or sublittoral samples. This pattern was also seen in many other species, e.g. Xestoleberis aurantia, which only occurred in the intertidal phytal samples, whereas others were only found sublittorally, e.g. Sclerochilus truncatus. Cytherois fischeri, Paradoxostoma robinhoodi, Hemicytherura cellulosa, Leptocythere psammophila, Semicytherura sella and Sclerochilus gewermuelleri were found on the exposed shore only and Cuneocythere semipunctata only occurred on the sheltered shore. Apart from these differences in distribution, the other species occurred on both sides of the Brigg, with only minor differences in density. Some species were more numerous on the sheltered shore (e.g. Heterocythereis albomaculata), whereas others occurred in higher frequencies on the exposed shore (e.g. P. hibernicum). However, there was no marked difference in assemblage structure between the sheltered and exposed side of Filey Brigg. The intertidal phytal assemblages then showed a high degree of similarity. However the sublittoral assemblages were markedly dissimilar from the high-shore assemblages and there was little similarity between the intertidal phytal and sediment assemblages. Although some species occurred in both habitats, e.g. Cythere lutea, others were only found in either one or the other. The phytal assemblages had a higher species richness of ostracods and were more diverse than the sediment assemblages. However, there was no correlation between phytal ostracod species diversity and tidal height, or between diversity and sediment content of the algae. The Yorkshire coast ostracod fauna is compared and contrasted with that previously described by other workers from southern and western Britain.