Patterns in Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of Macrobenthic Invertebrates Across Seagrass

Appendix for:

Patterns in taxonomic and functional diversity of macrobenthic invertebrates across seagrass habitats: a case study in Atlantic Canada

By: Melisa C. Wong1 and Michael Dowd2

1Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada

2Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Appendix Table A1. Relative abundance of macrobenthic invertebrates per habitat and site, pooled across replicates. PH = Port l’Hebert, PJ = Port Joli, Keji = Kejimkujik National Park Seaside.

Species / PH Bare / PH Edge / PH Interior / PJ Bare / PJ Edge / PJ Interior / Keji Interior / Keji Bare
Insect:
Chironomis larvae / 0.011 / 0.007 / 0.002 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.016 / 0.037
Ephemeroptera / 0.000 / 0.00034 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000
Amphipod:
Caprella sp. / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.005 / 0.000
Corophium insidiosum / 0.000 / 0.001 / 0.001 / 0.000 / 0.001 / 0.006 / 0.269 / 0.077
Gammarus mucronatus / 0.000 / 0.001 / 0.003 / 0.001 / 0.001 / 0.006 / 0.077 / 0.171
Phoxocephalus holboli / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.003 / 0.031 / 0.000 / 0.000
Isopod:
Edotia montosa / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.002 / 0.000 / 0.000
Idotea baltica / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.001 / 0.011 / 0.000
Idotea phosphorea / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.001 / 0.004 / 0.000 / 0.000
Jaera marina / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.002 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.004 / 0.000 / 0.000
Tanaid:
Hargeria rapax / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.005 / 0.002
Cumacean:
Oxyurostylis smithi / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.001 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000
Gastropod:
Acteocina canalicula / 0.001 / 0.000 / 0.001 / 0.001 / 0.013 / 0.123 / 0.000 / 0.000
Onoba aculeus / 0.016 / 0.076 / 0.073 / 0.039 / 0.051 / 0.040 / 0.000 / 0.000
Hydrobia minuta / 0.152 / 0.202 / 0.169 / 0.122 / 0.063 / 0.019 / 0.044 / 0.017
Littorina obtusata / 0.003 / 0.099 / 0.305 / 0.003 / 0.089 / 0.307 / 0.033 / 0.000
Nassarius obsoletus / 0.008 / 0.010 / 0.012 / 0.009 / 0.002 / 0.010 / 0.000 / 0.000
Skeneopsis planorbis / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.002
Bivalve:
Gemma gemma / 0.458 / 0.368 / 0.161 / 0.702 / 0.572 / 0.030 / 0.093 / 0.013
Macoma balthica / 0.001 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000
Mya arenaria / 0.000 / 0.001 / 0.020 / 0.003 / 0.001 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000
Mytilus edulis / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.001 / 0.015 / 0.011 / 0.000 / 0.000
Polychaete:
Capitella capitata / 0.150 / 0.076 / 0.070 / 0.012 / 0.057 / 0.030 / 0.159 / 0.557
Clymenella torquata / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.003 / 0.021 / 0.000 / 0.000
Eteone heteropoda / 0.018 / 0.009 / 0.001 / 0.009 / 0.013 / 0.003 / 0.000 / 0.000
Eteone trilineata / 0.001 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000
Euclymene zonalis / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.002 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.013 / 0.000 / 0.000
Eumida sanguinea / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.003 / 0.000 / 0.000
Fabricia sabella / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.005 / 0.002
Glycera dibranchiata / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.001 / 0.002 / 0.002 / 0.000 / 0.000
Glycera robusta / 0.000 / 0.002 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.003 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000
Heteromastus filiformis / 0.009 / 0.016 / 0.009 / 0.028 / 0.041 / 0.045 / 0.000 / 0.000
Lepidonotus squamatus / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.00048 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000
Mediomastus ambiseta / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.003 / 0.000 / 0.000
Nereis diversicolor / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.001 / 0.003 / 0.055 / 0.007
Pholoe minuta / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.00048 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000
Polydora ligni / 0.002 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.170 / 0.017
Pygospio elegans / 0.000 / 0.001 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000
Scoloplos sp. / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.003 / 0.000 / 0.000
Scoloplos fragilis / 0.001 / 0.000 / 0.001 / 0.015 / 0.031 / 0.003 / 0.033 / 0.003
Scoloplos robustus / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.007 / 0.005 / 0.000
Spio setosa / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.002
Spirorbis borealis / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.001 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000
Streblospio benedicti / 0.012 / 0.017 / 0.030 / 0.028 / 0.015 / 0.169 / 0.016 / 0.020
Tharyx acutus / 0.000 / 0.000344 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000
Oligochaete:
Oligochaeta / 0.159 / 0.111 / 0.131 / 0.024 / 0.023 / 0.100 / 0.000 / 0.072
Nemertea:
Nemertean / 0.000 / 0.001 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.001 / 0.000 / 0.000
Nudibranch:
Nudibranchia / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.000 / 0.003

Appendix Table A2. Functional traits used in the analyses and their connection to ecosystem functions relevant to the benthos. Ecosystem functions considered were: nutrient cycling, benthic-pelagic coupling, sediment oxygenation, habitat creation, production and trophic support, sediment stabilization, sediment transport, and carbon sequestration. Note that listed connections are not exhaustive.

