Comparison of epifaunal assemblages between Cymodocea nodosa and Caulerpa prolifera meadows in Gran Canaria (eastern Atlantic)

摘要: Epifaunal invertebrates are sensitive to changes in the identity of dominant host plant, so assessing differences structure epifaunal assemblages is particularly pertinent areas where seagrasses have been replaced by alternative vegetation (e.g. green seaweeds). In this study, we aimed compare diversity, abundance and assemblages, amphipods, between meadows dominated seagrass Cymodocea nodosa rhizophytic algae Caulerpa prolifera on shallow soft bottoms Gran Canaria Island, determining whether patterns were temporally consistent two times. The assemblage (abundance composition) consistently differed both plants, those associated with C. prolifera-dominated beds being more diverse abundant relative meadows. Amphipods constituted 70% total crustaceans for overall including 37 species belonging 16 families. amphipod was 3 times larger than We detected species-specific affinities; example, Microdeutopus stationis, Dexamine spinosa, Aora spinicornis, Ischyrocerus inexpectatus Apherusa bispinosa beds; while caprellid Mantacaprella macaronensis nodosameadows. However, some species, such as Pseudoprotella phasma Ampithoe ramondi, found habitats varying abundances