Effects of granulometric gradient on macrofaunal assemblages in Los Cristianos harbour (Tenerife, Canary Islands)

Abstract

Along the rapid increase of coastal tourism worldwide, evidence is accumulating on the numerous environmental coastal impacts that it causes on marine environments. One of the most important anthropogenic pressures is the construction of marinas or recreational harbours. Typically, most of the studies provide snapshots of the spatial distribution of macrobenthic communities inside and outside of the marina area. However, there is no much information about sedimentary dynamics inside the harbour and their effect on macroinfaunal In the innermost stations of Los Cristianos harbour a different macrofaunal community was present, dominated by the amphipods Cheirocratus assimilis and Corophium acutum and the polychaete Nainereis laevigata. Changes in macrofaunal assemblages could be used as early warnings in identifying environmental impacts before they cause major shifts in the marine environment.