Motile fauna of subtidal Emphasis Type="Italic"

Authors: J R Peters R M McCloskey S L Hinder R K F Unsworth

Publish Date: 2014/09/12

Volume: 45, Issue: 4, Pages: 647-654

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Abstract

Despite being under continued anthropogenic threat there exists limited evidence in the United Kingdom UK and northern Europe for the role of subtidal Zostera marina meadows in providing habitat in support of economically important fauna This is a major issue given the need to support fisheries production into the future Understanding this at a regional and local scale is important given that their ecosystem service value can change with factors such as environmental gradients and anthropogenic impacts In the present study we investigate the role of subtidal seagrass in supporting motile fauna including juvenile fish and invertebrates of commercial value Seagrass meadows in three locations in the UK Porthdinllaen Tremadog Bay and the Isle of Wight were examined using stereo Baited Remote Underwater Video systems BRUVs Twentysix taxa were recorded ten of which were of economic importance including an abundance of juvenile gadoids Although the commercially important species that we found as juveniles in seagrass are not obligate seagrass users the resources that seagrass meadows offer to these fish potentially provide significant longterm fitness benefits possibly enhancing the whole population All sites sampled contained economically important fauna but there existed a significant difference between the assemblages at different locations with the sites in the Isle of Wight containing an impoverished fauna Sites sampled in North Wales contained double the abundance of individuals and over three times the number of species than those in the Isle of Wight This highlights that ecosystem services such as habitat provision are not constant between sites and possibly impacted upon by site condition and locally specific environmental differences The present study provides evidence of the importance of seagrass meadows in the UK for supporting biodiversity and the need to protect these sensitive habitatsWe would like to acknowledge the funding provided by the Welsh Government SEACAMS and Common Seas We would also like to thank Amy Dale Hampshire Wildlife Trust Jolyon Chesworth Natural England Alison PalmerHargrave Penllyn a’r Sarnau SAC Laura Hughes National Trust and several members of Natural Resources Wales Phil Newman Mark Burton Paul Brazier Kate Lock and Julia Korn for helping to facilitate the research Thanks to the following Keith Naylor Ash West Ruth Callaway Nicole Esteban and Chiara Bertelli Swansea University Tony Bruce Enlli Charters Andy Truelove Broadside Boat Charters Jon Shaw SeeKat Marine Charters and SOAS Boat Charters

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