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1.
2006年7月—2008年8月,对象山港全港海域设立的13个采样站位采集的调查资料,用物种丰富度指数、物种均匀度指数和物种多样性指数分析象山港大型底栖动物物种的多样性和群落种类的组成,以及采用ABC曲线方法和大型多元统计分析软件PRIMER5对象山港大型底栖动物进行Bray-Curtis相似性聚类分析和非度量MDS标序,研究象山港大型底栖动物群落结构。调查显示象山港大型底栖动物不同采样站位之间物种丰富度指数(d)、均匀度指数(J)、辛普森多样性指数(D)和香农-威纳多样性指数(H’)差异皆高度显著(P0.01)。群落结构聚类分析和MDS标序表明,13个采样站位的大型底栖动物群落大致可分为3组。根据所调查象山港大型底栖动物的丰度和生物量资料做的ABC曲线分析表明,该海域大型底栖动物群落受到了严重的环境污染或者扰动,逐渐由一种或几种个体较小的种类占优势。 相似文献
2.
本研究根据2017年8月和2018年8月在东海北部杭州湾和三门湾大型底栖动物的拖网采集资料,对这两个海域的大型底栖动物群落结构和多样性进行了研究。杭州湾的10个站位和三门湾的6个站位共获得61种大型底栖动物,其中甲壳动物最多(22种),其次是鱼类(20种)、软体动物(14种)、棘皮动物(2种)、刺胞动物(2种),多毛类最少(1种)。杭州湾大型底栖动物优势种出现3种,三门湾出现8种,脊尾白虾Palaemoncarinicauda是两个海域唯一的共同优势种。相比2017年,杭州湾和三门湾在2018年鱼类的种类和数量都有明显的增长。根据大型底栖群落的多样性指数,杭州湾不同区域的生物多样性差异较大,而三门湾则较为平均。对杭州湾和三门湾大型底栖动物进行聚类分析和nMDS排序分析,结果表明,杭州湾不同站位大型底栖动物相似度低,Q8、Q9、Q10站位群落结构与三门湾的站位更为接近,三门湾的底栖群落在2017年和2018年存在较大差异。杭州湾和三门湾大型底栖动物群落的变化可能与环境因子、人类活动、厄尔尼诺事件等的变化相关。 相似文献
3.
胶州湾菲律宾蛤仔养殖水域内外大型底栖动物群落特征的比较研究 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
为了解胶州湾养殖水域和自然水域的底栖动物生态状况,尤其是水产养殖等人类活动对胶州湾生态系统的影响,在胶州湾菲律宾蛤仔养殖区内外选取六个典型站位,于2011年4月进行了大型底栖动物和环境因子的采样,分析比较了养殖区内外大型底栖动物的丰度、生物量、群落结构和生物多样性等群落特征以及与环境因子的关系。本研究共采到大型底栖动物77种,其平均丰度为1154.44 ind./m~2,平均生物量为369.33 g.wwt/m~2。研究结果表明的养殖区内外大型底栖动物的优势种、丰度、生物量和群落结构差别较大。根据CLUSTER聚类结果,可以将大型底栖动物群落划分为3个站群。与历史数据相比,本研究6个站位中自然水域的站位丰度、生物量降低,而养殖水域内的站位丰度、生物量较高。菲律宾蛤仔养殖活动压力已造成胶州湾养殖区域及其邻近自然海域的大型底栖动物群落特征发生了一定变化。 相似文献
4.
分别于2018年冬季(1月)和夏季(9月)对胶州湾进行了2个航次20个相同站位的大型底栖动物调查。共鉴定出大型底栖动物287种。大型底栖动物的总平均丰度和生物量分别为2026个/m^2和378.0 g/m^2,2航次的丰度和生物量均呈现由胶州湾中部向南北两侧增大的趋势。调查水域优势种主要为多毛类,但相对重要性指数(I RI)最高的物种为菲律宾蛤仔(Ruditapes philippinarum)。Shannon-Wiener多样性指数结果表明,胶州湾北部部分站位受到扰动(H′<2)。聚类分析表明在35%和26%的相似性水平上冬季和夏季航次的大型底栖动物分别划为2个和3个群落。Pearson相关分析结果显示底温是影响胶州湾大型底栖动物丰度分布的主要因素。 相似文献
5.
6.
