Authors: Araújo Rita SousaPinto Isabel Ester A Serrão Åberg Per
Publish Date: 2011/12/03
Volume: 159, Issue: 3, Pages: 697-707
Abstract
The recovery of Ascophyllum nodosum and the associated benthic community was followed after repeated trampling disturbance at different intensities from 2005 to 2010 at its southern limit 41°41′27″N 8°50′57″W The cover of A nodosum and associated organisms and the demography of A nodosum individuals in the most disturbed areas were followed over a recovery period of 54 months Recovery of A nodosum assemblages was negatively affected by increasing trampling intensity After 54 months the highest intensity plots were still significantly different from control plots Growth and mortality rates of A nodosum increased shortly after disturbance but progressively recovered to levels close to control plots The results of this study demonstrate the sensitivity of this habitatbuilding species to human trampling and also show its plasticity to cope with disturbance eventsThis study was funded by projects and a fellowship RA of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology FCT cofunded by POCI 2010 FEDER and FSE and the EU network of Excellence MARBEF—Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function We thank Iacopo Bertocci for helping in the data analysis
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