Jornal de Ecossistema e Ecografia

Abstrato

Changes in Structure and Composition of Two Communities of Rocky Shores Molluscs Exposed to Different Human Impact in Playa Jibacoa, Cuba

Elizabeth Martínez, Jorge Sánchez, Annia Alba and Antonio A Vazquez

Rocky shore molluscs are highly relevant in keeping shore’s dynamics and ecological balance of beaches. The knowledge regarding species distribution patterns is important in understanding how environmental and anthropogenic factors may influence the structure of these communities. This study aimed to explore changes in structure and composition of littoral molluscs in two sites of Playa Jibacoa, Cuba with different human use. Fortyfour species of littoral molluscs were identified. The supralittoral zones exhibited the lowest diversity whereas the interlittoral and sublittoral the highest. These findings point the latter as the most vulnerable zones to human perturbation. Species were more abundant and evenly distributed in the site with less human activity. This effect showed a seasonal pattern since in both sites these variables were more affected in the summer probably because of an increased attendance of tourists to the beach. Species were mostly associated with the type of substrate and the stratum than to any other variable. Significant changes in diversity were observed between seasons with a decrease in summer.