Null and neutral models for explaining spatial variations in intertidal invertebrate species diversity on rocky shores in Antofagasta town (23°S, Chile)

Abstract The intertidal invertebrate community on rocky shores in northern Chile is characterised by a high species richness resulting from the productivity of this ecosystem. present study aims to do first characterisation communities Antofagasta town and surroundings (23°S), using co-occurrence niche-sharing null models, analysis similarities (ANOSIM) nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). model results revealed that associations are not structured, existing have same ecology, which would result many repeated site, specificity their ecological niches exists. ANOSIM NMDS absence significant differences between sites with human intervention without intervention. obtained agree literature for central Chilean southern Peruvian shores, other coastal marine ecosystems productivity.