On the diversity and distribution of a data deficient habitat in a poorly mapped region: The case of Sabellaria alveolata L. in Ireland

Louise B Firth; Amelia Curd; Stephen J Hawkins; Antony M Knights; Julie A Blaze; Michael T Burrows; Stanislas F Dubois; Hugh Edwards; Andy Foggo; Paul E Gribben; Lisa Grant; Daniel Harris; Nova Mieszkowska; Flavia L D Nunes; Julia D Nunn; Anne Marie Power; Ruth M O'Riordan; David McGrath; Christina Simkanin; Nessa E O'Connor

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105344

On the diversity and distribution of a data deficient habitat in a poorly mapped region: The case of Sabellaria alveolata L. in Ireland

Mar Environ Res. 2021 Jul:169:105344. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105344. Epub 2021 May 6.

Authors

Louise B Firth¹, Amelia Curd², Stephen J Hawkins³, Antony M Knights⁴, Julie A Blaze⁵, Michael T Burrows⁶, Stanislas F Dubois⁷, Hugh Edwards⁸, Andy Foggo⁴, Paul E Gribben⁹, Lisa Grant¹⁰, Daniel Harris¹¹, Nova Mieszkowska¹², Flavia L D Nunes⁷, Julia D Nunn¹³, Anne Marie Power¹⁰, Ruth M O'Riordan¹⁴, David McGrath¹⁵, Christina Simkanin¹⁶, Nessa E O'Connor¹⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK; Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
² Ifremer, DYNECO-LEBCO, Plouzané, France. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK; Marine Biological Association of the UK, Plymouth, UK; School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
⁴ School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
⁵ Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, USA.
⁶ Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, UK.
⁷ Ifremer, DYNECO-LEBCO, Plouzané, France.
⁸ Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Belfast, UK.
⁹ Centre for Marine Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁰ Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
¹¹ Estuary & Ocean Science Center, San Francisco State University, California, USA.
¹² Marine Biological Association of the UK, Plymouth, UK; Department of Ocean, Earth and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
¹³ Centre for Environmental Data & Recording, National Museums Northern Ireland, Holywood, UK; 2 Windmill Lane, Portaferry, UK.
¹⁴ School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Aquaculture and Fisheries Development Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
¹⁵ Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway, Ireland.
¹⁶ Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Maryland, USA.
¹⁷ School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

PMID: 34015675
DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105344

Abstract

Data that can be used to monitor biodiversity through time are essential for conservation and management. The reef-forming worm, Sabellaria alveolata (L. 1767) is currently classed as 'Data Deficient' due to an imbalance in the spread of data on its distribution. Little is known about the distribution of this species around Ireland. Using data archaeology, we collated past and present distribution records and discovered that S. alveolata has a discontinuous distribution with large gaps between populations. Many regions lack data and should be targeted for sampling. Biodiversity surveys revealed that S. alveolata supported diverse epibiotic algal communities. Retrograding (declining) reefs supported greater infaunal diversity than prograding (growing) reefs or sand, suggesting that S. alveolata is a dynamic ecosystem engineer that has a lasting legacy effect. Similar research should be carried out for other Data Deficient species, habitats and regions. Such data are invaluable resources for management and conservation.

Keywords: Baseline data; Biodiversity; Biogenic habitat; Marine protected area; Reef; Sustained observations.

MeSH terms

Alveolata*
Animals
Biodiversity
Conservation of Natural Resources
Coral Reefs
Ecosystem
Ireland
Polychaeta*