山东荣成临洛北湾夏季大型底栖动物群落生态学初步研究 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
利用2010年7月在山东荣成临洛北湾所获得大型底栖动物定量分析资料,研究了夏季该海域海带养殖区和邻近水域大型底栖动物在物种组成、生物量、丰度、优势种以及物种多样性等方面的特征和空间差异,并采用MDS和CLUSTER分析了大型底栖动物的群落结构,以期为该地区以后的科学研究提供基础数据.结果表明,本次调查通过采泥和拖网共采集到大型底栖动物88种,其中采泥得到大型底栖动物51种,拖网采得大型底栖动物45种,各站位的物种多样性差异明显,物种数量从2种到21种.与环境因子的相关性分析显示,各站的物种数和丰度与DO存在明显的负相关.在所有大型底栖动物中,甲壳动物26种,多毛类环节动物24种,软体动物23种,棘皮动物8种,其他类群动物6种(鱼类5种,尾索动物1种).该海域的优势种为多丝独毛虫和短叶索沙蚕.将CLUSTER结果以43%的群落结构相似性来划分,组内的相似性为50%~60%.该海域大型底栖动物的平均丰度为854个/m2,平均生物量为134.73 g/m2,与研究海域附近的历史研究结果相比较,该海域的平均丰度和生物量仍处于较高的水平. 相似文献
7.
2012年9月对辽东湾西部倾倒区海域的大型底栖动物进行了调查。调查海域共发现底栖动物54种,包括多毛类35种,甲壳类10种,软体动物6种,棘皮动物1种,其他2种。底栖动物丰度平均为1 140.8个/m2,生物量为11.02 g/m2,多样性指数平均为3.39。丰度、生物量比较结果显示,调查海域大型底栖动物群落受到中度干扰,调查海域底栖动物群落可分为以对照组为主的群落和倾倒区群落。海洋倾倒导致倾倒区内大型底栖动物的种类数量、丰度、生物量和多样性水平下降,群落特征种受倾倒的影响较明显。底栖动物与重金属含量之间无显著相关关系,掩埋是辽东湾西部倾倒活动主要的影响方式。 相似文献
8.
2009年10月在辽东湾西部海域进行了14个站位的大型底栖动物调查,共发现大型底栖动物99种,其中多毛类44种,软体动物13种,甲壳动物39种,其他类群3种.调查海域内IRI指数排名前十位的种中,多毛类和甲壳动物各占60%和40%,其中前三位的是日本双边帽虫(Amphictene japonica)、二齿半尖额涟虫(Hemileucon bidentatus)和滩拟猛钩虾(Harpiniopsis vadiculus).调查海域内大型底栖动物的总平均丰度为2387.1个/m2,总平均生物量为11.16 g/m2,整个调查海域内大型底栖动物呈现出高丰度低生物量的现状.调查海域内大型底栖动物的香农-威纳多样性指数为0.8881~4.626,平均值为3.556;丰富度指数为1.197~5.474,平均值为3.426;均匀度指数为0.213~0.9248,平均值为0.7714.以40%的相似性尺度,取样站可被划分为5个大型底栖动物站组.通过大型底栖动物多样性分析,本文认为该海域的底栖生态状况良好. 相似文献
9.
根据2010年8月至2014年8月对浙江渔山列岛附近海域6个站位的大型底栖动物调查,分析了渔山列岛附近海域大型底栖动物的群落结构特征,包括群落物种组成、优势种、丰度、生物量、群落的时空变化等,分析了大型底栖动物的群落结构,并使用AMBI和M-AMBI对大型底栖动物群落和环境质量进行了评估。结果表明:本次调查共鉴定出大型底栖动物60种,其中多毛类动物25种,软体动物13种,甲壳动物9种,棘皮动物4种,鱼类6种,其它动物3种(包括纽虫2种和扁形动物1种)。多毛类动物是该研究海域大型底栖动物群落的主要成分,占据了群落总种数的41.67%。在5个调查年份中,共出现了17种优势种,优势种年际变化很大,在5年内多次出现的优势种只有5种。在物种丰度方面,多毛类仍然是群落丰度的主要贡献者,但丰度的年际变化明显,从7.07%到40.89%不等。鱼类在生物量方面的重要性最高,主要是红狼牙鰕虎鱼Odontamblyopus rubicundus的多次出现所致。在环境因子中,悬浮物和盐度被证明是该海域对大型底栖动物群落影响最大的环境因子,这与该海域较高的悬浮物含量以及多变的盐度密切相关;在AMBI和M-AMBI进行的生态质量评价显示,该海域多数站位的生态质量状况较好,处于轻度扰动的影响之下,这些扰动来源于环境和底质状况不稳定引发的自然扰动而非人为污染。 相似文献
10.
为研究福建省九龙江口海门岛大型底栖动物的群落结构变化,于2014年11月至2015年8月对海门岛红树林区的大型底栖动物进行4个季度的调查研究,并利用PRIMER软件进行群落物种多样性单变量分析、群落聚类分析(Cluster)、多维尺度排序(MDS)分析和丰度/生物量曲线(ABC)分析.结果表明:九龙江口海门岛红树林区获得大型底栖动物共计112种,年平均生物量为77. 58 g/m2,年平均栖息密度为991. 0 ind/m2. Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H')、丰富度指数(d)和均匀度指数(J')分别为2. 42、5. 02和0. 70,其中春季生物多样性指数和均匀度指数均最低,与春季生物的繁殖有关.ABC曲线表明该区域有三分之一采样点的大型底栖动物群落受到中等到严重程度的扰动,主要集中在春季站位,这与该季节渔民滩涂养殖作业活动有关. Cluster聚类分析和MDS标序结果表明,在50%的相似性水平群落可分为6组,且不同组间显示季节差异显著.结合历史资料发现,大型底栖动物群落随环境质量的变化已出现了一定的群落演替,物种呈小型化趋势.环境因子与群落分布特征相关性较大,其中最能解释群落丰度和生物量空间分布特征的环境因子为水温、盐度和有机质含量. 相似文献
11.
为探究三门湾海域物种间的资源利用情况及生态关系,在该海域进行了底拖网生物调查。根据2017年和2018年夏季在浙江省三门湾海域进行的大型底上生物研究结果,运用优势度(Y)、生态位宽度、生态位重叠、方差比率法(VR)、检验、联结系数(AC)、共同出现百分率(PC)对生态位和种间联结性进行了研究。结果表明:2017~2018年间三门湾海域共捕获大型底上动物53种,包括两年共有种,即主要底上动物22种。其中优势种3种,包括哈氏仿对虾(Mierspenaeopsis hardwickii)、中华栉孔虾虎鱼(Ctenotrypauchen chinensis) 和棒锥螺(Turritella terebra),这三个物种属中生态位种;三门湾主要底上动物依据生态位宽度值划分为3组,即广生态位种、中生态位种和窄生态位种;种对间生态位重叠值总体差异性较大,其与种对的食性、栖息环境密切相关;根据总体联结性分析得主要底上动物总体呈显著正关联,群落结构较为稳定; 检验、联结系数(AC)和共同出现百分率(PC)表明种对间联结性较弱,趋近于相互独立。三门湾大型底上动物的群落结构比较稳定,但种对间的关联性在逐渐下降。 相似文献
12.
大型底上动物参与海洋生态系统中的物理、化学和生物过程,具有极高的研究价值。浙江三门湾是天然的半封闭海湾,也是海洋生物重要的栖息、觅食和育幼的场所。为探究三门湾海域物种间的资源利用情况及生态关系,在该海域进行了底拖网生物调查。根据2017年和2018年夏季在三门湾海域进行的大型底上生物研究结果,运用优势度(Y)、生态位宽度、生态位重叠、方差比率法(VR)、χ2检验、联结系数(AC)、共同出现百分率(PC)对生态位和种间联结性进行了研究。结果表明: 2017~2018年间三门湾海域共捕获大型底上动物53种,包括两年共有种,即主要底上动物22种。其中优势种3种,包括哈氏仿对虾(Mierspenaeopsis hardwickii)、中华栉孔虾虎鱼(Ctenotrypauchen chinensis)和棒锥螺(Turritella terebra),这三个物种属中生态位种;三门湾主要底上动物依据生态位宽度值划分为3组,即广生态位种、中生态位种和窄生态位种;种对间生态位重叠值总体差异性较大,其与种对的食性、栖息环境密切相关;根据总体联结性分析得主要底上动物总体呈显著正关联,群落结构较为稳定; χ2检验、联结系数(AC)和共同出现百分率(PC)表明种对间联结性较弱,趋近于相互独立。三门湾大型底上动物的群落结构比较稳定,但种对间的关联性在逐渐下降。 相似文献
13.
