Drivers of biodiversity associated with rhodolith beds from euphotic and mesophotic zones: Insights for management and conservation

• Published in: Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation
• Main Authors: Priscila de Cerqueira Veras, Ivan Pierozzi-Jr., Jaqueline Barreto Lino, Gilberto Menezes Amado-Filho, André Resende de Senna, Cinthya Simone Gomes Santos, Rodrigo Leão de Moura, Flávio Dias Passos, Vinicius José Giglio, Guilherme Henrique Pereira-Filho
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2020
• Subjects: Marine biodiversity; Crustose coralline algae; South Atlantic Ocean; Reef systems; Ecology; QH540-549.5; General. Including nature conservation; geographical distribution; QH1-199.5
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2019.12.003; https://doaj.org/article/93f9c37162bb479b8a532366ba5955c3

Ecologically important marine ecosystems should be identified and protected, as is the case of the poorly known SW Atlantic rhodolith beds. Understanding the main variables predicting biodiversity patterns is essential for determining priority areas for conservation. Here, we analyzed the macroinvertebrate associated with rhodoliths from euphotic and mesophotic zones from the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago investigating the drivers of diversity distribution in this habitat. Rhodoliths were sampled and vagile macroinvertebrates (>500 μm) were classified and quantified. We verified that estimated density of organisms associated with rhodoliths in the euphotic zone was 17 % greater than the mesophotic zone. The communities along depth zones show dissimilarities, suggesting that both environments are ecologically distinct. Comparisons with other ecosystems revealed that rhodolith beds have similar diversity of macroinvertebrates. We also found that four of the six tested variables predicted 85 % of the variability observed in the vagile macroinvertebrate community (i.e. average diameter, depth, biomass of macroalgae and density of rhodoliths in the bed). These variables should be taken into account in future research in modeling the biodiversity associated with the rhodolith beds. This is especially relevant in the SW Atlantic where the rhodolith beds seem to harbor an associated biodiversity greater than previous works had indicated, moreover, they represent one of the main ecosystems that are often superimposed with mining activities.