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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 58(11)

Faunal relationships with seagrass habitat structure: a case study using shrimp from the Indo-Pacific

Richard K. F. Unsworth A E , Sammy De Grave C , Jamaluddin Jompa D , David J. Smith A and James J. Bell B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Coral Reef Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK.

B Centre for Marine Environmental and Economic Research, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria, University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand.

C Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PW, UK.

D Center for Coral Reef Research, Hasanuddin University, Gedung PKP Lt. 5, Kampus UNHAS Tamalanrea, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia.

E Corresponding author. Email: richardunsworth@hotmail.com

Marine and Freshwater Research 58(11) 1008-1018 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF07058
Submitted: 20 March 2007  Accepted: 8 October 2007   Published: 3 December 2007

Abstract

Caridean shrimp were used as a model group to investigate the effects of seagrass floral habitat complexity on Indo-Pacific fauna. Relationships between shrimp and seagrass habitat characteristics were explored using both multivariate and multiple linear regression modelling approaches. Epifaunal shrimp assemblages were sampled in the Wakatobi Marine National Park, Indonesia. Seagrass habitat complexity had a significant positive impact on shrimp abundance (F3,59 = 17.51, P < 0.001) and species richness (F3,59 = 10.88, P < 0.001), while significantly altering shrimp assemblage structure (ANOSIM global R = 0.397, P < 0.001). In contrast to studies from other bioregions and faunal groups, species diversity and evenness were inversely related to habitat complexity. Changes in shrimp abundance, diversity and assemblage structure with habitat complexity are considered to reflect changes in individual species habitat specialisation. High complexity habitats were dominated by habitat specialists, whereas low complexity seagrass had higher numbers of habitat generalists. Generalist species may be more adapted to the reduced food availability and increased predatory pressures associated with reduced habitat complexity. Although similar patterns were observed at all sites, inter-site differences in shrimp abundance were observed. This indicates that although the present study demonstrates the importance of small-scale changes in seagrass habitat complexity to faunal assemblages, other factors related to larger spatial-scales are also important.

Additional keywords: caridean shrimp, habitat complexity, habitat structure, Indonesia, seagrass.


Acknowledgements

The authors thank the staff at the Hoga Marine Research Centre for their logistic support and Operation Wallacea who provided financial support for travel. Richard Unsworth is grateful to Dr Tim Coles and Operation Wallacea for providing a doctoral studentship; and Oxford University Museum of Natural History for providing shipping and consumable costs. Research authorisation and specimen export permits were provided by Prof. Jamaluddin Jompa and UNHAS.


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