Spartina anglica eradication experiment and in situ monitoring assess structuring strength of habitat complexity on marine macrofauna at high tidal level

摘要: Abstract The cordgrass Spartina anglica is an introduced species that tends to invade sheltered sand and mudflats, at the upper low marsh level. In Arcachon Bay, a lagoon in South West of France, can also replace Zostera noltii beds. consequence presence on macrobenthic fauna was estimated compared adjacent habitats (bare sands, Z. sea grass beds) during one year. communities three were characterised by richness, abundance biomass (when Hydrobia ulvae , 90% abundance, not considered) high seasonal stability. infaunal assemblages particularly homogeneous between without any characteristic species. Cordgrass eradication experiments performed zoobenthic recolonisation observed following Modifications benthic epifauna only. These results highlight limited structuring effect habitat heterogeneity tidal levels soft-bottom sediments where desiccation becomes dominant factor determining infauna community structure.