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Exploring ecosystem functioning in two Brazilian estuaries integrating fish diversity, species traits and food webs

2016; Inter-Research; Volume: 560; Linguagem: Inglês

10.3354/meps11895

1616-1599

Marina Dolbeth, AL Vendel, Alexandra Baeta, André Luiz Machado Pessanha, Joana Patrício,

Fish biology, ecology, and behavior

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 560:41-55 (2016) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11895 Exploring ecosystem functioning in two Brazilian estuaries integrating fish diversity, species traits and food webs M. Dolbeth1,2,*, A. L. Vendel3, A. Baeta4, A. Pessanha1, J. Patrício4 1Post-graduate Programme in Ecology and Conservation, Paraiba State University, 58429-500, Campina Grande, Brazil 2Biology Department & Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal 3Centre for Applied Biological and Social Sciences, Paraiba State University, Campus V, Horacio Trajano Street, 58070-450 João Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil 4MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal *Corresponding author: mdolbeth@ua.pt ABSTRACT: Ecosystem functioning is assessed through research that spans multiple biological organisational levels and disciplines, and it is quantified by measuring the magnitude and dynamics of several processes. This quantification is done using different tools, and the resulting information from each tool is often interpreted independently. Our main aim was to contribute to the understanding of the functioning of tropical estuarine ecosystems facing anthropogenic impact, using information on fish diversity, traits and food webs. We used biological and environmental data from 2 Brazilian estuaries with different levels and types of human disturbance: the heavily impacted Paraiba estuary and the environmentally protected Mamanguape estuary (IUCN, Protected Area Category V). Fish assemblages and their prey were collected along the salinity gradient in the dry and wet seasons, and we evaluated (1) species taxonomic diversity, (2) functional diversity based on effect traits and (3) food-web structure through analyses of the natural abundance of stable isotopes (carbon and nitrogen). Species turnover, i.e. the change in species identity, along each estuary was relatively high, and this dissimilarity was considerably greater than the trait turnover (i.e. low functional β-diversity). These results highlight that, although habitat selection was an important driver of the coexistence of fish species due to spatial environmental gradients, the competition for resources might be high because species tended to use the system in a similar way. The relatively narrow range of both δ13C and δ15N values among fish species also implies competition for the same resources. Moreover, the δ15N values indicated anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen in both estuaries, regardless of their protection framework, which highlights the need for more effective conservation measures. KEY WORDS: Disturbance · Functional diversity · Habitat filtering · Redundancy · Stable isotopes· Tropical Full text in pdf format Supplementary material PreviousNextCite this article as: Dolbeth M, Vendel AL, Baeta A, Pessanha A, Patrício J (2016) Exploring ecosystem functioning in two Brazilian estuaries integrating fish diversity, species traits and food webs. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 560:41-55. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11895 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 560. Online publication date: November 24, 2016 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2016 Inter-Research.