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Do Lanice conchilega (sandmason) aggregations classify as reefs? Quantifying habitat modifying effects

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Rabaut, Marijn Vincx, Magda Degraer, Steven [UCL]

The positive effects of the tube dwelling polychaete Lanice conchilega for the associated benthic community emphasizes this bio-engineer's habitat structuring capacity (Rabaut et al. in Estuar Coastal Shelf Sci, 2007). Therefore, L. conchilega aggregations are often referred to as reefs. The reef building capacity of ecosystem engineers is important for marine management as the recognition as reef builder will increase the protected status the concerned species. To classify as reefs however, bio-engineering activities need to significantly alter several habitat characteristics: elevation, sediment consolidation, spatial extent, patchiness, reef builder density, biodiversity, community structure, longevity and stability [guidelines to apply the EU reef-definition by Hendrick and Foster-Smith (J Mar Biol Assoc UK 86:665-677, 2006)]. This study investigates the physical and temporal characteristics of high density aggregations of L. conchilega. Results show that the elevation and sediment consolidation of the biogenic mounds was significantly higher compared to the surrounding unstructured sediment. Areas with L. conchilega aggregations tend to be extensive and patchiness is high (coverage 5-18%). The discussion of present study evaluates whether L. conchilega aggregations can be considered as reefs (discussing physical, biological and temporal characteristics). Individual aggregations were found to persist for several years if yearly renewal of existing aggregations through juvenile settlement occurred. This renewal is enhanced by local hydrodynamic changes and availability of attaching structures (adult tubes). We conclude that the application of the EU definition for reefs provides evidence that all physical and biological characteristics are present to classify L. conchilega as a reef builder. For temporal characteristics, this study shows several mechanisms exist for reefs to persist for a longer period of time. However, a direct evidence of long-lived individual reefs does not exist. As a range of aggregation development exists, 'reefiness' is not equal for all aggregations and a scoring table to quantify L. conchilega reefiness is presented.

Document type Article de périodique (Journal article) – Article de recherche
Access type Accès restreint
Publication date 2009
Language Anglais
Journal information "Helgoland Marine Research" - Vol. 63, no. 1, p. 37-46 (2009)
Peer reviewed yes
Publisher Springer (New York)
issn 1438-387X
e-issn 1438-3888
Publication status Publié
Affiliation UCL
Keywords Lanice conchilega ; Reef characteristics ; Reefiness ; Tube dwelling polychaete
Links
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Bibliographic reference Rabaut, Marijn ; Vincx, Magda ; Degraer, Steven. Do Lanice conchilega (sandmason) aggregations classify as reefs? Quantifying habitat modifying effects. In: Helgoland Marine Research, Vol. 63, no. 1, p. 37-46 (2009)
Permanent URL http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/35792