Trait / Connection to ecosystem functions
Motility /

• Motility within sediments and tubes enhance sediment oxygenation and influences nutrient cycling (Aller 1982, Mermillod-Blondin et al. 2004, Kristensen and Kostka 2005)
• Motility within sediments influences sediment stabilization, transport, and burial (Aller 1982, François et al. 1997)
• Motility influences metabolic requirements and thus production and trophic support (Brown et al. 2002)

Feeding /

• All feeding types contribute to production and trophic support, and nutrient cycling (Christian and Luczkovich 1999, Norling et al. 2007, Braeckman et al. 2010)
• Filter feeding contributes to benthic-pelagic coupling (Newell 2004)
• Deposit feeding results in sediment mixing, particle burial and transport (Fauchald and Jumars 1979, Francois et al. 1997)
• Grazing influences primary production (Miller et al. 1996)

Habitat structure /

• Burrows and tubes create habitat complexity and can influence production and trophic support (Woodin 1978, Callaway 2006)
• Bioturbation from burrowing and irrigation of burrows and tubes enhances sediment oxygenation and influences nutrient cycling (Aller 1982, Mermillod-Blondin et al. 2004, Kristensen and Kostka 2005, Norling et al. 2007, Braeckman et al. 2010)
• Bioturbation from burrowing contributes to sediment mixing, transport, and burial (Mermillod-Blondin et al. 2004, Kristensen and Kostka 2005)
• Mucous from tubes and burrows bind particles (Kristensen and Kostka 2005)
• Presence of tubes can destabilize sediments, depending on hydrodynamic processes (Luckenbach 1986)
• Active burrowing destabilizes sediments (de Deckere et al. 2001)

Sediment movement /

• Sediment transport from redistribution and mixing of particles influences carbon sequestration, sediment oxygenation, and nutrient cycling (Aller 1982, Mermillod-Blondin et al. 2004)
• Sediment movement to the surface and deep depths contributes to different nutrient cycling pathways (Aller 1982)
• Sediment movement influences production and trophic support (Kuhnert et al. 2010)
• Surface mixing contributes to benthic-pelagic coupling by releasing sediment particles into the water column (Newell 2004)

Size /

• Metabolic rate varies with body size (and temperature), influencing all activities of organisms and subsequently all ecosystem functions of interest here. (Brown et al. 2002)

Examples:

• Different biomass size spectra supplies nutrients through excretion at different rates and ratios of N and P, influencing nutrient cycling (Hall et al. 2007)
• Diet overlap in similar-sized species and size constraints influences production and trophic support (Hall et al. 2007)

Form /

• Form influences movement ability through sediments and ability to move sediments (Norling et al. 2007)
• Presence of calcium carbonate provides buffering capacity, sequesters carbon (Waldbusser et al. 2013)

Living position in habitat /

• Living on the sediment surface, plants or within plants influences benthic-pelagic coupling (Newell 2004, Bologna et al. 2005)
• Living position in sediment influences surface mixing, sediment transport and burial, nutrient cycling, sediment oxygenation (Mermillod-Blondin et al. 2004, Michaud et al. 2006)
• Living position influences feeding mode (Fauchald and Jumars 1979)

References for Appendix Table A2:

Aller, R.C. 1982. The effects of macrobenthos on chemical properties of marine sediment and overlying water. InAnimal-sediment relations, 53-102. NY: Plenum Press.

Bologna, P.A.X., M.L. Fetzer, S. McDonnell, and E.M. Moody. 2005. Assessing the potential benthic-pelagic coupling in episodic blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) settlement events within eelgrass (Zostera marina) communities. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 316: 117-131.

Braeckman, U., P. Provoost, B. Gribsholt, D. Van Gansbeke, J.J. Middelburg, K. Soetaert, M. Vincx, and J. Vanaverbeke. 2009. Role of macrofauna functional traits and density in biogeochemical fluxes and bioturbation. Marine Ecology Progress Series,399: 173-186.

Brown, J.H., J.F. Gillooly, A.P. Allen, V.M. Savage, and G.B. West. 2004. Toward a metabolic theory of ecology. Ecology, 85: 1771-1789.

Callaway, R. 2006. Tube worms promote community change. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 308: 49-60.

Christian, R.R., and J.J. Luczkovich. 1999. Organizing and understanding a winter’s seagrass foodweb network through effective trophic levels. Ecological Modelling, 117: 99-124.

de Deckere, E.M.G.T., T.J.Tolhurst, and J.F.C. de Brouwer. 2001. Destabilization of cohesive intertidal sediments by infauna. Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science, 53: 665-669.

Fauchald, K., and P.A. Jumars. 1979. The diet of worms: a study of polychaete feeding guilds. Oceanography and Marine Biology Annual Review, 17: 193-284.

François F., J.-C. Poggiale, M.-P. Durbec, and G. Stora. A new approach for the modelling of sediment reworking induced by a macrobenthic community. Acta Biotheoretica, 45: 295- 319.

Hall, R.O.J., B.J. Koch, M.C. Marshall, B.W. Taylor, and L.M. Tronstad. 2007. How body size mediates the role of animals in nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems. In Body size: the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems, 285-305. NY: Cambridge University Press.

Kristensen, E., and J.E. Kostka. 2005. Macrofaunal burrows and irrigation in marine sediment: microbiological and biogeochemical interactions. Interactions between macro-and microorganisms in marine sediments: 125-157.

Kuhnert, J., G.Veit-Köhler, M. Büntzow, and N. Volkenborn. 2010. Sediment-mediated effects of lugworms on intertidal meiofauna. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 387: 36-43.

Luckenbach, M.W. 1986. Sediment stability around animal tubes: the roles of hydrodynamic processes and biotic activity. Limnology and Oceanography, 31: 779-787.

Mermillod-Blondin, F., R. Rosenberg, F. François-Carcaillet, K. Norling, and L. Mauclaire. 2004. Influence of bioturbation by three benthic infaunal species on microbial communities and biogeochemical processes in marine sediment. Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 36: 271-284.

Miller, D.C., R.J. Geider, and H.L. MacIntyre. 1996. Microphytobenthos: the ecological role of the “Secret Garden” of unvegetated, shallow-water marine habitats. II. Role in sediment stability and shallow-water food webs. Estuaries, 19: 202-212.

Newell, R.I.E. 2004. Ecosystem influences of natural and cultivated populations of suspension- feeding bivalve mollusc: a review. Journal of Shellfish Research, 23: 51-61.

Norling, K., R. Rosenberg, S. Hulth, A. Grémare, and E. Bonsdorff. 2007. Importance of functional biodiversity and species-specific traits of benthic fauna for ecosystem functions in marine sediment. Marine Ecology Progress Series,332: 11-23.

Waldbusser, G.G., E.N. Powell, and R. Mann. 2013. Ecosystem effects of shell aggregations and cycling in coastal waters: an example of Chesapeake Bay oysters reefs. Ecology, 94: 895-903.

Woodin, S.A. 1978. Refuges, disturbance, and community structure: a marine soft-bottom example. Ecology, 59: 274-284.

Appendix Table A3. Trait matrix used for the biological traits analyses and calculation of Rao functional diversity indices.

