Macrobenthic assemblage structure associated with a Caulerpa prolifera meadow in the eastern Mediterranean Sea (Elounda Bay, Crete Island)

•Macrofaunal assemblages in a shallow semi-enclosed marine ecosystem.•Macrobenthic assemblages associated with a green alga Caulerpa prolifera meadow.•High abundances of benthic macrofauna associated with a Caulerpa prolifera meadow.•Benthic macrofauna important as food source for demersal and cephalopod populations.

The present study investigates the structure and intra-annual variation of the benthic macrofaunal community associated with a monospecific C. prolifera meadow in a shallow semi-enclosed coastal marine ecosystem of the eastern Mediterranean Sea (Elounda Bay, Crete Island). The samples were collected on five occasions (May, September and November 2006, February and April 2007) by using an epibenthic sledge (0.5 mm mesh size). The analysis of the macrofauna revealed 319 taxa with densities ranging from 71 to 410 individuals m−2. The most diversified animal groups were polychaetes, gastropods and amphipods. Crustaceans were by far the most abundant group with densities exceeding 50% of the total macrofauna during the study period. The dominant species were the amphipods Caprella acanthifera acanthifera, C. rapax and Microdeutopus stationis, the gastropod Pusillina lineolata, the tanaid Leptochelia sp. and the bivalve Abra alba. The results of the present study revealed a relatively high diversified and abundant benthic macrofauna, which is supported by the presence of the dense and continuous canopy of C. prolifera in this shallow wave-sheltered area characterized by high organic matter input.