Diversity patterns of bivalves in a coral dominated shallow-water bay in the northern Red Sea - High species richness on a local scale
- Author(s)
- Martin Zuschin, P. Graham Oliver
- Abstract
Bivalve species richness in the Northern Bay of Safaga, northern Red Sea, was assessed through original collecting activity in water depths from the intertidal to >50 m and by incorporating selected literature records. One-hundred-and-ninety-three samples, yielding 16,320 shells (dead and living), were taken from a coral-dominated coastal area that covers approximately 75 km2. Two-hundred-and-forty-three bivalve species were recognized; this is the highest number of species reported to date for any coastal area of comparable size. This high species richness can be related to the great habitat variety in the bay and the major sampling effort, including quantitative and qualitative samples from hard and soft substrata, which enabled us to detect many rare species. Species accumulation curves suggest that the full range of species in the bay was considerably under-estimated. Additional species would most likely be detected at depths from 20-50 m, where sampling intensity was much lower than in shallower parts of the bay. Additional species are also likely to be small and rare; they will probably have unusual life habits and will probably be detected in bulk samples from soft substrata, from systematic sampling in cryptic habitats and from commensal associations. The consideration of dead shells in this survey helped us to recognize species that were rare or that colonize very specialized habitats. The probability of finding them alive within a reasonable time was low, with a reasonable number of samples, or without destructive sampling methods. Surveys of this type may help to identify areas of conservation importance, especially where living bivalves are only present in low numbers. © 2005 Taylor & Francis.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Palaeontology
- External organisation(s)
- National Museum of Wales
- Journal
- Marine Biology Research
- Volume
- 1
- Pages
- 396-410
- No. of pages
- 15
- ISSN
- 1745-1000
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/17451000500456262
- Publication date
- 2005
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 105118 Palaeontology
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 14 - Life Below Water
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/00d6b76a-5516-4742-a922-723a6bd460e3