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. 2025 Feb 3;14(2):153.
doi: 10.3390/biology14020153.

Seasonal Dynamics of Benthic Infauna Communities in Zostera marina Meadows: Effects of Plant Density Gradients

Natalia Anna Gintowt  1 , Halina Kendzierska  1 , Urszula Janas  1
Affiliations

Seasonal Dynamics of Benthic Infauna Communities in Zostera marina Meadows: Effects of Plant Density Gradients

Natalia Anna Gintowt et al. Biology (Basel). .

Abstract

Zostera marina meadows play a key role in the Baltic Sea ecosystem. They are characterized by high primary production and provide feeding and reproduction grounds for organisms. These characteristics vary due to year-round environmental changes and may be due to the characteristics of the meadows themselves. Organisms inhabiting seagrass meadows are involved in the transformation of substances from terrestrial runoff, and, through bioturbation and bioirrigation, affect biogeochemical processes in the sediments. This study aimed to determine the structure of benthic communities inhabiting Z. marina meadows and their bioturbation (BPC) and bioirrigation (IPC) potential as affected by seagrass density and seasonal changes. This study shows a positive correlation between the density of Z. marina and the structure of macrozoobenthos, as well as the bioturbation and bioirrigation potential of the studied communities. The autumn season stimulated the density of macrofauna and recorded the highest values of their potential activities indices. The presence of Z. marina positively affects macrozoobenthic communities and their functioning regardless of seagrass density, indicating that seagrass meadows inhabited by macrofauna are key biotopes that can support biogeochemical processes in the coastal zone more effectively than bare sand.

Keywords: Baltic Sea; bioirrigation; bioturbation; coastal zone; macrozoobenthos; marine biodiversity; seagrass.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study area with sampling site. The red rectangle indicates the location of the study area on a map of the Baltic Sea.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Photographs of the sampling sites with an increasing gradient of Z. marina shoots. The treatments were as follows: Unvegetated (UnV), Low-Density Seagrass (SLD), Medium-Density Seagrass (SMD), and High-Density Seagrass (SHD).
Figure 3
Figure 3
PCA results. Variables included in the PCA are bottom water temperature (TEMP), organic matter (OM) content of surface sediments and the number of Zostera shoots (SHOOT). Unvegetated (UnV), Low-Density Seagrass (SLD), Medium-Density Seagrass (SMD), and High-Density Seagrass (SHD).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Macrofauna community descriptors (mean ± SD), Pielou index, Shannon–Wiener and total number of taxa diversity index by season following a spatial gradient of increasing shoot density: Unvegetated (UnV), Low-Density Seagrass (SLD), Medium-Density Seagrass (SMD), and High-Density Seagrass (SHD).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Venn diagram showing the number of taxa unique or common to different Zostera treatments—Unvegetated (UnV), Low-Density Seagrass (SLD), Medium-Density Seagrass (SMD), and High-Density Seagrass (SHD).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Abundance of macrofauna [ind.∙m−2] at the sampling sites in four seasons. Values are presented as means with standard deviation indicated. Unvegetated (UnV), Low-Density Seagrass (SLD), Medium-Density Seagrass (SMD), and High-Density Seagrass (SHD). ‘Others’ include 22 species with the lowest abundance (less than 5% of the total abundance).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Functional indices (a) BPC and (b) IPC of the benthic community in cores collected from the sampling sites (n = 5). Values are presented as means with standard deviation indicated. Unvegetated (UnV), Low-Density Seagrass (SLD), Medium-Density Seagrass (SMD), and High-Density Seagrass (SHD). ‘Others’ include 22 species with the lowest abundance (less than 5% of the total abundance).
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