You-Wei Tzeng, Pan-Wen Hsueh, Chih-Lin Wei
A study by Dr. You-Wei Tzeng and Prof. Chih-Lin Wei from National Taiwan University, in collaboration with Prof. Pan-Wen Hsueh from National Chung Hsing University, was published in Hydrobiologia in May 2024. This research unveiled the diversity, community ecology, and microhabitat association of tanaidaceans, as well as the impact of typhoons on tanaidacean assemblages in three rocky intertidal areas of central-eastern Taiwan. The study documented twelve tanaidacean species in central-eastern Taiwan, including nine newly discovered and two previously unrecorded species. Remarkably, these nine newly discovered species are also endemic to Taiwan. The dominant tanaidacean species exhibited distinct habitat associations, primarily favoring various algal turf species and sandy substrates. An unexpected finding was the resistance of tanaidaceans to typhoon wave disturbances and their frequent association with large polychaete tubes. This led to the hypothesis that these crustaceans may seek shelter in root spaces among algae growing on polychaete tubes to reduce the impact of waves from frequent typhoon landfalls in eastern Taiwan. This study represents a pioneering study investigating microhabitat associations among rocky intertidal macrofauna. Future studies should consider sustained monitoring of community dynamics and microhabitat associations through long-term sampling or systematic surveys. These efforts should align with coastal observatories to integrate essential climate change variables, aiding predictions regarding community responses to ongoing climate changes.
Reference
Tzeng, Y.-W., Hsueh, P.-W., & Wei, C.-L. (2024). Microhabitat association and resistance of Tanaidacea (Crustacea) to tropical cyclones in rocky intertidal areas of central-eastern Taiwan. Hydrobiologia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-024-05579-2
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