RT Journal Article
T1 Mesozooplankton assemblage in the Gulf of Cádiz estuaries: taxonomic and trait-based approaches
A1 Reyes-Martínez, M. José
K1 Mesozooplankton
K1 Estuaries
K1 Coastal zone
K1 Taxonomic composition
K1 Biological traits
K1 Diversity
K1 Gulf of cádiz
AB In this study, two different approaches based on taxonomic assemblages and on copepod functional groups were used to investigate the mesozooplankton assemblage structure and its relationship with environmental variables in the main estuaries of the Gulf of Cádiz (Guadalquivir, Guadiana and Tinto-Odiel) during the dry-warm season. In general, the mesozooplankton assemblages were dominated by copepods, especially the calanoid Acartia tonsa, which reached its highest abundance in the inner zones while the adjacent coastal zones were characterized by a mixture of copepods and cladocerans, especially Penilia avirostris. Regarding the trait-based approach, three copepod functional groups were identified, principally sorted by their feeding strategy. Group 1 (composed of omnivorous copepods displaying a mixed feeding strategy and broadcast-spawners) was found mainly in the inner areas, while Groups 2 (omnivorous cyclopoids, sac-spawners that feed via active ambush) and 3 (herbivores-omnivores employing a filter feeding strategy and mostly broadcast-spawners) were predominant in the adjacent coastal zones. The relative abundance of copepod functional groups suggested that Group 1 could be considered the most important contributor to secondary production in the estuarine systems of the Gulf of Cádiz. In relation to environmental factors, salinity was the most influential variable on mesozooplankton assemblages in both approaches. Our results suggest that the studied estuaries, although taxonomically different, have mesozooplankton assemblages that perform similar ecological functions. Both methods provide valuable and complementary information about mesozooplankton assemblage dynamics in the main estuaries of the Gulf of Cádiz.
PB Elsevier
YR 2024
FD 2024-05-13
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10433/20704
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10433/20704
LA en
NO M.J. Reyes-Martínez, J.M. Miró, L. Vicente, C. Megina, I. Donázar-Aramendía, J.C. García-Gómez, J.I. González-Gordillo, Mesozooplankton assemblage in the gulf of cádiz estuaries: Taxonomic and trait-based approaches, Marine Environmental Research, Volume 198, 2024, 106554, ISSN 0141-1136, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106554.
NO Universidad Pablo de Olavide
DS RIO
RD May 9, 2026