Macroinvertebrate response to different species of macroalgal mats and the role of disturbance history

• Main Author: Cardoso, P. G.
• Publication Date: 2004
• Other Authors: Pardal, M. A., Raffaelli, D., Baeta, A., Marques, J. C.
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: https://hdl.handle.net/10316/5381
• topic: Eutrophication; Macroalgal blooms; Enteromorpha intestinalis; Gracilaria verrucosa; Macroinvertebrate assemblages

Over the last 20 years, the Mondego estuary, Portugal has experienced excessive growth of macroalgae especially in the inner parts of the system, with several algal species implicated. In this study, we compare the effects of morphologically different species, the red alga Gracilaria verrucosa and the green macroalga Enteromorpha intestinalis on macrobenthic assemblages, by a field experiment whereby the biomass of algae was manipulated and the resultant changes in macrofauna abundance evaluated. The experiments were carried out in different areas (a relatively undisturbed sea grass bed and an upstream eutrophic area) experiencing different degrees of overall enrichment.