Macrobenthos in the central Arabian Gulf: a reflection of climate extremes and variability

摘要: The arid subtropical ecosystem of the central Arabian Gulf was used to explore combined effects low primary productivity, high salinities, and variable temperatures on composition structure benthic macrofauna at 13 sites encircling Qatar Peninsula in winter summer (or late spring) 2010 2011. abundance, biomass, remarkably species turnover may be a reflection oligotrophic, thermally variable, hypersaline coastal environment. number within-habitat diversity lowest highest salinities but increased with finer-grained sediments lower salinity. A remarkable temporal variation observed reflect insufficient production sustain new populations recruited from seasonal exchange water adjacent Sea Oman. Low abundances accompanied by continued replacement “new model” for extremely conditions associated global warming.