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MEPS 234:159-170 (2002)
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Abstract
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Spatial variation in the intertidal bivalve Macoma balthica: biotic variables in relation to density and abiotic factors
Lamia Azouzi1, Edwin Bourget2,*, Daniel Borcard3
1ISMER, 310 allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, Québec G5L 3A1, Canada
2GIROQ, Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, Québec G1K 7P4, Canada
3Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, CP 6128, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada
Present address: Vice-rectorat à la recherche, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QuébecJ1R 2R1, Canada. *Corresponding author. E-Mail: edwin.bourget@rectorat.usherb.ca
ABSTRACT: We studied the spatial variation in biotic variables of a Macoma balthica population. Systematic sampling was carried out over an environmentally heterogeneous intertidal bay of the St. Lawrence Estuary. Several biotic (density, body
tissue and shell mass, reproductive effort, shell length and growth) and abiotic (intertidal level, sediment characteristics) variables were concurrently analysed to quantify the part of the variance accounted for by the abiotic factors and the part
accounted for by density (density was also studied as an explanatory variable). Redundancy analysis and multiple regression were used. The variables examined were mapped to show the trends in their spatial variation. Density was highly variable, from 0 to
2700 ind. m-2, and was mainly positively related to the percentage of sand in the sediment. Most biotic variables were spatially variable, and the variables accounting for most of this variation were shore level and density. Body tissue and
shell mass were negatively affected by increasing shore level and density. Shell length decreased with increasing shore level and increased with increasing pore-water content. Reproductive effort was enhanced at high density.
KEY WORDS: Spatial heterogeneity · Macoma balthica · Density-dependence · Sediment · Shore level · Reproductive effort · Body mass · Shell
Full text in pdf format
Published in MEPS Vol.
234
(2002) on June 3
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2002
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