Connectivity between ecosystems has been widely recognised as an important issue in ecological studies. Sandy beaches are very dynamic and open ecosystems, mainly supported by allochthonous subsidies of stranded organic matter (mostly macroalgae), also termed wrack supply. The magnitude and composition of algal wrack biomass throughout the annual cycle was assessed for 6 sandy beaches on the Galician coast, NW Spain. The effect of wave action and the topographical features of each beach in the wrack deposition process were investigated. Wrack species composition, biomass and coverage were measured monthly along 6 transects at each beach. Mean dry weight of wrack fluctuated from 14 ± 5.3 to 9189 ± 3594 g m -1 (along transects) between locations. Wrack was predominantly composed of brown algae, which accounted for 70% of the average biomass year round; the dominant species were Cystoseira sp. (30.3 ± 17.4%) and Sargassum muticum (14.2 ± 7.1%). A cyclical pattern in wrack composition, coupled with the life cycle of the predominant macroalgae, was observed. Wrack biomass and species composition were mostly explained by wave height and the ratio of beach length to beach area. Small, wave-sheltered beaches received the largest inputs of wrack, and had the lowest relative contribution of brown algae. These results provide evidence that variability in wrack supply on sandy beaches can be explained through interactions between wave exposure, coastal topography and seasonality.
Growth, biofilm formation, antagonism and residence time in green seawater tanks maintained under fish rearing conditions of Phaeobacter 27-4 were studied in commercial biofilters made from plastic, sintered glass and ceramic. Phaeobacter reached 10 8 -10 9 CFU cm À3 and formed rosettes in all materials, but a multilayer biofilm was only observed in the ceramic biofilters. In sterile seawater, plastic and ceramic biofilters reduced Vibrio anguillarum and V. splendidus concentration in onetwo Log after 24-48 h, showing 10 2 -10 3 CFU mL À1 . Sintered glass biofilters only inactivated V. anguillarum. In Marine Broth, sintered glass and ceramic biofilters inhibited V. anguillarum growth in two-three Log, showing 10 4 -10 5 CFU mL À1 after 24 h. Plastic biofilters reduced V. anguillarum concentration in one Log after 48 h. V. splendidus growth was only inhibited by sintered glass and ceramic biofilters in one-two Log, showing 10 7 CFU mL À1 after 24 h. Phaeobacter also diminished biofilters colonization by the pathogens, both in seawater and in MB. Phaeobacter residence time in green seawater tanks maintained under fish rearing conditions was longer with sintered glass and ceramic biofilters. The latest showed the lowest detachment and, after 11 days, Phaeobacter (10 6 bacteriaÁcm À3 ) covered more than 80% of biofilters total culturable bacteria. DGGE profiles showed that Phaeobacter biofilters stabilizes the green seawater bacterial microbiota.
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