Impact of a Pulse Human Disturbance Experiment on Macrofaunal Assemblages on an Australian Sandy Beach

Simon J Walker; Thomas Schlacher

doi:10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-09-00138.1

Back

Impact of a Pulse Human Disturbance Experiment on Macrofaunal Assemblages on an Australian Sandy Beach

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Impact of a Pulse Human Disturbance Experiment on Macrofaunal Assemblages on an Australian Sandy Beach

Simon J Walker and Thomas Schlacher

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol.27(6A), pp.184-192

2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-09-00138.1

Files and links (2)

pdf

PDF - Published Version491.30 kBDownload View

Published VersionPDF - Published Version Open Access

url

https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-09-00138.1View

Published Version

Abstract

anthropogenic disturbance

macrobenthos

sandy shores

variability

temporal

Environmental control is widely accepted as the principal structuring force of the macrobenthos on sandy beaches: abundance, biomass, and species diversity of benthic assemblages are closely linked to variations in environmental conditions. Thus, disturbance events that modify habitat properties in these ecosystems are hypothesized to translate into strong and consistent community-wide responses; this is the central hypothesis of this study, which was tested by examining trajectories of macrobenthic assemblages in relation to the experimental introduction of a pulse disturbance event that consisted of concentrated vehicle traffic (600 passes over 3 days) applied to the intertidal zone in a multiple before-after control-impact design. Small-scale spatial heterogeneity and short-term temporal variability were pronounced for all composite descriptors of assemblages (i.e., total abundance, species richness, and diversity) as well as community structure. The experimental pulse disturbance in the form of increased off-road vehicle traffic lowered macrobenthic densities by 27-52% and resulted in significant temporal shifts of assemblage structure. These biological responses were, however, not always unequivocally linked to the disturbance event in all cases, because background variation in the absence of experimental manipulation of traffic could be of comparable magnitude. Thus, human pulse disturbance effects can operate against a matrix of considerable natural spatiotemporal variability over small scales on sandy beaches. This heterogeneity has traditionally not been sufficiently incorporated into our understanding of the dynamics of the macrobenthos on sandy beaches and emphasizes the need for more experimental approaches on sandy shores.

Details

Title: Impact of a Pulse Human Disturbance Experiment on Macrofaunal Assemblages on an Australian Sandy Beach
Authors: Simon J Walker (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and Education
Thomas Schlacher (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and Education
Publication details: Journal of Coastal Research, Vol.27(6A), pp.184-192
Publisher: Coastal Education & Research Foundation, Inc.
Date published: 2011
DOI: 10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-09-00138.1
ISSN: 0749-0208
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449977602621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

99 File views/ downloads

700 Record Views

22 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Environmental Sciences; Geography, Physical; Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites