Macroinfaunal assemblages in sandy seabeds of San Blas (SE Tenerife, Canary islands, NE Atlantic Ocean)

Abstract

The infaunal communities of C. nodosa meadows shelter most of the biodiversity associated with these seabeds. We studied macroinfaunal assemblages of a C. nodosa meadow from a locality on the south-east coast of Tenerife. Macroinfaunal assemblages were clearly dominated by crustaceans. The amphipod Ampelisca brevicornis and the tanaid Apseudes talpa were the most dominant taxa in studied stations. Macrofaunal assemblage showed important variations in terms of abundances and diversity, even at the same station. Variations in measured environmental variables (e.g. granulometry) are the main factor to explain these differences in macrofaunal assemblages.