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D Koutsoubas, C Arvanitidis, C Dounas, and L Drummond (2000)

Community structure and dynamics of the molluscan fauna in a Mediterranean lagoon (Gialova lagoon, SW Greece)

BELGIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, 130(S1):131-138.

The molluscan community of a shallow Mediterranean lagoon (Gialova lagoon, SW Greece, Ionian Sea) was studied on a seasonal basis during 1995-1996. A total of 23 species were recorded from the lagoon. Two of them namely: Placida viridis and Polycerella emertoni are reported for the first time from the Greek seas and the Eastern Mediterranean respectively. The dominant species were the gastropods Bittium reticulation, Cerithium vulgatum, Pirenella conica, Hydrobia acuta, Cyclope neritea and the bivalves Cerastoderma glaucum, Abra ovata. Uni- and multivariate methods were employed to study the community structure and dynamics. On the basis of the multivariate pattern of the molluscan community a coenocline is observed which is strongly related with the degree of isolation. Two main zones with different faunal composition can be distinguished: one narrow zone close to the channel of communication with the sea and another in the innermost part of the lagoon. Following the confinement scale suggested for lagoonal ecosystems by GUELORGET & PERTHUISOT (1992) the first zone can be assigned to the ``zone III'' and the second to ``zones IV-V''. The distribution pattern of the molluscan community is governed by a different set of environmental variables in each season, discussed in detail. Although no disturbance due to anthropogenic impact was revealed, this narrow lagoonal habitat was proved to suffer severe ``dystrophic episodes'', during late summer and the beginning of autumn, but successfully recovered, demonstrating a seasonal community pattern.

Molluscs; coastal lagoons; population structure and dynamics; environmental impact studies; Ionian Sea
8th International Congress on the Zoogeography and Ecology of Greece and Adjacent Regions, KAVALA, GREECE, MAY 17-21, 1999
  • ISSN: 0777-6276
BJZ

ISSN 2295-0451 (online version)
ISSN 0777-6279 (printed version)
impact factor 2015: 0,87.

Editor-in-Chief:
Prof. Dr. Isa Schön
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
Vautierstraat 29
1000 Brussels, Belgium

 



1863-1903
Annales de la Société malacologique de Belgique
 
1903-1923
​Annales de la Société royale malacologique et zoologique de Belgique
 
1923-1989
Annales de la Société Royale Zoologique de Belgique
 
1989-
Belgian Journal of Zoology