Species / Motility / Feeding
Sedentary/fixed tube / Swim / Crawl / Free/burrow in sed / Filter feed / Predator / Scavenger / Grazer / Surface DF / Subsurface DF
Chironomis larvae / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0
Corophium insidiosum / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0
Edotia montosa / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0.334 / 0.333 / 0
Ephemeroptera / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Gammarus mucronatus / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0
Idotea baltica / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0.667 / 0 / 0
Idotea phosphorea / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Jaeramarina / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Oxyurostylis smithi / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Phoxocephalus holbolli / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 0.667 / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0
Onoba aculeus / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0
Gemma gemma / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Hydrobia minuta / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0
Littorina obtusata / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0
Macoma balthica / 0 / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0.334 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0.333
Mya arenaria / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Mytilus edulis / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Nassarius obsoletus / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.167 / 0.166 / 0.667 / 0
Acteocina canaliculata / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Capitella capitata / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5
Clymenella torquata / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Eteone heteropoda / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0
Eteone trilineata / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0
Euclymene zonalis / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Eumida sanguinea / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0
Glycera dibranchiata / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Glycera robusta / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Heteromastus filiformis / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Lepidonotus squamatus / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0
Mediomastus ambiseta / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5
Nereis diversicolor / 0.167 / 0.333 / 0.333 / 0.167 / 0.0833 / 0.3334 / 0.0833 / 0 / 0.25 / 0.25
Oligochaeta / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0.667 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5
Pholoe minuta / 0 / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Polydora ligni / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0
Pygospio elegans / 0.667 / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0
Scoloplos sp. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Scoloplos fragilis / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Scoloplos robustus / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Spirorbis borealis / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Streblospio benedicti / 0.667 / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0
Tharyx acutus / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0
Nemertea / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Skeneopsis planorbis / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0
Caprella sp. / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Hargeria rapax / 0.667 / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0
Spio setosa / 0.667 / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0
Fabricia sabella / 0.667 / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Nudibranch / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Species / Habitat structure / Sediment movement / Size
Burrow / Tube / None / Surface to deep / Deep to surface / Surface mix / None / Small / Medium / Large
Chironomis larvae / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0
Corophium insidiosum / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0
Edotia montosa / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0
Ephemeroptera / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Gammarus mucronatus / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0.667 / 0 / 1 / 0
Idotea baltica / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0
Idotea phosphorea / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0
Jaeramarina / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0
Oxyurostylis smithi / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Phoxocephalus holbolli / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0
Onoba aculeus / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0
Gemma gemma / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0
Hydrobia minuta / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0
Littorina obtusata / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0
Macoma balthica / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 1 / 0
Mya arenaria / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333
Mytilus edulis / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0
Nassarius obsoletus / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333
Acteocina canaliculata / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0
Capitella capitata / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0.667 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0
Clymenella torquata / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Eteone heteropoda / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Eteone trilineata / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0
Euclymene zonalis / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Eumida sanguinea / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Glycera dibranchiata / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Glycera robusta / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Heteromastus filiformis / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0.667 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Lepidonotus squamatus / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1
Mediomastus ambiseta / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0.667 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0
Nereis diversicolor / 0.5 / 0 / 0.5 / 0.333 / 0 / 0.667 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Oligochaeta / 0.667 / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0
Pholoe minuta / 0.667 / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0
Polydora ligni / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Pygospio elegans / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0
Scoloplos sp. / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0.667 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Scoloplos fragilis / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0.667 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Scoloplos robustus / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0.667 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Spirorbis borealis / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0
Streblospio benedicti / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0
Tharyx acutus / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0
Nemertea / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Skeneopsis planorbis / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0
Caprella sp. / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0
Hargeria rapax / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 1 / 0
Spio setosa / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 1
Fabricia sabella / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0
Nudibranch / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Species / Form / Living position
Veniform / Globulose / CaCO3 / On sediment surface / In top 2cm sediment / Below top 2cm sediment / Attached sediment or plant / Within plants
Chironomis larvae / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Corophium insidiosum / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Edotia montosa / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0.5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.5
Ephemeroptera / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Gammarus mucronatus / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.667
Idotea baltica / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.667
Idotea phosphorea / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.333
Jaeramarina / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.5
Oxyurostylis smithi / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Phoxocephalus holbolli / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Onoba aculeus / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0.667 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.333
Gemma gemma / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Hydrobia minuta / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.667
Littorina obtusata / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Macoma balthica / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Mya arenaria / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0
Mytilus edulis / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0
Nassarius obsoletus / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Acteocina canaliculata / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Capitella capitata / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Clymenella torquata / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0
Eteone heteropoda / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0
Eteone trilineata / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0
Euclymene zonalis / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0
Eumida sanguinea / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0
Glycera dibranchiata / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Glycera robusta / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0.667 / 0 / 0 / 0
Heteromastus filiformis / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Lepidonotus squamatus / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Mediomastus ambiseta / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Nereis diversicolor / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0.333 / 0.334 / 0 / 0
Oligochaeta / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0.667 / 0 / 0 / 0.333
Pholoe minuta / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0.667 / 0 / 0 / 0
Polydora ligni / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Pygospio elegans / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Scoloplos sp. / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0
Scoloplos fragilis / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0
Scoloplos robustus / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0
Spirorbis borealis / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0
Streblospio benedicti / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Tharyx acutus / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Nemertea / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Skeneopsis planorbis / 0 / 0.5 / 0.5 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Caprella sp. / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0.334
Hargeria rapax / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0.333 / 0.667 / 0 / 0 / 0
Spio setosa / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Fabricia sabella / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Nudibranch / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0

Appendix FigureA1. Weighted trait occurrence at PH. Black = motility, Turquoise = feeding, Grey = habitat structure, Red = sediment mixing, Blue = size, Yellow = form, Green = living position in sediments.

Appendix Figure A2. Weighted trait occurrence at PJ. Black = motility, Turquoise = feeding, Grey = habitat structure, Red = sediment mixing, Blue = size, Yellow = form, Green = living position in sediments.

Appendix Figure A3. Weighted trait occurrence at Keji. Black = motility, Turquoise = feeding, Grey = habitat structure, Red = sediment mixing, Blue = size, Yellow = form, Green = living position in sediments.