title: Response of intertidal sandy-beach macrofauna to human trampling: An urban vs. natural beach system approach.
abstract: Sandy beaches are subjected to intense stressors, which are mainly derived from the increasing pattern of beach urbanization. These ecosystems are also a magnet for tourists, who prefer these locations as leisure and holiday destinations, and such activity further increases the factors that have an adverse effect on beaches. In the study reported here the effect of human trampling on macrofauna assemblages that inhabit intertidal areas of sandy beaches was assessed using a BACI design. For this purpose, three contrasting sectors of the same beach were investigated: an urban area with a high level of visitors, a protected sector with a low density of users, and a transitional area with a high level of human occupancy. The physical variables were constant over time in each sector, whereas differences were found in the intensity of human use between sectors. Density variations and changes in the taxonomic structure of the macrofauna with time were shown by PERMANOVA analysis in the urban and transitional locations whereas the protected sector remained constant throughout the study period. The amphipod Bathyporeia pelagica appears sensitive to human trampling pressure and the use of this species as a bioindicator for these types of impact is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Ctra. Utrera Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain. Electronic address: mjreymar@upo.es.
authors.forename: Ma José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Reyes-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Ctra. Utrera Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Ma Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ruíz-Delgado
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Sevilla, Av. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012 Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Emilio
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Moyano
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Ctra. Utrera Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco José
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: García-García
mesh_terms: D033304:Amphipoda / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000502:physiology*; D001493:Bathing Beaches; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004777:Environment; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D011156:Population Density; D011998:Recreation; D013030:Spain
keywords: Bioindicator; Disturbance; Human trampling; Macrofauna; Sandy beaches; Tourism