Dynamics of spatial patterns of microphytobenthic biomass:inferences from a geostatistical analysis of two comprehensive surveys in Marennes-Oléron Bay (France)

Abstract

Microphytobenthos plays an important role as primary producer in shallow embayments subject to a tidal regime. The present paper aims to characterize the spatial patterns of sedimentary chlorophyll a (chl a) biomass in 2 seasons in the wide intertidal mudflats of the Marennes-Oleron Bay (France); furthermore, it provides estimates of total microphytobenthic biomass. Accordingly, a systematic sampling scheme was performed in June 1995 and in January 1996. On average, biomass was higher in June (ca 120 mg chl a m-') than in January (ca 85 mg chl a m-2). Moreover, the geostatistical analysis revealed that spatial sil-rularities were propagated over larger distances in June (6 km) than in January (2.2 km). In order ro accoulli iul. ihi.s i e ~u l t ,