Sediment macrobenthos of mangrove flats at Inhaca Island, Mozambique
Guerreiro, J.; Freitas, S.; Pereira, P.; Paula, J.; Macia Jr., A. (1996). Sediment macrobenthos of mangrove flats at Inhaca Island, Mozambique. Cah. Biol. Mar. 37(4): 309-327
In: Cahiers de Biologie Marine. Station Biologique de Roscoff: Paris. ISSN 0007-9723; e-ISSN 2262-3094, meer
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| Auteurs | | Top |
- Guerreiro, J.
- Freitas, S.
- Pereira, P.
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| Abstract |
The composition of macroinvertebrate communities in the mangroves of Inhaca Island, Mozambique, was analyzed. Faunistic samples and sediment cores were collected in order to assess relationships between grain-size distribution, organic matter, phytopigments and the species distribution in two different mangroves: Saco and Ponta Rasa. Results showed the dominance of medium and fine sands rather than colloidal sedimentation, which is originated from the island itself. A clear zonation of benthic organisms is a function of several combined environmental factors which contribute to define mangrove communities. Here they are clearly dominated by Polychaeta, in a similar situation as in the SW Madagascar mangroves. Grain-size, together with salinity and ground water were found to be the major factors affecting the macrobenthos distribution. The Saco mangrove constitutes a southern example of a subtropical mangrove with high diversity and production. The Ponta Rasa mangrove may be considered as an atypical one, or an extreme situation to subtropical mangrove, in which diversity is very low and several key-species are lacking. The differences between these two mangroves suggest that microenvironmental conditions, namely water content of sediments and phytobenthos, are determinant to the richness and faunal diversity of these ecosystem. |
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