Environmental factors have stronger effects than biotic processes in patterns of intertidal populations along the southeast coast of Brazil

Cesar A. M. M. Cordeiro, André Pardal, Luis Giménez, Áurea M. Ciotti, Stuart R. Jenkins, Michael T. Burrows, Gray A. Williams, Ronaldo A. Christofoletti

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Rocky shore communities are shaped by complex interactions among environmental drivers and a range of biological processes. Here, we investigated the importance of abiotic and biotic drivers on the population structure of key rocky intertidal species at 62 sites, spanning ∼50% of the Brazilian rocky shoreline (i.e., ∼500 km). Large-scale population patterns were generally explained by differences in ocean temperature and wave exposure. For the gastropod species Lottia subrugosa, differences at smaller scales (i.e., 0.1–1 km) were better explained by other abiotic influences such as freshwater discharge and substrate roughness. Based on the general population patterns of intertidal species identified, three main oceanographic groups were observed: a cold-oligotrophic grouping at northern sites (Lakes sub-region), a eutrophic group associated with large estuaries and urban zones (Santos and Guanabara bays); and a transitional warm-water group found between the two more productive areas. Larger individuals of Stramonita brasiliensis, L. subrugosa and Echinolittorina lineolata were generally found in the cold-oligotrophic system (i.e., upwelling region), while small suspension feeders dominate the warm-eutrophic systems. Evidence of bottom-up regulation was not observed, and top-down regulation effects were only observed between the whelk S. brasiliensis and its mussel prey Perna perna. Environmental drivers as compared to biotic interactions, therefore, play a key role determining the population structure of multiple intertidal species, across a range of spatial scales along the SW Atlantic shores.
Original languageEnglish
Article number106646
Number of pages13
JournalMarine Environmental Research
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 17 Jul 2024

Keywords

  • population ecology
  • rocky shore
  • South Atlantic
  • spatial scales
  • species interactions
  • eutrophication
  • urban growth
  • biotic process
  • community IS
  • environmental factors
  • intertidal populations
  • population structures
  • mulluscs

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