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Abundance, biomass and species richness of macrozoobenthos along an intertidal elevation gradient
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  • Jana Dewenter,
  • Joanne Yong,
  • Peter Schupp,
  • Stefanie Moorthi,
  • Kertu Lõhmus,
  • Ingrid Kröncke,
  • Daniela Pieck,
  • Sven Rohde
Jana Dewenter
University of Oldenburg Department for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment Terramare

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Joanne Yong
University of Oldenburg Department for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment Terramare
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Peter Schupp
University of Oldenburg Department for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment Terramare
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Stefanie Moorthi
University of Oldenburg Department for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment Terramare
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Kertu Lõhmus
Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
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Ingrid Kröncke
Senckenberg am Meer
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Daniela Pieck
University of Oldenburg Department for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment Terramare
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Sven Rohde
University of Oldenburg Department for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment Terramare
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Abstract

Tidal flats can be found on most of the world's coastlines and are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbances. They are important transient ecosystems between terrestrial and marine ecosystems and their biodiversity provides important ecosystem services. Owed to their unique position between the terrestrial and the marine realm, strong environmental gradients of elevation, sediment composition but also food availability are prevailing. Here we investigate which environmental factors drive the spatial and temporal patterns in macrozoobenthos abundance, biomass, richness, diversity and species composition on back barrier tidal flats in the East-Frisian Wadden Sea. We found that with increasing mud content the total abundance of organisms in the sediment significantly increased, while biodiversity and biomass were not changing significantly with increasing mud content. Biomass of macrozoobenthos decreased with higher elevation towards the salt marsh. In contrast to expectations, increasing Chl a availability as a measure of primary productivity did not enhance biomass or abundance, but was associated with significantly reduced species richness. Species composition varied significantly among and within islands due to variation in sediment composition, resource availability and human-induced disturbance. In conclusion, macrozoobenthos biomass, abundance and biodiversity is interrelated in a complex way with the physical, abiotic and biotic processes in and above the sediment. Negative impacts of primary production on macrozoobenthos species richness demonstrate possible negative effects of nutrient inputs in tidal flat areas and the need for cross-boundary protection.
06 Apr 2023Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
07 Apr 2023Submission Checks Completed
07 Apr 2023Assigned to Editor
15 Apr 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
17 May 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
18 May 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
06 Aug 20231st Revision Received
07 Aug 2023Submission Checks Completed
07 Aug 2023Assigned to Editor
07 Aug 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 Aug 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Oct 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
05 Nov 20232nd Revision Received
06 Nov 2023Submission Checks Completed
06 Nov 2023Assigned to Editor
06 Nov 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending