Depth zonation of epibenthos on sublittoral hard substrates off Deer Island,Bay of Fundy,Canada |
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| Authors: | A Logan FH Page MLH Thomas |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Geology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada;2. Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada;3. Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada |
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| Abstract: | Three locations were selected for detailed study of the epibenthos of sublittoral hard substrates in the Deer Island region of the Bay of Fundy. A total of 10 transects, using photographic and quadrat methods, yielded data on percentage coverage, density and diversity of biota in relation to depth.A cluster analysis, using the Jaccard Coefficient of Association, produced five major clusters, representing three depth zones. The shallow and mid-depth zones lie within the infralittoral, the deep zone within the circalittoral.The shallow zone extends from mean low water (MLW) to a mean depth of 5 m below MLW and consists of two clusters representing minor biological differences. It is characterized by crustose coralline algae and Petrocelis middendorfii which together cover over 70% of the primary substrate. Other macro-algae are rare, as are bryozoans, while sponges are absent. The sea urchin Stronglyocentrotus droebachiensis, the limpet Acmaea testudinalis and chitons belonging to Tonicella are very common and may exert a significant influence on the community structure in terms of grazing pressure.The mid-depth zone has a mean depth of 10 m and consists of two clusters, one representing well-illuminated upward-facing surfaces, the other representing shaded steeply-inclined cliff faces. The zone is characterized by higher species richness (relative to the shallow zone); greater coverage of sponges, bryozoans and hydroids; lower densities of sea urchins and limpets; and less areal coverage by encrusting algae. The cliff-face cluster is characterized by enrichment of bryozoans, anemones, sponges and brachiopods.The deep zone has a mean depth of 18 m, and is animal-dominated, supporting the greatest species richness, with sponges, hydroids, anemones, brachiopods and tunicates common, but algal coverage much reduced.Organisms colonizing the upward-facing surfaces in the shallow and mid-depth zones are here regarded as belonging to the encrusting algae-urchin community, while biota of the shaded cliff faces of the mid-depth zone, together with the biota of the deep zone, are regarded as belonging to the Terebratulina septentrionalis community of previous authors. |
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| Keywords: | sublittoral zones benthos depth zones Bay of Fundy Canada |
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