Intertidal Rocky Shore Communities of the Continental Portuguese Coast: Analysis of Distribution Patterns

Abstract

Abstract. A general description of rocky shore distribution patterns (“zonation”) along the whole Portuguese coast is given to provide the context for comparisons of distribution patterns of mid‐shore organisms. In order to test if there was any variation in species distribution and abundance in the upper and lower mid‐shore zone (eulittoral) along the entire intertidal Portuguese coast, three main regions were studied (north, centre and south) and nine shores were visited in each region. At each one of the 27 locations, the shore was levelled and a general qualitative description was made, which also aided stratification of subsequent quantitative sampling. An upper zone (littoral fringe) characterised by the presence of encrusting lichens, small littorinid gastropods and cyanobacteria was found on most of the shores along the Portuguese coast. The mid‐shore zone (eulittoral) is essentially dominated by barnacles and sometimes mussels. The distribution patterns observed on the lower shore (sub‐littoral fringe) showed a distinction between northern shores, where large brown algae are present, and shores located in the central and southern regions, essentially dominated by red algal turf species. Multidimensional analysis and the ANOSIM test have revealed clear differences in the structure of the upper and lower mid‐shore zone. Within each level, the northern region was considerably different from the south and central regions. SIMPER analysis revealed the species which contributed to the separation between shore levels and regions. It has also given important information on the geographical decline in abundance of species.

Evolution and diversification within the intertidal brown macroalgae Fucus spiralis/F. vesiculosus species complex in the North Atlantic

“…On the other hand, the exclusive presence of FspHigh at Santoña (Northern Spain), an area unlikely to be affected by ice cover during the LGM, can only be explained by habitat or dispersal restrictions in this more estuarine area. The presence of Fsp-South in southern Portugal (Albufeira) and its near-absence north of northern Portugal (Viana do Castelo) brackets a well-described biogeographic boundary along the central Portuguese coast for diverse species such as red algae, ground fish, and seagrass (Alberto et al, 1999;Gomes, 2001;Diekmann et al, 2005), as well as the composition of intertidal communities (Boaventura et al, 2002;Lima et al, 2007). Abiotic dissimilarities such as changes in coastal morphology, precipitation patterns, outflow of Tagus River, the imposing submarine Nazaré Canyon, air temperatures, sea surface temperatures, and surface currents undoubtedly maintain the North-South break (Gomes, 2001;Boaventura et al, 2002;Martins et al, 2002;Ladah et al, 2003;Koho et al, 2007).…”

Removal of Cd(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions by brown marine macro algae: Kinetic modelling

“…Real and apparent densities were about 1.7 and in the range 1.5 -1.6 g cm -3 , 9 respectively, for all biosorbents. Sargassum muticum presents the highest surface area (11.19 m 2 g -1 ) and intraparticle porosity (8.73%).…”

“…The brown algae (Phaeophyta) -Laminaria hyperborea, Bifurcaria bifurcata, Sargassum muticum and Fucus spiralis -were selected for this work due to their abundance in the Portuguese coast [9]. Some relevant features concerning these species are:…”

Zonação de comunidade bêntica do entremarés em molhes sob diferente hidrodinamismo na costa norte do estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

“…Uma costa mais aberta está sujeita a um batimento mais forte de ondas em relação a uma área mais abrigada. A influência das ondas na estrutura da comunidade entremarés tem sido abordada considerando mudanças na composição da comunidade (LEWIS 1964), ampliação da zona entremarés (LEWIS 1964, UNDERWOOD 1981, riqueza e diversidade de espécies (UNDERWOOD 1981, THOMAS 1985, BOAVENTURA et al 2002, ARAÚJO et al 2005, dinâmica das "manchas" de organismos (MENGE et al 2005) e na influência relativa sobre a predação e competição (GOOD 2004).…”