Rhodoliths are recognised as providing critical ecosystem services in nearshore systems through habitat provision. We tested the influence of rhodolith hosts and habitat on the diversity and composition of sessile and motile invertebrates found associated with two species of rhodolith. Investigations of cryptofauna were undertaken at three beds within the Bay of Islands, northern New Zealand. Lithothamnion crispatum, which was smaller in overall size, and had less free space and a smaller internal volume than Sporolithon sp., provided habitat for more species of distinct life forms, both motile and sessile species, than Sporolithon sp. Although there were few differences in the dimensions of L. crispatum found in the beds, there was significantly more free space available in Sporolithon sp. rhodoliths found in one of two beds where it occurred, and the associated cryptofaunal richness of both sessile and motile species was significantly higher in this population. This study revealed species-specific differences in the rhodolith-associated cryptofauna and a significant impact of rhodolith habitat on growth form and cryptofaunal assemblages at the sites investigated in one of the host species (Sporolithon sp.). Understanding interactions between species and habitats provided by rhodoliths is critical to understanding the nature of ecosystem services provided in these biogenic habitats.

中文翻译：

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与红石相关的隐性动物群：多样性是物种特异性的，并受栖息地的影响

红石被公认为通过提供栖息地在近岸系统中提供关键的生态系统服务。我们测试了蔷薇寄主和栖息地对与两种蔷薇属植物相关的无脊椎动物的多样性和组成的影响。在新西兰北部岛屿湾内的三个床位上对隐匿动物进行了调查。Lithothamnion crispatum，这是在总体尺寸更小，并且具有较少的可用空间，以及更小的内部容积比Sporolithon属，为不同的生命形式，包括游动和固着物种，超过物种提供栖Sporolithon藻。尽管L的尺寸几乎没有差异。 脆片在床上发现，Sporolithon sp 中的可用空间明显更多。在其发生的两张床之一中发现了红石，并且在该种群中，无柄和能动物种的相关隐匿动物群丰富度显着更高。这项研究揭示了与红石相关的隐动物群的物种特异性差异，以及红石栖息地对宿主物种之一（孢子石属）调查地点的生长形式和隐动物群的显着影响。了解红石提供的物种和栖息地之间的相互作用对于了解这些生物栖息地提供的生态系统服务的性质至关重要。