Distribution, Diversity, and Abundance Patterns of Intertidal Benthic Molluscs on Rocky Shores (Phuket Island, Thailand)

Anne Mehlin Sørensen

Authors

Anne Mehlin Sørensen Department of Geography and Geology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark

Keywords:

Phuket Island, Thailand, tropical rocky shore, molluscs, zonation, intertidal

Abstract

A total of 51 mollusc species were encountered along the south-western coast of Phuket Island (Thailand). The taxa were dominated by gastropods, which are well adapted for the zones recognized on the shore. Multivariate cluster analysis shows that faunal composition and species diversity changes between the four zones recognised and a faunal turnover is found in the middle of the intertidal area, which is the boundary between relative wet and relative dry substrate. Mollusc density, species diversity and functional diversity increases below this boundary due to less stressed environmental conditions, supporting the hypothesis that the functional diversity decreases with increasing stress. In contrast faunal composition and species diversity is similar for all microhabitats. This finding does not support the hypothesis of increased species diversity with increased structural complexity. This shows that there is a different relationship between gastropod diversity and microhabitat diversity compared to other intertidal rocky shore biota.

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