The Influence of Mucous Aggregates on the Microphytobenthic Community in the Northern Adriatic Sea 总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2
Abstract. An extended reappearance of mumus aggregates in the Northern Adriatic Sea in 1991 gave rise to the hypothesis of a possible influence of the mucus, settled on the bottom, on benthic flora and fauna.
This work investigates the variations in the microphytobenthic community in three stations of the Gulf of Trieste (AA1, AA2, AA3) during 1991, when mucous aggregates were present, and during the two following years, when no such aggregates were observed.
Water samples were collected by N iskin bottle in the bottom layer for nutrient analysis, and sediment samples were collected by divers. The diatom species and cell densities were determined under an inverted microscope. All the data were processed with the aim to evaluate community composition and possible relations with the presence of mucous aggregates in 1991.
The results showed a general decrease of benthic diatoms from 1991 to 1993, both in quality and quantity, for all the investigated sites. Statistical analyses on microphytobenthos, hydrological parameters, and nutrient concentrations indicated differences among the considered years. The microphytobenthic community in summer 1991 appeared to be quite different from those of the other years. The density of benthic diatoms was apparently not correlated with nutrient availability in the bottom layer, but was rather influenced by changes in temperature.
The presence of a dense microphytobenthic community in 1991 might be explained by a combination of adequate conditions related to the presence of mucous aggregates, including a more undisturbed substratum caused by the interruption of dredging, decreased grazing pressure due to a declined filtering capacity of epifauna, and nutrient-rich sediment for extra nutrient disposal remineralized at the mucus-sediment interface. The mucilage aggregates therefore apparently stimulated the microphytobenthic community, in contrast to the effects on the benthic macrofauna, which were perturbed by the mucus. 相似文献
This work investigates the variations in the microphytobenthic community in three stations of the Gulf of Trieste (AA1, AA2, AA3) during 1991, when mucous aggregates were present, and during the two following years, when no such aggregates were observed.
Water samples were collected by N iskin bottle in the bottom layer for nutrient analysis, and sediment samples were collected by divers. The diatom species and cell densities were determined under an inverted microscope. All the data were processed with the aim to evaluate community composition and possible relations with the presence of mucous aggregates in 1991.
The results showed a general decrease of benthic diatoms from 1991 to 1993, both in quality and quantity, for all the investigated sites. Statistical analyses on microphytobenthos, hydrological parameters, and nutrient concentrations indicated differences among the considered years. The microphytobenthic community in summer 1991 appeared to be quite different from those of the other years. The density of benthic diatoms was apparently not correlated with nutrient availability in the bottom layer, but was rather influenced by changes in temperature.
The presence of a dense microphytobenthic community in 1991 might be explained by a combination of adequate conditions related to the presence of mucous aggregates, including a more undisturbed substratum caused by the interruption of dredging, decreased grazing pressure due to a declined filtering capacity of epifauna, and nutrient-rich sediment for extra nutrient disposal remineralized at the mucus-sediment interface. The mucilage aggregates therefore apparently stimulated the microphytobenthic community, in contrast to the effects on the benthic macrofauna, which were perturbed by the mucus. 相似文献
14.
Seasonal and Between-Substrate Variation in Mobile Epifaunal Community in a Multispecific Seagrass Bed of Otsuchi Bay, Japan 总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2
Abstract. A seagrass bed in Otsuchi Bay, northeastern Japan, consists of three seagrass species ( Zostera marina, Z. caulescens and Z. caespitosa ) that differ in morphology and phenology. We studied the mobile epifaunal community in the seagrass bed to examine (1) whether seasonal and between-substrate variation in the epifaunal community agrees with variation in seagrass abundance and morphological complexity, and (2) whether patterns of seasonal and between-substrate variation vary among epifaunal species. We collected mobile epifauna from each of Z. marina and Z. caulescens on 11 occasions between October 1995 and November 1996 (at 1 – 1.5 month intervals) using a hand-closing net. A total of 9 842 individuals of mobile epiphytic animals were collected and they were classified into 80 taxa. Abundance and species richness of the epifaunal community were high in summer to autumn and low in winter to spring, and diversity index and evenness were higher in Z. marina than Z. caulescens . However, patterns of seasonal and between-substrate variation in these parameters did not parallel those in seagrass abundance and complexity. Most of the dominant epifaunal species showed significant seasonal and between-substrate variation in abundance, although their patterns varied greatly among individual species. A cluster analysis recognized several distinct groups of animals showing similar seasonal and between-substrate variation. Our findings suggest that the observed variation in the epifaunal community is not determined by a single or some strong external factors but by complex interactions of multiple factors operating differently for each component species. 相似文献
15.
