This thesis is composed of three separate chapters, two of which are published, an introductory and a concluding chapter. The main question that led to the development of the studies presented in the thesis is the following: is it possible to compare behavioural and ecological studies at a large geographical scale in the context of the ecosystems of sandy beaches under environmental changes? After the first introductory chapter, in the second chapter I present a review of studies in different (geographically distant) localities affected by similar distal and proximate drivers of climate change. In “Behavioural adaptations of sandy beach macrofauna in face of climate change impacts: A conceptual framework”, we discussed if behavioural responses by sandy beach macrofauna were consistent with expectations under climate change. We formulated specific hypotheses for how behavioural adaptations in sandy beach macrofauna are predicted to respond to climate change impacts. We provided an overview of macrofauna behavioural adaptation features in different and varying environmental contexts, a summary of the effects of main climate change drivers on sandy beaches and a conceptual framework predicting behavioural adaptations of sandy beach macrofauna under climate change pressure. In the third chapter, I present an experimental study linked to the main question for the ecological approach, to highlight which factors and variables in the physical-chemical environment influence the arthropodofauna distribution. In “Arthropodofauna richness and abundance across beach-dune systems with contrasting morphodynamics”, I investigated the across-shore distribution of arthropods in two Uruguayan sandy beach-dune systems with contrasting morphodynamics. I performed a deconstructive analysis to describe faunal changes from the dunes to the shoreline, and assessed existing hypotheses on the species distribution in relation to beach morphodynamics. In the fourth chapter, I present an experimental study focusing on talitrid ecology and behaviour in different localities, assuming that zonation and orientation behaviour of talitrids is an immediate response to environmental changes and considering behavioural adaptations as immediate responses to stressful environmental conditions, which may be dramatically increased with climate change. Starting from local comparisons, I analysed the relationships between the physical-chemical characteristics of six sandy beaches and the zonation and orientation behaviour of talitrid amphipods, ending with a comparison at a large geographical scale of two different species expressing similar behavioural adaptations in different localities.
ECOLOGY OF SANDY BEACH MACROFAUNA AND ITS BEHAVIOURAL RESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE / Emilia Innocenti degli. - (2021).
ECOLOGY OF SANDY BEACH MACROFAUNA AND ITS BEHAVIOURAL RESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
Emilia Innocenti degli
2021
Abstract
This thesis is composed of three separate chapters, two of which are published, an introductory and a concluding chapter. The main question that led to the development of the studies presented in the thesis is the following: is it possible to compare behavioural and ecological studies at a large geographical scale in the context of the ecosystems of sandy beaches under environmental changes? After the first introductory chapter, in the second chapter I present a review of studies in different (geographically distant) localities affected by similar distal and proximate drivers of climate change. In “Behavioural adaptations of sandy beach macrofauna in face of climate change impacts: A conceptual framework”, we discussed if behavioural responses by sandy beach macrofauna were consistent with expectations under climate change. We formulated specific hypotheses for how behavioural adaptations in sandy beach macrofauna are predicted to respond to climate change impacts. We provided an overview of macrofauna behavioural adaptation features in different and varying environmental contexts, a summary of the effects of main climate change drivers on sandy beaches and a conceptual framework predicting behavioural adaptations of sandy beach macrofauna under climate change pressure. In the third chapter, I present an experimental study linked to the main question for the ecological approach, to highlight which factors and variables in the physical-chemical environment influence the arthropodofauna distribution. In “Arthropodofauna richness and abundance across beach-dune systems with contrasting morphodynamics”, I investigated the across-shore distribution of arthropods in two Uruguayan sandy beach-dune systems with contrasting morphodynamics. I performed a deconstructive analysis to describe faunal changes from the dunes to the shoreline, and assessed existing hypotheses on the species distribution in relation to beach morphodynamics. In the fourth chapter, I present an experimental study focusing on talitrid ecology and behaviour in different localities, assuming that zonation and orientation behaviour of talitrids is an immediate response to environmental changes and considering behavioural adaptations as immediate responses to stressful environmental conditions, which may be dramatically increased with climate change. Starting from local comparisons, I analysed the relationships between the physical-chemical characteristics of six sandy beaches and the zonation and orientation behaviour of talitrid amphipods, ending with a comparison at a large geographical scale of two different species expressing similar behavioural adaptations in different localities.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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