Can artificial beds of plastic mimics compensate for seasonal absence of natural beds of Sargassum furcatum ?

Godoy, Eduardo A. S.; Coutinho, Ricardo

The sublittoral of Farol beach at Cabo Frio Island, Brazil, is characterized by a seasonal macroalgae bed dominated by Sargassum furcatum. The bed is fully developed during summer and is almost absent during winter. We compared fish communities in artificial and natural beds during one summer and one winter season. Four artificial beds of plastic mimics and four sites in the natural bed were monitored weekly by scuba for species richness and fish density. Species richness and density in both habitats were significantly higher during summer than during winter, and the artificial beds maintained a smaller fish community during winter than the natural habitat carried during summer. It is suggested that other environmental factors may be more important in controlling the fish community than just algal cover. Copyright 2002 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

BRAZIL; SARGASSUM; ALGAE; ANIMAL species; AQUATIC habitats; FISH communities

ICES Journal of Marine Science / Journal du Conseil, 2002, Vol 59, pS111

1054-3139

Academic Journal

10.1006/jmsc.2002.1220