Baseline Assessment of Benthic Invertebrate Communities in the Southern Benguela: Insights from Table Mountain National Park MPA, Robben Island MPA, and the Seas of Good Hope EBSA.

Ethical ref no: 208142908/07/2020The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the macro-benthic invertebrate fauna of the southern Benguela ecoregion in South Africa, with a focus on the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area (TMNP MPA), Robben Island Marine Protected Area (RI MPA) and the Seas of Good Hope Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area (EBSA). A comprehensive benthic survey was conducted from August to September 2019 by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE South Africa) to aid in providing baseline information of macro-benthic invertebrate fauna, their diversity, assemblage patterns and the environmental variables that influence their distribution. Visual assessments were conducted using two different camera systems: a simple Drop camera and a towed camera. A total of 48 stations were sampled and imagery software was used to analyse images obtained. Significant differences were found in species richness, diversity, and abundance between cameras. Environmental factors best explaining the observed community patterns are substrate type and depth. Adoption of long-term monitoring systems and application of standardized efforts to guarantee the efficacy of conservation initiatives are among the recommendations for future research. This study makes a substantial contribution to our knowledge of the benthic ecosystems in the southern Benguela ecoregion and offers insightful data for preservation and management of marine biodiversity in the area.

伦理审查编号：208142908/07/2020。本研究旨在深入解析南非南部本格拉生态区的大型底栖无脊椎动物区系（macro-benthic invertebrate fauna），重点覆盖桌山国家公园海洋保护区（Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area, TMNP MPA）、罗本岛海洋保护区（Robben Island Marine Protected Area, RI MPA）以及好望角海域生态或生物敏感区（Seas of Good Hope Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area, EBSA）。南非林业、渔业与环境部（Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, DFFE South Africa）于2019年8月至9月开展全面底栖生物调查，旨在为大型底栖无脊椎动物区系、其多样性、群落组成格局及影响其分布的环境变量提供基线数据。研究采用两套不同摄像系统开展视觉评估：简易投放式摄像机（Drop camera）与拖曳式摄像机（towed camera），共布设48个采样站位，并通过成像软件对获取的影像进行分析。结果显示，两种摄像系统在物种丰富度、多样性及个体丰度上均存在显著差异；对观测到的群落格局解释度最高的环境因子为底质类型与水深。后续研究建议采用长期监测体系，推行标准化工作流程以保障保护举措的实施成效。本研究极大丰富了学界对南部本格拉生态区底栖生态系统（benthic ecosystem）的认知，并为该区域海洋生物多样性（marine biodiversity）的保护与管理提供了极具参考价值的数据。