Composition of the Epifaunal Community Associated with the Seagrass Zostera marina in San Quintin Bay, Baja California

Abstract

The epifaunal community associated with eelgrass beds in San Quintin Bay, Baja California, Mexico, was studied from April to November 1993. Taxonomic identification, univariate community descriptors, and biomass data were obtained for each sample. Multivariate analyses of community composition were also performed, and plant–animal relationships were analyzed. The epifaunal community was characterized by the high abundance of a few dominant species, with the mollusk Assiminea dubiosa representing 70% of the total abundance. Summer samples had the highest similarity, as indicated by the Analysis of Similarity (ANOSIM) test. Polychaetes and amphipod abundances seemed to follow the variations in eelgrass aboveground biomass.