Hostname: page-component-7b9c58cd5d-9k27k Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-03-15T22:34:24.520Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Macro-infaunal biodiversity and analysis of associated feeding guilds in the Greater Minch area, Scottish west coast

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 April 2003

Eunice H. Pinn
Affiliation:
School of Conservation Sciences, University of Bournemouth, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB, UK
M.R. Robertson
Affiliation:
FRS Marine Laboratory, PO Box 101, Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB11 9DB, UK
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Survey work was carried out in the Greater Minch area on the west coast of Scotland in 1997. The survey covered an area of 17,000 km2, extending from Kinlochbervie in the north-east to the Stanton Banks in the south-west. Acoustic and ground-truth surveys were conducted using the seabed discrimination system RoxAnn© and underwater television cameras. This paper examines the macro infaunal component of the benthic community from 28 stations sampled throughout the region. From these, 198 taxa were identified, while species per station ranged from 11 to 69 with a maximum abundance of 2100 individuals per m2. Biomass ranged from 2·3 g m−2 to 103·1 g m−2, with a mean value of 21·0 g m−2. Multivariate statistical analysis of the infaunal data revealed the presence of three benthic assemblages, which were closely related to habitat type. An investigation into the dominant feeding guilds or isotrophic groups from each assemblage revealed that surface deposit feeding dominated the very fine sand habitats while both surface and subsurface deposit feeding were very common in the silt communities. A combination of feeding types (namely carnivorous, suspension and surface-deposit feeding) was associated with the sand habitats. The findings of this study are discussed in relation to those in similar habitat types.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2003 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom