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Small-scale variation within a Modiolus modiolus (Mollusca: Bivalvia) reef in the Irish Sea. III. Crevice, sediment infauna and epifauna from targeted cores

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2008

E.I.S. Rees ,
W.G. Sanderson ,
A.S.Y. Mackie  and
R.H.F. Holt
E.I.S. Rees
Affiliation:
School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales Bangor, Menai Bridge, LL59 5EY, UK
W.G. Sanderson*
Affiliation:
Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), Maes y Ffynnon, Ffordd Penrhos, Bangor, LL57 2DN, UK
A.S.Y. Mackie
Affiliation:
Amgueddfa Cymru—National Museum of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF1 3NP, UK
R.H.F. Holt
Affiliation:
Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), Maes y Ffynnon, Ffordd Penrhos, Bangor, LL57 2DN, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: W.G. Sanderson Countryside Council for Wales (CCW)Maes y Ffynnon Ffordd PenrhosBangor, LL57 2DNUK email: b.sanderson@ccw.gov.uk
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Abstract

Beds of Modiolus modiolus, in areas of moderate to strong tidal currents, develop into reefs with a relief of wave like undulations 0.09–0.45 m in amplitude and length scales of 6–18 m. Cores taken by diver operated suction sampler were targeted at positions on the ridges and troughs of a reef, in the Irish Sea off north-west Wales, allowing the fauna to be compared between adjoining ridges and troughs. Sessile epifauna was mostly attached to the larger mussels clumped together on the ridges. The crevice fauna and infauna were also nearly three times more abundant on the ridges, but the lists of species were similar from the two sub-habitats. Species richness was higher on the ridges, however, diversity and evenness measures were similar for ridges and trough samples. The Modiolus sub-habitats were found to be distinct from other macrofaunal assemblages in the wider southern Irish Sea. Deposition of faecal pellets in the spatially complex habitat amongst the mussels provided conditions suitable for an infauna more typical of inshore muddy sands enriched by organic matter. The scale of the ridge and trough morphology may increase variability between replicates when grabs are used remotely to sample this type of biogenic feature.

Keywords

Modiolusbiogenic reefbiohermIrish Seainfaunacrevice faunahabitat heterogeneitystructural complexityspecies rich
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 88 , Issue 1 , February 2008 , pp. 151 - 156
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

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