Responses of talitrid amphipods to a gradient of recreational pressure caused by beach urbanization

Abstract

Demands for public outdoor recreation and urbanization are a potential source of environmental disturbances, particularly on sandy beaches. These habitats have therefore experienced rapid degradation worldwide. Talitrid amphipods, which are common inhabitants of sandy beaches, are probably good indicators of such disturbances. In this study, we evaluated the responses of the two amphipods Talitrus saltator and Atlantorchestoidea brasiliensis to human pressure on Spanish and a Brazilian beach, hypothesizing that disregarding species differences, their population sizes will decline under urbanized conditions. The Barra da Tijuca (Brazil) and Levante (Spain) beaches have mixed landscapes with varying levels of development, and each has a protected area (MPA) adjacent to urbanized sites. Numbers of talitrids as well as visitors were compared among sites on each beach. Talitrids were most abundant at the protected sites. This was true of both beaches, even though temporal patterns of human activity were quite different, with Levante experiencing sharp declines in the number of visitors during its harsh winter. Urbanized sites did not experience high Talitrid densities even during a period of low human pressure. On this basis, T. saltator and A. brasiliensis were considered good indicators of urbanization and recreational activities on sandy beaches. MPAs were found to be very important for the successful conservation of the talitrid populations. A feasible method of managing human pressure and thereby conserving beach biodiversity therefore seems to be the establishment of beach MPAs.

Human impact on the benthic macrofauna of two beach environments with different morphodynamic characteristics in southern Brazil

“…Moreover, on reflective beaches on the Chilean coast, Jaramillo et al (1996) observed no negative impact on the abundance of this species. According to Veloso et al (2008), the low level of beach occupation studied by Jaramillo et al (1996) may have generated misleading results. Additionally, the authors provided no data on the intensity of trampling or the characteristics of beach urbanization.…”

“…Additionally, anthropogenic interference should be considered carefully, the different intensities and frequencies of impact beyond the recreational patterns, which vary from place to place, being taken into account (VELOSO et al, 2008). This study aimed to study and compare the effect of human recreational activities on the abundance and richness of macrofauna of dissipative and reflective sandy beaches.…”

Temporal changes in macrofauna as response indicator to potential human pressures on sandy beaches

“…For instance, some studies illustrated an overall remarkable negative impact on supralittoral species as a result of human beach use (e.g. Fanini et al, 2005;Veloso et al, 2006Veloso et al, , 2008Ugolini et al, 2008) and shoreline modifications such as the construction of seawalls or beach nourishment actions (e.g. Bessa et al, 2013;Dugan and Hubbard, 2006;Fanini et al, 2009).…”

“…Bessa et al, 2013;Fanini et al, 2009;Jones et al, 2008; and coastal armouring (Dugan and Hubbard, 2006;Dugan et al, 2008;Walker et al, 2008). Still, human recreational activities have been recognised to negatively affect beach fauna due to the intensive use of beaches (Schlacher and Thompson, 2012;Schlacher et al, 2011;Ugolini et al, 2008;Veloso et al, 2008) and to the impact of off-road vehicles (e.g. Schlacher et al, 2008a;Sheppard et al, 2009;Schlacher and Lucrezi, 2010;Walker and Schlacher, 2011).…”

Protocolos para o monitoramento de habitats bentônicos costeiros - Rede de Monitoramento de Habitat Bentônicos Costeiros - ReBentos

“…Assim, esses anfípodas têm sido apontados como bons indicadores de impactos, chegando inclusive a desaparecer de áreas impactadas (Weslawski et al, 2000;Nardi et al, 2003;Ugolini et al, 2004;Fanini et al, 2005;Veloso et al, 2008;.…”