Macrobenthic communities in a tropical lagoon (Tahiti, French Polynesia, central Pacific) |
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Authors: | P Frouin P Hutchings |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratoire d'Ecologie marine, Université de la Reunion, B.P. 7151, 15 avenue Rene Cassin, 97715 Saint Denis Messag cedex 9, France, RE;(2) The Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney NSW 2010, Australia e-mail: path@austmus.gov.au, AU |
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Abstract: | Soft bottom communities were sampled quantitatively in Tahiti lagoon (French Polynesia) at 18 stations in five zones around
the island over 1 year. In addition, various environmental parameters (silt/clay fractions, organic content, chlorophyll and
phaeopigment content) were sampled at the same stations over 2 years. The temporal and spatial variabilities of the macrobenthic
communities are described and related to these environmental parameters. Each zone ran from the fringing reef to the inner
flat of the barrier reef. The macrofauna exhibited a high richness (392 taxa) with an average mean biomass of 1.8 g AFDW m−2 (grams ash-free dry weight per square metre). These communities exhibited temporal but not seasonal fluctuations. The biomass
of the macrofauna increased from the fringing to the barrier reefs, and the density of individuals was significantly higher
on the fringing reefs. Ordination techniques highlighted four groups of stations characterised by distinctive species composition,
density and biomass. The first group included stations located on the inner flat of the barrier reef and in the shallow lagoon
area and was characterised by highly diverse communities dominated by polychaetes. The second group primarily included stations
from the industrial and hotel zones. This group had the lowest diversity and was also dominated by polychaetes, especially
the capitellid Dasybranchus sp. 1. The third group was dominated by gastropods and bivalves. The final group of stations was represented only by station
51, in zone 5, which was characterised by mobile soft sediments and wave action and was dominated by the decapod Hippa cf. pacifica. Presumably, these mobile sediments facilitate the development of this benthic community, which does not occur elsewhere
in the lagoon. The diversity and biomass of these benthic communities are low compared with most other areas in the South
Pacific.
Accepted: 10 May 2000 |
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Keywords: | Macrobenthos Coral reef Diversity Sampling Biomass |
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