MICROPHYTOBENTHIC COMMUNITIES RELATED WITH A PLANT-CRAB ASOCIATION IN A SALT MARSH

CONSTANZA DA RODDA; ELISA R. PARODI

HYDROBIOLOGIA

Springer

Lugar: Dordrecht, Países Bajos; Año: 2009

0018-8158

The species composition and assemblage structure of epipelic microphytobenthos in relation to the spatial distribution of a glasswort and crabs from a salt marsh, were analysed with the aid of a light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Observations reveal that microalgal communities coexist with an association between the perennial glasswort (Sarcocornia perennis (Miller) A. J. Scott) and the burrowing crab (Chasmagnathus granulatusSarcocornia perennis (Miller) A. J. Scott) and the burrowing crab (Chasmagnathus granulatus Dana), in the muddy salt marshes of the Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina. The pattern of some microalgal species was shown to be related to the spatial distribution of perennial glasswort and crab .The microtopography and specific composition of microphytobenthos also proved to be modified by the removal of fine sediment by the crab. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), microorganisms and detritus were observed, displaying different characteristics in each sampling condition. The EPS of the microphytobenthos influenced the mechanical stability of the sediment, which varied according to the distribution and origin of these secretions. Our observations indicate that the microphytobenthos led to a singular ring-shaped distribution of the perennial glasswort population..The microtopography and specific composition of microphytobenthos also proved to be modified by the removal of fine sediment by the crab. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), microorganisms and detritus were observed, displaying different characteristics in each sampling condition. The EPS of the microphytobenthos influenced the mechanical stability of the sediment, which varied according to the distribution and origin of these secretions. Our observations indicate that the microphytobenthos led to a singular ring-shaped distribution of the perennial glasswort population.