Studies based on functional approach seek to understand the ecological roles developed by species as well as their interactions with the environment in which they are inserted. The hypothesis tested was that functional richness and diversity of molluscan community will be higher at the most complex macroalgal habitat. The study was carried out at Casqueira river estuary (Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil). Three species of macroalgae were collected— Gracilaria domingensis (Kützing) Sonder ex Dickie 1874, Gracilaria cuneata Areschoug 1854, and Solieria filiformis (Kützing) P.W.Gabrielson 1985—and the composition of seven functional traits of the mollusk fauna associated to the algae was characterized in 22 categories. The highest values of functional richness and diversity were for macroalgae with greater habitat complexity ( G. domingensis) . Some functional traits were influenced more by macroalgal morphology, like ‘life way,’ feeding strategy, body size, and larval development. Thus, we show that the greatest richness and functional diversity of the communities is related to sites with more complex habitat, sites with more shelter and refuge, and food. This highlights the importance of the quality of habitat for shellfish communities and shows that it can be assessed from the use of a functional approach.

中文翻译：

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大型藻类形态对高盐度河口软体动物群落功能结构的影响

基于功能方法的研究旨在了解物种发展的生态作用以及它们与所处环境的相互作用。测试的假设是，在最复杂的大型藻类栖息地，软体动物群落的功能丰富度和多样性会更高。该研究在 Casqueira 河口（巴西北里奥格兰德）进行。收集了三种大型藻类——Gracilaria domingensis (Kützing) Sonder ex Dickie 1874、Gracilaria cuneata Areschoug 1854 和 Solieria filiformis (Kützing) PWGabrielson 1985——并且与藻类相关的特征性软体动物群的七个功能特征的组成是类别。功能丰富度和多样性的最高值是具有更大栖息地复杂性的大型藻类（G. domingensis）。一些功能性状更受大型藻类形态的影响，如“生活方式”、摄食策略、体型和幼虫发育。因此，我们表明社区最大的丰富性和功能多样性与栖息地更复杂的地点、庇护所和避难所更多的地点以及食物有关。这突出了贝类群落栖息地质量的重要性，并表明可以通过使用功能方法对其进行评估。