Local vs regional effects of substratum on early colonization stages of sessile assemblages

Substratum type and topographic complexity influence the settlement and persistence of benthic organisms. However, the combined effect of these two factors in affecting colonization patterns at different scales has rarely been investigated. A manipulative experiment was conducted to test the interplay of rock type and roughness in affecting the pattern of subtidal assemblages and to provide tests for the generality of effects across a range of spatial scales (centimetres to hundreds of metres). Replicate tiles of four different rock types, with two levels of surface roughness were deployed in rocky subtidal habitats (5 m depth) at two sites (separated by hundreds of metres) at each of three locations (separated by tens of kilometres). Spatial and temporal variation in the colonization patterns over 9 months differed among rock types. However, large-scale processes appeared to be far more important than substratum type or roughness in determining assemblage structure. Predicting the consequences of the introduction of artificial structures into the coastal marine environment is critical as increasingly parts of coastlines are being modified within the Mediterranean and other regions. The results suggest that further investment is needed to manage and mitigate the effects of the deployment of artificial structures in coastal areas.