Biological and functional responses of the benthic surf zone community to different beach types

CARCEDO, MC; ÁLVAREZ GONZALEZ, ES; FIORI, SM

MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2024 vol. 198

0141-1136

In this study, we analyzed the biological descriptors and functional traits of the benthic community inhabiting the water/bottom layer in the surf zones of three sandy beaches: a tide-dominated flat, and two intermediate beaches, from tide-modified to wave-dominated. Samples were collected seasonally in the inner surf zone by hand-towing a benthic sledge equipped with two nets, one above the other, across transects parallel to the shore, capturing the benthic community in two levels, close to the seafloor. A total of 116 species were collected, with a total of 327,678 specimens. Arthropods were 99.63% of all individuals caught across the three beaches, mainly represented by peracarid crustaceans. An important species turnover was detected along the shore, with a significant change in community composition. The biological descriptors and some functional traits vary among beaches: the total density, the density of individuals of small (5–10 mm length) and very small sizes (