Environmental triggers of faunal changes revealed by benthic foraminiferal monitoring
- Resource Type
- Authors
- I. Mendes; Joachim Schönfeld
- Source
- Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal
Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
instacron:RCAAP
- Subject
- 0106 biological sciences
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences
Fauna
Backbarrier beach
Current
Foraminifera
Aquatic Science
Oceanography
01 natural sciences
Population density
Abundance (ecology)
14. Life underwater
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Polychaete
geography
geography.geographical_feature_category
biology
010604 marine biology & hydrobiology
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Sediment
Polychaeta
15. Life on land
biology.organism_classification
Inlet
Benthic zone
Environmental science
Ria Formosa
- Language
- English
Highlights • Foraminifera responded faster to environmental perturbations than macroorganisms. • Population densities doubled and Asterigerinata mamilla bloomed under stronger flow. • Excess of threshold values and changes to new ecosystems induce acme occurrences. Abstract Benthic foraminifera are deemed sensitive indicators of environmental conditions. Triggers and magnitudes of faunal response to environmental changes are yet poorly constrained. Benthic foraminiferal faunas were monitored annually at Ria Formosa (Algarve, Portugal) coastal lagoon since 2013. Distinct environmental changes were recognised during the monitoring period. The relocation of a tidal inlet in winter 2015 effected faster flushing, higher tidal levels, and stronger currents in the Esteiro do Ancão tidal channel. The epibenthic foraminiferal species Asterigerinata mamilla increased in abundance and the population densities of the whole fauna were double as high as before inlet relocation. Enhanced sediment redeposition was recorded and extensive polychaete colonies successively replaced firmground patches with oysters. The standing stock of the foraminiferal fauna declined in the next year due to food impoverishment, while the high hydraulic energy levels and high percentages of Asterigerinata mamilla maintained. Benthic foraminifera responded much faster to environmental perturbations than macroorganisms identifying them as powerful proxies in environmental studies.