Distribution of intertidal isopods in relation to geographical changes in macroalgal cover in the Bay of Biscay

Abstract

The distribution of intertidal isopods with respect to algal species was investigated over a range of 250 km on the shores of north Spain. A survey of 25 localities included three zones with a distinct composition of algal species: a western zone comprising shores facing Atlantic waters and the outer part of the Bay of Biscay; a narrow transition zone (about 70 km in length); and an eastern zone extending to the inner part of the Bay of Biscay. Thirty two isopod species were collected, 11 of which were present in high densities. Response to geographical change was observed to occur clearly in three species, Ischyromene lacazei, Idotea pelagica and I. baltica, and to a lesser degree in I. granulosa; the former two and the latter two were abundant in the eastern and western zones respectively. All four species were found to be closely associated with macroalgae species which display geographical changes in abundance (e.g. Laminaria ochroleuca and Comllina elongata). In addition, Idotea species were found to inhabit a reduced number of algal species compared with other European shores. Spanish shore of the Bay of Biscay probably constitutes the geographic limit of the distribution of the four species. A sampling artefact might also be responsible to some extent for the patterns of distribution observed. Differences in the physico-chemical properties of sea water along the coast and circulation of coastal waters are not thought to influence the distribution of isopods.