Deena Sharon Chadi, M.S.

Environmental Science Program, University of New Haven

Materials and Methods
Results
References
Acknowledgements
Assessing community structure along seafloor ecotones in Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an important estuary along the United States coast of the
Atlantic Ocean. Long Island Sound is ecologically significant due to its high
ecological productivity and the significant level of human activity with respect to
commerce and recreation (Levin et al. 2001). In 2011, the states of Connecticut and
New York initiated a seafloor mapping and ecological characterization study to gain
a better understanding of this valuable resource, and to develop tools that would
assist in management and conservation. The work presented here is part of that study
and focuses on seafloor benthic communities comprised of organisms that live in or
on the sediments of the seafloor.
Benthic invertebrates are essential to estuarine processes because they perform
many important functions in these ecosystems. We can understand benthic ecology
better by studying how seafloor communities vary across different habitats which
affects these patterns. Ecotones are potentially important habitats as they are
transitional areas among different large-scale habitat patches on the seafloor, such as
large sand or mud areas. Transition zones are thought to have high habitat
heterogeneity which may support greater diversity than patch interiors (Zajac et al.
2003). The objective of this research is to determine whether there are differences in
community structure among seafloor transition zones (i.e. ecotones) and the interior
portions of adjacent patches in Long Island Sound.
Sediment samples were collected from the Stratford Shoal area of Long Island Sound,
during October 2012. Stratford Shoal is located south of the Housatonic River, separating
the central and western portions of Long Island Sound. In general, 0.1 m
2
grab samples
were collected in various habitats, and organisms retained on a 0.5 mm sieve were
counted and identified to the lowest taxonomic level. The results presented here were
collected in a sampling block where there were adjoining mud and sand patches. Samples
were then taken in the sand, mud, and transition areas among them.
Data were analyzed to assess differences in community structure between adjacent
sand and mud patches and transition zones on a local scale (see Figure below). Species
richness and abundance were calculated for each sample and dominant species were
identified. Univariate and multivariate approaches were used to determine whether there
were significant differences in community structure, dominant species abundances, and
biodiversity among transition zone habitats and adjacent interior patches.
Zajac RN, Lewis RS, Poppe LJ, Twichell DC, Vozarik J, DiGiacomo-
Cohen ML (2003) Responses of infaunal populations to benthoscape structure
and the potential importance of transition zones. Limnology and
Oceanography 48(2): 829842
Levin LA, Boesch DF, Covich A et al (2001) The function of marine
critical transition zones and the importance of sediment biodiversity.
Ecosystems 4: 430451
Species richness was highest in the sand patches with a
mean of 40 species per sample. Species richness was lowest
in the mud patches with a mean of 20 species per sample.
Species richness in the transition zone was intermediate
between these values with a mean of 27 species per sample.
Non-metric multidimensional scaling was used to assess similarity in
community structure among habitats. The closer points are to each other, the
more similar their community structure. Community structure was fairly
similar among the mud sites, as well as the sand sites. Community structure in
two transition zone sites were relatively similar to the mud sites (50%), and
less similar to the sand sites. One transition site, SB12-9, was quite different
from the mud, sand, and the other transition sites. The main community
differences among habitats were assessed by resemblance analysis.
Thanks to my advisor, Dr. Roman Zajac. This study was funded by
the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
and the New York State Department of Conservation.
BrayCurtis dissimilarity
Total abundance of organisms was highest in the sand patches. Abundance in the transition zone was intermediate between that
of the sand and mud habitats. Abundance by taxonomic group varied considerably among habitats. Polychaetes had the highest
mean, but variable abundance in the transition zone; oligochaetes and crustaceans were effectively only found in the sand habitats.
Introduction
Location of study area in Long Island Sound showing sampling sites in
the mud, transitional, and sand habitats in sampling block 12 (SB-12)
Species Diversity
Species Richness
Conclusions
Seafloor transition zones, or ecotones, in the area of Long Island Sound
analyzed exhibited a different overall community structure as well as other
benthic community characteristics compared to mud and sand habitats.
However, they were not areas of elevated diversity or abundance.
Total abundance was highest in sand habitats, and some taxa were only
found in sand habitats.
Mean species diversity was similar among the mud, transition, and sand
habitat types; species richness was highest in sand habitats.
Polychaete diversity was highest in sand habitats, and other taxa had
similar diversity among the habitats.
This study focused on a relatively small spatial scale of approximately 300
m, and the ecotone effect, if any, may occur at larger spatial scales. This
study was within a broader ecotone. This is being addressed in my
ongoing thesis research.
Community Similarity
Species Abundance
Species diversity was measured using the Shannon diversity index. Species diversity was highest in the
sand patches at H': 2.7, followed by the mud patches at H': 2.5. The transition zone had the lowest mean
species diversity at H': 2.3. As such, there was little difference in overall diversity among habitats. Polychaete
diversity was highest in the sand habitats; mollusk and crustacean diversities were similar among habitat types.
Study Area
Mud and Transition Groups
Average dissimilarity: 67.4%
Mud Transition
Species Average
Abundance
Average
Abundance
Contribution Cumulative
Contribution
Polydora cornuta 11 82.33 40.1% 40.09%
Sigambra tentaculata 11.67 12.33 9.49% 49.59%
Levinsenia gracilis 4.67 7.33 4.3% 53.89%
Capitella capitata 1.67 6.67 3.61% 57.49%
Nephtys incisa 6.33 7 3.58% 61.08%
Sand and Transition Groups
Average dissimilarity: 75.77%
Sand Transition
Species Average
Abundance
Average
Abundance
Contribution Cumulative
Contribution
Polydora cornuta 25.5 82.33 20.91% 20.91%
Oligochaetes 1.67 93 19.37% 40.28%
Ampelisca abdita 1.33 59 12.88% 53.16%
Sigambra tentaculata 12.33 2 3.58% 56.74%
Ampelisca spp. 0 5 2.61% 59.35%
Transition Group
Average Similarity: 27.93%
Species Average
Abundance
Average
Similarity
Contribution Cumulative
Contribution
Polydora cornuta 82.33 11.47 41.08% 41.08%
Sigambra tentaculata 12.33 2.49 8.9% 49.98%
Nephtys incisa 7 2.08 7.45% 57.43%
Pinnixa sayana 3.67 2.08 7.45% 64.88%
Pinnixa retinens 3 1.74 6.23% 71.11%