Variable contributions of seafloor communities to ecosystem metabolism across a gradient of habitat-forming species

The contributions of habitat-forming species to the biodiversity and ecosystem processes marine terrestrial ecosystems are widely recognized. Aquatic plants considered foundation in shallow ecosystems, as they maintain sustain many functions such primary production respiration. Despite increasing amount biodiversity-ecosystem functioning experiments seagrass habitats, effects benthic variability on rarely investigated across spatially variable aquatic plant habitats. Here, we quantitatively link seasonal seafloor metabolism (i.e. gross community respiration) with major components microphytobenthos, macrofauna) a structural complexity gradient (in terms shoot density biomass), ranging from bare sand, sparse mixture dense monospecific meadow. enhanced magnitude relationships between metabolism. daily average per season at site was similar site, highlighting role microphytobenthos for unvegetated sediments. contribution associated macrofauna respiration contribution. Infauna main macrofaunal component significantly explaining However, community-metabolism were stronger within than steepest slopes lowest p-values). Understanding these priority since climate change loss reducing habitat around world, jeopardizing valuable services.