Decapod crustacean assemblages on trawlable grounds in the northern Alboran Sea and Gulf of Vera |
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Cristina Ciércoles, Cristina García-Ruíz, Pere Abelló, Manuel Hidalgo, Pedro Torres, María González, Ángel Mateo-Ramírez, José Luis Rueda |
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This
study analyses the samples collected annually (2012 to 2018) on
circalittoral and bathyal soft bottoms (30 to 800 m) by the MEDITS
surveys in the northern Alboran Sea (including Alboran Island) and the
Gulf of Vera to determine the composition, structure and distribution of
decapod crustacean assemblages. A total of 94 decapod crustacean
species were identified. Non-metric multidimensional scaling showed
depth to be the main factor for distinguishing four main decapod
assemblages: the inner shelf (30-100 m depth), outer shelf (101-200 m),
upper slope (201-500 m) and middle slope (501-800 m). PERMANOVA analyses
revealed further significant depth-related differences between three
established geographical sectors of the study area (northern Alboran
Sea, Gulf of Vera and Alboran Island). Generalized additive model
analyses were used to assess the bathymetrical, geographical and
environmental effects on the ecological indices of each assemblage.
Results showed that depth and the geographical effect were the main
drivers in all cases. Decreases in abundance and increases in species
richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity and Pielou’s evenness indices with
depth were detected. This study shows the primacy of depth and
geographical effect on the distribution of decapod species in the study
area, in alignment with findings from other parts of the Mediterranean
Sea. |
Keywords: Alboran Sea; crustaceans; decapods; assemblages; GAM; circalittoral; bathyal; biodiversity |
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