Distinct community dynamics at two artificial habitats in a recreational marina

Abstract

Man-made facilities along coastlines modify water circulation and sedimentation dynamics which can affect the structure of marine benthic and pelagic communities. To test how environmental heterogeneity associated with a recreational marina affects the structure of the fouling community and the benthic-pelagic link, we conducted an experiment in which predation effects on recruitment and community structure were assessed in two artificial habitats: inside the marina, an area of calm waters and often disturbed by boating activity, and the breakwater, a more hydrodynamic area. Using visual censuses and video footages we also described the predation pressure and the identity of predators on the two areas. Inside the marina, the recruitment of ascidians and serpulids, but not of bryozoans, was restricted in some occasions, possibly due to reduced water circulation. Predation, mainly by the silver porgy fish Diplodus argenteus, reduced the survivor of didemnid ascidians on both areas, but predation intensity was 40 times higher in the breakwater than inside the marina. While the two artificial habitats did not necessarily support distinct communities, low recruitment coupled to weak predation inside the marina, a less dynamic environment, likely imply lower resilience and more susceptibility to disturbance.

Keywords: Artificial reefs; Ascidians; Benthic-pelagic coupling; Benthos; Coastal structures; Early post-settlement mortality; Environmental heterogeneity.