Testing macroecological hypotheses in sandy beach populations: the wedge clam Donax hanleyanus in South America

Published in MEPS 707:43-56
Authors

M. C. Risoli, A. R. Piola, O. Defeo, D. Luzzatto, E. Celentano, B. J. Lomovasky
Publication year 2023
DOI https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14264
Affiliations
  • Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC 1260 (7600), Mar del Plata, Argentina
  • Departamento de Oceanografía, Servicio de Hidrografía Naval - Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), (1271) Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Laboratorio de Ciencias del Mar (UNDECIMAR), Facultad de Ciencias, (11400) Montevideo, Uruguay
  • Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales (IPATEC), Universidad Nacional del Comahue (UNCo) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), (R8400) Bariloche, Argentina
IAI Program
  • Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (FONCyT PICT-2019-4151 to B.J.L.),
  • Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI SGP-HW 017
IAI Project SGP-HW 017
Keywords
Bivalve
Macroecology
Environmental correlates
Life-history traits
PDFTesting macroecological hypotheses in sandy beach populations the wedge clam Donax hanleyanus in South America.pdf

Abstract

Large-scale spatial and temporal variability in environmental conditions may result in differences in life-history traits, population demography, and abundance of sandy-beach species. We analyzed the effects of salinity, chlorophyll a (chl a), and sea surface temperature (SST) on population parameters of the wedge clam Donax hanleyanus from 75 South American sandy beaches covering a 15° latitudinal range. Generalized modeling results showed that between-beach differences in abundance, population structure, growth performance, productivity, mortality, and individual shell mass were mainly explained by salinity fluctuations, with chl a and SST as secondary contributors, overriding, in most cases, local habitat features (Dean&rsquos parameter, grain size, slope). Our results provide valuable insights into macroscale ecological processes, setting a basis to delineate conservation guidelines at large spatial scales that respond to the potential effects of climate variability and change on sandy beach populations.