Biological validation of physical coastal waters classification along the NE Atlantic region based on rocky macroalgae distribution

• Published in: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
• Main Authors: Ramos, Elvira, Araceli, Puente, Juanes, José Antonio, Bartsch, Inka, Scanlan, Clare, Neto, Joao, M., Pedersen, Are, Wilkes, Robert, van den Bergh, Erika, Ar Gall, Erwan, Melo, Ricardo, Ricardo, Melo
• Other Authors: Universidad de Cantabria Santander, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung = Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research = Institut Alfred-Wegener pour la recherche polaire et marine (AWI), Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft = Helmholtz Association, Marine and environmental research centre - IMAR-CMA (Coimbra, Portugal), University of Coimbra Portugal (UC), Norvegian Institute for Water Research, Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland, Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin (LEMAR) (LEMAR), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université européenne de Bretagne - European University of Brittany (UEB), Centro de Oceanografia, Universidade de Lisboa = University of Lisbon (ULISBOA), project EEMA Avaliacao do Estado Ecologic das Massas de Agua Costeiras e de Transicao e do Potencial Ecologic das Massas de Agua Fortemente Modificadas POVT-03-0133-FCOES-000017
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2014
• Subjects: ecological distribution; intertidal environment; seaweed; biogeography; biotype; EU classification; ACL; [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]; [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology; North East Atlantic
• Online Access: https://hal.univ-brest.fr/hal-01078875; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2014.05.036

International audience A methodology to classify rocky shores along the North East Atlantic (NEA) region was developed. Previously, biotypes and the variability of environmental conditions within these were recognized based on abiotic data. A biological validation was required in order to support the ecological meaning of the physical typologies obtained. A database of intertidal macroalgae species occurring in the coastal area between Norway and the South Iberian Peninsula was generated. Semi-quantitative abundance data of the most representative macroalgal taxa were collected in three levels: common, rare or absent. Ordination and classification multivariate analyses revealed a clear latitudinal gradient in the distribution of macroalgae species resulting in two distinct groups: one northern and one southern group, separated at the coast of Brittany (France). In general, the results based on biological data coincided with the results based on physical characteristics. The ecological meaning of the coastal waters classification at a broad scale shown in this work demonstrates that it can be valuable as a practical tool for conservation and management purposes