Self-organisation in striped seagrass meadows affects the distributional pattern of the sessile bivalve Pinna nobilis.

ABSTRACT: Striped seagrass meadows are formed by narrow ribbons which are elevated over the seabed and separated by channels. Limited information on the genesis and development of this morphological pattern, including the adaptive responses of associated biota, is preventing holistic insight into the functioning of such protected ecosystems. This paper assessed the structural dynamics of a Posidonia oceanica striped meadow and the distribution and 3D orientation of the associated bivalve Pinna nobilis. Our analysis of the interaction between bedforms, bottom currents, and the distribution of P. nobilis revealed that the striped seascape is the result of a self-organisation process driven by feedback interactions among seagrass growth, sediment deposition, and hydrodynamics. The results suggest that

SUBMITTER: Coppa S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6510729 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature