Testing macroecological hypotheses in sandy beach populations: the wedge clam Donax hanleyanus in South America

RISOLI, MC; PIOLA, AR; DEFEO, O; LUZZATTO, D; CELENTANO, E; LOMOVASKY, BJ

MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES

INTER-RESEARCH

Año: 2023 vol. 707 p. 43 - 56

0171-8630

Large-scale spatial andtemporal variability in environmental conditions may result in differences inlife history traits, population demography, and abundance of sandy-beachspecies. Here we analyze the effects of salinity, chlorophyll-a (Chl-a),and sea surface temperature (SST) on population parameters of the wedge clam Donaxhanleyanus from 75 South American sandy beaches covering a 15°-latituderange. Generalized modeling results showed that between-beach differences in abundance,population structure, growth performance, productivity, mortality, andindividual shell mass were mainly explained by salinity fluctuations, with Chl-aand SST as secondary contributors, overriding, in most cases, local habitatfeatures (Dean’s parameter, grain size, slope). Our results provide valuableinsights into macroscale ecological processes, setting a basis to delineate conservationguidelines at large spatial scales that respond to the potential effects of climatevariability and change on sandy beach populations.