Benthic molluscan macrofauna structure in heavily trawled sediments (Thermaikos Gulf, North Aegean Sea): spatiotemporal patterns

Table 5 Summary table of molluscan macrofauna response to environmental variation and bottom trawling activity

Response	Environmental variation	Trawling impact
Faunal diversity	Spatial patchiness	No direct effects
Faunal diversity	Productivity gradient	No direct effects
Community structure	Latitudinal gradient	No direct effects
Functional attributes	Natural and anthropogenic stressors	Dominance of predators
	Comparable microphytobenthic biomass	Loss of epibenthic herbivores
	Trawling induced sediment resuspension	Loss of filter feeders
Faunal structure along sediment profiles	Dissolved oxygen gradient	Alterations in structure
Faunal functionality along sediment profiles	Dissolved oxygen gradient	Presence of many functional groups deeper in the sediment

ISSN: 2241-5793