Abstract
Coastal environments are trampled by humans worldwide; however, there are few studies that evaluate the effect of trampling on the meiofauna of hard substrates, and none on meiofauna of reef environments. We investigated the effects of trampling due to tourism on the meiofauna of reef formations on the northeastern coast of Brazil. Samples were taken from five paired stations located in two areas on the reef: an area protected since 2004, and an area open to tourist visits. Trampling caused important changes in the meiofaunal assemblage. The densities of the total meiofauna and of the commonest groups were negatively affected in the trampled area. Among the major groups, Polychaeta proved to be very sensitive to this disturbance. The meiofauna groups showed different response patterns to trampling depending on the species of algae trampled. Reductions in animal densities were partly attributed to the loss of turf biomass and associated sand caused by trampling, and partly to the direct effect of people stepping on the animals. Considering the importance of meiofauna in the food web as well as its biodiversity, these results highlight the possible negative effects of human trampling on the ecological and economic “services” that coral reefs provide.
Highlights
Trampling is a human disturbance originating in outdoor recreational activities, and its destructive effects have been documented in terrestrial and marine environments (Liddle, 1997)
Coral reefs are among the most prominent marine ecosystems of tropical Brazil. These reefs are distributed along 3000 km of the northeastern coast, and they include the southernmost coral reef communities of the Atlantic
The present study evaluated the effect of human trampling due to tourism on the phytal meiofauna assemblage in two areas on the reefs of Porto de Galinhas: an area that has been protected since 2004, and an area that is continuously open to visitors
Summary
Trampling is a human disturbance originating in outdoor recreational activities, and its destructive effects have been documented in terrestrial and marine environments (Liddle, 1997). This impact is common in coastal ecosystems, as people walk on sandy and rocky intertidal zones in many parts of the world (Brown and Taylor, 1999; Davenport and Davenport, 2006; Defeo et al, 2009). Coral reefs are among the most prominent marine ecosystems of tropical Brazil. These reefs are distributed along 3000 km of the northeastern coast, and they include the southernmost coral reef communities of the Atlantic.
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