Spatial heterogeneity at small scale in the microbenthic loop of Posidonia oceanica meadows

In the Mediterranean coastal zone, one the most important ecosystem is the Posidonia oceanica meadow. This seagrass is endemic of the Mediterranean Sea and plays many important ecological roles like oxygen production, nursery for numerous commercial species of fishes and protection of coastal zones by reducing the impact of waves. However, there is a severe lack of informations on small scale variations in its sediment compartment.
In an attempt to understand spatial variations in the microbenthic loop (bacteria, organic matter, microphytobenthos and meiofauna) of this ecosystem, an experiment was led in Calvi Bay (Corsica, France), in March 2008, at 10 m depth. Twelve points were sampled randomly in a 125 x 125 cm grid, divided into twenty-five 25 x 25 cm squares, to assess and describe the spatial distribution and variations of different parameters of the sediment. Those parameters are granulometry, density of the P. oceanica meadow, nutrients concentration in pore water, bacteria (biomass, abundance, morphotypes), organic matter (biomass), microphytobenthos (biomass), roots and rhizomes (biomass) and meiofauna (biomass). Distribution maps were produced using the DIVA (Data-Interpolating Variational Analysis) method.
Our results prove that the sediment compartment is highly heterogeneous at small scale, especially for bacteria and in the first centimeter of sediment cores. Moreover, a correlation has been established between microphytobenhtos variations and phosphate concentration in pore water.
For the first time, such small scale variations are depicted in a P. oceanica meadow, which underlines the importance to take them into account in sampling strategies.