Spatio-temporal Patterns and Environmental Drivers of Capitellidae (Annelida) Communities on a Tropical Continental Shelf (Northeastern Brazil)
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[1] Universidade Federal de Sergipe
Universidade Federal de Sergipe
Brasil
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- Localización: Thalassas: An international journal of marine sciences, ISSN 0212-5919, Vol. 41, Nº. 4, 2025
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
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Resumen
Environmental drivers, such as organic matter, sediment type, and salinity, shape the benthic community structure by filtering species according to habitat suitability. These gradients promote species turnover and nestedness and enhance spatio-temporal diversity. This study analyzed the spatio-temporal patterns and environmental drivers influencing Capitellidae distribution on the Sergipe continental shelf, Brazil. Environmental stratification was evident along the shelf, with significant differences among the isobaths (10, 20, and 30 m) and transects. The 30 m isobath presented higher organic matter, carbonate content, salinity, and environmental heterogeneity. A total of 1,096 individuals across 47 morphospecies were recorded, with richness, abundance, and diversity being significantly higher at 30 m depth. The community composition exhibited high β-diversity (βJAC ≥ 0.57), mainly driven by species turnover, particularly across isobaths and oceanographic surveys. Nestedness contributed to β-diversity between the 10 m and 30 m isobaths (βNES = 0.54). The β-diversity was higher during the dry season. The organic matter, CaCO₃, and pH influenced the community structure. Species of Scyphoproctus and Notomastus were associated with higher CaCO3 and pH at 30 m, whereas other species of Notomastus, Mediomastus, and Dasybranchus were more abundant at 10–20 m in areas with higher organic matter. Species turnover is the main driver of β-diversity, indicating high habitat specificity and environmental filtering. Environmental drivers shaped the community patterns. These results highlight the importance of both abiotic and spatial gradients in structuring benthic communities, and underscore the value of integrated ecological approaches for monitoring and conserving diversity in tropical marine systems
