Untangling Coastal Diversity: How Habitat Complexity Shapes Demersal and Benthopelagic Assemblages in NW Iberia

Abstract

Understanding species–habitat relationships is essential for ecosystem-based conservation. This study explores the significance of habitat characteristics and complexity for demersal and benthopelagic communities within a patchwork of coastal habitats, including rocky seabed, macroalgae formations, sandy bottoms, and a combination of rock and sand areas. Species and habitats were surveyed along the north-west (NW) Iberian continental shelf area of Viana do Castelo using baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS). We found significant differences (p Trisopterus luscus, Diplodus vulgaris, and Ctenolabrus rupestris as the three most abundant in the region and significant contributors to the observed dissimilarities between habitats. By elucidating the impact of habitat complexity on marine life, our results offer essential baseline data, which serve as a kick-start point to inform sustainable management and conservation strategies for the long-term health and productivity of these vital ecological systems in the North-East Atlantic.

Keywords

• habitat complexity
• coastal conservation
• marine assemblages
• North-East Atlantic
• baited remote underwater video system (BRUVS)