Eric N. Powell Roger Mann Kelsey M. Kuykendall M. Chase Long Jeremy R. Timbs 《Marine Ecology》2019,40(4)
A survey of the region eastward of Nantucket provided an opportunity to examine the cold temperate–boreal boundary along the high‐energy Great South Channel. Here described are the benthic macroinvertebrate community types encountered, with a focus on the influence of climate change on the range boundaries of the benthic biomass dominants and the potential existence of transient multiple stable states. The survey identified three primary community types. The shallowest sites were occupied by a surfclam‐dominated community, comprising an abundance of large (≥150 mm) surfclams, and a few common attached epibiota primarily attached to exposed surfclam shell. Two communities exist at intermediate depths, one dominated by submarket and small market‐size surfclams (<150 mm) and the other, created by mussel mats and their attendant epibiota, crabs, sea urchins, and other mobile epifauna. Mussels are a foundational species, establishing a hard‐bottom terrain conducive to these other denizens in soft‐bottom habitat. Cobbles were nearly ubiquitous, rocks were routinely recovered, and boulders were encountered occasionally. Slow growing attached epibionts were exceedingly rare and mobile epifauna were not obviously associated with these large sedimentary particles; nor were the surfclam or mussel communities. The frequency of barnacle scars suggests sediment scour under the high‐flow regime characteristic of the surveyed region, which voids the habitat potential of these sedimentary particles. The abundance of surfclam shell indicates that surfclams have inhabited the shoaler depths for an extended time; limited shell at deeper sites supports the inference from the absence of large animals that these sites are relatively newly colonized and represent further evidence of an offshore shift in range brought on by increasing bottom water temperatures. The dichotomous nature of the two primary community types at mid‐depths suggests that these two communities represent multiple stable states brought on by the interaction of an invading cold temperate species with the receding boreal fauna resulting in a transient intermingling of species, which, however, structure the habitat into exclusionary stable states rather than overlapping in a co‐occurrence ecotone. 相似文献
16.
Macrobenthic surf zone communities of temperate sandy beaches: spatial and temporal patterns 
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下载免费PDF全文 The spatial and temporal patterns within the surf zone epibenthic assemblages were studied in a coastal fringe of Argentina to determine whether assemblage compositions, abundance, species richness and diversity vary spatially and temporarily. Sampling was conducted seasonally in two sandy beaches over 2 years with a benthic sledge used to collect the fauna in the upper centimeters of soft bottom sediments and the epifauna on the sediment surface. Physical variables were measured in the same coastal sites where biological sampling was conducted. A total of 58 morphospecies were collected. Peracarid crustaceans were the most abundant group. The mysid Pseudobranchiomysis arenae (new genus–new species) (29.73 ± 17.79 ind. per sample) and the isopod Leptoserolis bonaerensis (51.54 ± 22.35 ind. per sample) were the most abundant and common species and were present regularly throughout the sampling period. Differences in the surf zone community composition were found between the beaches; these differences could be related to variation in physical parameters such as sand grain size and wave climate, indicating the possible influence of the morphodynamic state of the beaches on the epibenthic assemblages. A seasonal abundance trend was detected, reflecting the changes in abundance of the two dominant species; the richness pattern was not easily detectable due to the sporadic appearance of non‐resident species in the surf zone, probably due to different causes, including dispersion by entry of water from surrounding areas, littoral currents and storms. The surf zone studied presents a complex and dynamic epibenthic community that appears to be influenced by the morphodynamic state of the beach and the dynamic of non‐resident species. 相似文献
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Pinna bicolor (Mollusca: Pelecypoda) were transplanted between four sites near a lead smelter. The species composition of their epifauna (sessile and mobile) was examined in relation to characteristics of both sediments and seston at the sites. Seventy-two taxa were distinguished in the epifaunal community. Substantial differences were found in the short-term sensitivity of some of the species to concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn in sediments and to sediment particle size. The short-term sensitivity of many species to metals or sediment particle size explained their long-term distribution pattern. Twenty-three taxa were identified as significantly characterizing the faunal differences. Of these, eleven (four molluscs, four bryozoans, two barnacles and one ascidian) were affected by both sediment metal concentration and particle size, and eight (four molluscs, one bryozoan, one polychaete, one hydroid and one barnacle) were affected by metal contamination but not particle size. Of all fauna examined, the Bryozoa were the most metal-sensitive. Four species, Smittina raigii (Bryozoa), Galeolaria sp. 1 (Polychaeta), Epopella simplex (Cirripedia) and Monia ione (Pelecypoda) were identified by their short- and long-term sensitivity to metal contamination, and absence of sensitivity to sediment particle size, as suitable species for monitoring the effects of metal contamination on the epifauna. The implications of the results for toxicity-testing are discussed. 相似文献
