Tropical habitats and their associated environmental characteristics play a critical role in shaping macroinvertebrate communities. Assessing patterns of diversity over space and time and investigating the factors that control and generate those patterns is critical for conservation efforts. However, these factors are still poorly understood in sub-tropical and tropical regions. The present study applied a combination of uni- and multivariate techniques to test whether patterns of biodiversity, composition, and structure of macrobenthic assemblages change across different lagoon habitats (two mangrove sites; two seagrass meadows with varying levels of vegetation cover; and an unvegetated subtidal area) and between seasons and years. In total, 4771 invertebrates were identified belonging to 272 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). We observed that macrobenthic lagoon assemblages are diverse, heterogeneous and that the most evident biological pattern was spatial rather than temporal. To investigate whether macrofaunal patterns within the lagoon habitats (mangrove, seagrass, unvegetated area) changed through the time, we analysed each habitat separately. The results showed high seasonal and inter-annual variability in the macrofaunal patterns. However, the seagrass beds that are characterized by variable vegetation cover, through time, showed comparatively higher stability (with the lowest values of inter-annual variability and a high number of resident taxa). These results support the theory that seagrass habitat complexity promotes diversity and density of macrobenthic assemblages. Despite the structural and functional importance of seagrass beds documented in this study, the results also highlighted the small-scale heterogeneity of tropical habitats that may serve as biodiversity repositories. Comprehensive approaches at the “seascape” level are required for improved ecosystem management and to maintain connectivity patterns amongst habitats. This is particularly true along the Saudi Arabian coast of the Red Sea, which is currently experiencing rapid coastal development. Also, considering the high temporal variability (seasonal and inter-annual) of tropical shallow-water habitats, monitoring and management plans must include temporal scales.

中文翻译：

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红海热带沿海泻湖栖息地的组成，独特性和连通性

热带栖息地及其相关的环境特征在塑造无脊椎动物群落中起着至关重要的作用。评估空间和时间上的多样性模式并调查控制和产生这些模式的因素对于保护工作至关重要。但是，这些因素在亚热带和热带地区仍然知之甚少。本研究应用单变量和多变量技术的组合来测试生物多样性，组成和大型底栖动物组合的结构在不同的泻湖生境（两个红树林地带；两个具有不同植被覆盖水平的海草草甸；以及无植被的潮间带）中是否发生变化。区域）以及季节和年份之间。总共识别出277个无脊椎动物，它们属于272个操作生物分类单位（OTU）。我们观察到大型底栖泻湖组合是多样的，异质的，并且最明显的生物学模式是空间的而不是时间的。为了调查泻湖栖息地（红树林，海草，无植被地区）内大型动物的分布模式是否随时间变化，我们分别分析了每个栖息地。结果表明，大型动物的季节和年际变化较大。但是，以植被覆盖度为特征的海草床，随时间推移表现出相对较高的稳定性（年际变化率最低，常住生物分类群数量多）。这些结果支持了海草栖息地复杂性促进大型底栖动物群落多样性和密度的理论。尽管这项研究记录了海草床的结构和功能重要性，结果还强调了热带栖息地的小规模异质性，可以作为生物多样性的储存库。需要采用“海景”级别的综合方法来改善生态系统管理并保持生境之间的连通性。在红海的沙特阿拉伯沿海地区，尤其如此，该国目前正经历快速的沿海发展。另外，考虑到热带浅水生境的高度时变性（季节和年际），监测和管理计划必须包括时标。在红海的沙特阿拉伯沿海地区，尤其如此，该国目前正经历快速的沿海发展。另外，考虑到热带浅水生境的高度时变性（季节和年际），监测和管理计划必须包括时标。在红海的沙特阿拉伯沿海地区，尤其如此，该国目前正经历快速的沿海发展。此外，考虑到热带浅水生境的高度时变性（季节和年际），监测和管理计划必须包括时标。