Clam population dynamics as an indicator of beach urbanization impacts

LAITANO, MARÍA V.; CHIARADIA, NICOLÁS M.; NUÑEZ, JESÚS D.

ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2019 vol. 101 p. 926 - 932

1470-160X

Modification of natural environments due to human activities has become an issue of great concern in the lastyears. In this study, beach urbanization impact was assessed through population dynamics of two dominantinfaunal clam species: Amarilladesma mactroides and Donax hanleyanus. The beaches used as sampling sites werecharacterized by an urbanization index, which exhibited three levels of urbanization. Recruits and juveniles ofboth studied species were collected monthly during a two years sampling. Results showed that beach urbani-zation reduces A. mactroides recruits and juveniles? abundances, whereas the abundance of D. hanleyanus ju-veniles increased with higher urbanization degree. Also, the observed effects were limited to summer and au-tumn, coinciding with the time of higher impact due to recreation activities. The interspecific differences foundand the importance of the sampling period when studying anthropic impacts over beaches, are discussed.