Geographical patterning of nematode assemblages in Corallina officinalis in the English Channel and in South Korea

Abstract

Cosmopolitan habitat forming species of algae such as Corallina provide an opportunity to compare patterns of biodiversity over wide geographical scales. Here we compared the nematode fauna inhabiting the cosmopolitan algae Corallina officinalis in the English Channel with that of the south coast of Korea. A fully nested design has been used with 3 regions in each country, 2 shores in each region and 3 patches on each shore. Species composition varied at each spatial scale (patches, shores, regions and countries). Patterns of alpha, beta and gamma diversity were compared as well as patterns of composition and diversity along the environmental gradients in each country. There were taxa endemic to each country, as is expected of species with limited dispersal abilities such as nematodes. However, we also found cosmopolitan dominant taxa in both countries. Despite of the dissimilarity of nematodes communities at each spatial scale, the functional diversity of nematode communities was similar at all.nalis in the English Channel with that of the south coast of Korea. A fully nested design has been used with 3 regions in each country, 2 shores in each region and 3 patches on each shore. Species composition varied at each spatial scale (patches, shores, regions and countries). Patterns of alpha, beta and gamma diversity were compared as well as patterns of composition and diversity along the environmental gradients in each country. There were taxa endemic to each country, as is expected of species with limited dispersal abilities such as nematodes. However, we also found cosmopolitan dominant taxa in both countries. Despite of the dissimilarity of nematodes communities at each spatial scale, the functional diversity of nematode communities was similar at all.