Food Sources for Benthic Grazers in Trophic Networks of Macrophyte Habitats in a Transitional Baltic Ecosystem
In this study, we provide insights into that characteristics of two sites representing different conditions of productivity and salinity impact on trophic network structures of macrophyte habitats and diet of benthic grazers at the active vegetation period in the Curonian Lagoon (southeastern Baltic Sea). Regarding the epiphytic growth, macrophytes were more overgrown in the relatively less productive (northern) site with a muddy bottom and more frequent marine water inflow than in the (southern) site with higher productivity and freshwater sandy habitat. Stable isotope analysis revealed that organisms’ samples from the northern site were more enriched with the heavier carbon isotopes, but …
Epiphytes and associated fauna on the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus in the Baltic and the North Seas in relation to different abiotic and biotic variables
Fucus vesiculosus L. is an important habitat-forming macroalga both in the saline and high diverse North Sea and the diluted and low diversity Baltic Sea. Despite its importance, comparisons of the spatial patterns of its epiphytes have rarely been reported. In this study we examined the species composition and density of macro-epiphytes and mobile fauna on the canopy-forming macroalga F. vesiculosus inhabiting different regimes of wave exposure in the North and Baltic Seas. The North and Baltic Seas had distinct epiphyte and mobile faunal communities. Wave exposure and segments of host fronds significantly contributed to the variability in species composition and dominance structure of epi…