Faunal composition within algal mats and adjacent habitats in Likuri, Fiji Islands

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aut.researcherWhite, William Lindsey
dc.contributor.authorAlfaro, AC
dc.contributor.authorZemke White, WL
dc.contributor.authorNainoca, W
dc.date.accessioned2011-06-23T03:01:17Z
dc.date.available2011-06-23T03:01:17Z
dc.date.copyright2009
dc.date.issued2009
dc.description.abstractThe faunal composition within three mono-specific algal habitats was investigated at Likuri Island, southern Viti Levu, Fiji Islands. Gracilaria maramae was the dominant alga within algal drift mat, seagrass bed, and rocky substrate habitats at the study site. This algal species exhibits two distinctive morphologies depending on whether it is attached or loose-lying. When attached to seagrass blades or rocky substrates, this alga has long straight branches stemming from a single holdfast, while detached individuals develop curled tendrils that re-attach to adjacent substrates. Re-attachment behaviour and high growth rates result in a dense mat of drift algae, which provides a suitable micro-habitat for macro-invertebrates. The sources of algal fragments that contribute to the algal mat appear to be nearby seagrass beds and rocky substrates, where this species may settle directly from spores. Storm events may detach these algae, although pulling experiments showed that the attachment to rocky substrates is 5 times stronger than the attachment to seagrass blades. Results from the macrofaunal samples indicate that the loose-lying algal mat habitat had the highest abundance and biodiversity of organisms, followed by the seagrass bed, and then the rocky substrate habitat. The ability of loose G. maramae fragments to re-attach, along with their high growth rate, may provide a unique micro-habitat for highly abundant and diverse faunal assemblages, which in turn may sustain adjacent near-shore communities. This study highlights the ecological importance of floating algal mats to coastal ecosystems, which should be considered in future management strategies throughout the Fiji Islands.
dc.identifier.citationJournal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, vol.89pp.295 - 302
dc.identifier.doi10.1017/S0025315408002774
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10292/1329
dc.publisherMarine Biological Association of the United Kingdom/Cambridge University Press
dc.rightsThe right to post the definitive version of the contribution as published at Cambridge Journals Online (in PDF or HTML form) in the Institutional Repository of the institution in which they worked at the time the paper was first submitted, or (for appropriate journals) in PubMedCentral or UK PubMedCentral, no sooner than one year after first publication of the paper in the journal, subject to file availability and provided the posting includes a prominent statement of the full bibliographical details, a copyright notice in the name of the copyright holder (Cambridge University Press or the sponsoring Society, as appropriate), and a link to the online edition of the journal at Cambridge Journals Online. Inclusion of this definitive version after one year in Institutional Repositories outside of the institution in which the contributor worked at the time the paper was first submitted will be subject to the additional permission of Cambridge University Press (not to be unreasonably withheld).
dc.rights.accessrightsOpenAccess
dc.subjectFaunal composition
dc.subjectAlgal mats
dc.subjectBeach-cast
dc.subjectSeagrass beds
dc.subjectSand flats
dc.subjectLikuri Island
dc.subjectFiji Islands
dc.titleFaunal composition within algal mats and adjacent habitats in Likuri, Fiji Islands
dc.typeJournal Article
pubs.organisational-data/AUT
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Health & Environmental Science
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