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George Roff Colette C. C. Wabnitz Alastair R. Harborne Peter J. Mumby 《Marine Ecology》2013,34(4):409-419
Small grazing motile epifaunal invertebrates play an important ecosystem role on coral reefs, influencing both the abundance and composition of macroalgal communities and acting as a key food source for a range of predatory fishes. The first aim of this study was to investigate the associations between motile epifaunal communities and four common macroalgal species (Lobophora variegata, Dictyota divaricata, Microdictyon marinum and Halimeda opuntia) on fore‐reef environments in the Exuma Cays (Bahamas, wider Caribbean). Secondly, we investigated the implications of the well documented rise of Caribbean macroalgal cover on invertebrate densities by surveying sites inside and outside the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park (ECLSP), where increases in parrotfish grazing intensity inside the marine reserves have led to reductions in macroalgal cover. Therefore, surveys compared similar reefs with significantly different macrolagal cover. Comparisons between macroalgal species revealed a four to fivefold difference in motile epifaunal densities per unit volume of macroalgae. Post‐hoc tests revealed that this difference was significant only for Lobophora, with no difference observed among the other species. As macroalgae provide both a refuge from predation and a food source for grazing epifauna, the higher densities of epifauna observed in Lobophora may be attributed to either refuge from visual predators through morphological features (high cover of overlapping blades close to the substrate) or lack of palatability for parrotfish grazing, providing a more stable refuge. Our results revealed no significant differences in diversity, density or community structure of motile epifauna per unit volume of macroalgae between sites inside and outside the ECLSP. Since canopy height and invertivore biomass did not vary systematically across reserve boundaries, this suggests that algal cover does not affect the density of epifaunal invertebrates. However, areal cover was consistently higher for all macroalgal species at sites outside the ECLSP than those inside the reserve. Therefore, when scaled by aerial cover of macroalgae, total abundance of epifauna was twofold higher outside the ECLSP. We suggest that the increasing abundance of macroalgae on Caribbean reefs may be having dramatic effects on epifaunal invertebrate populations and potentially their ecological functions. 相似文献
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The introduction of Sargassum muticum modifies epifaunal patterns in a Moroccan seagrass meadow 下载免费PDF全文
下载免费PDF全文 Zahira Belattmania Abdellatif Chaouti Abdeltif Reani Aschwin H. Engelen Margarida Machado Ester A. Serrão Brahim Sabour 《Marine Ecology》2018,39(3)
Marine macrophytes sustain valuable epiphytic biodiversity. Nonindigenous macroalgae may induce changes in composition and structure of epifaunal assemblages and therefore support different assemblages from those associated with native species. In this study, differences in faunal community structure between the introduced fucoid Sargassum muticum and the native seagrass Cymodocea nodosa were tested over a year on an intertidal shallow sandy bottom at the southern introduction front, the El Jadida coastline (NW Morocco). Epifaunal community structure consistently differed between macrophytes through seasons, with more species‐rich assemblages associated with S. muticum than C. nodosa despite comparable abundances. The significantly greater epifauna diversity on S. muticum may be related to its structural complexity. However, the species contributing most to differences in assemblages between both macrophytes, such as Steromphala umbilicalis and S. pennanti, were found on both habitats with temporally varying abundances. Some species‐specific affinities were detected (Stenosoma cf. acuminatum, Elasmopus vachoni, Chauvetia brunnea). Nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, suspended matter and temperature were identified as the best explanatory variables contributing to the observed macroepifaunal patterns. This study provides evidence that S. muticum acts as a favourable and additional habitat for epifaunal species and supports a more diverse epifaunal assemblage in this Moroccan seagrass meadow. 相似文献