Recovery of meiofauna following a short-term disturbance on coral reefs

The present study experimentally determined the short-term effect of different trampling intensities on the phytal habitat and associated meiofauna, and assessed the recovery of these communities on a coral reef. The experiment was conducted within the protected area on the reef of Porto de Galinhas Beach, northeastern Brazil. Within three areas, 30 × 30 cm² plots were subjected to different experimental trampling intensities: 0 (control), 32 (low intensity) and 79 (high intensity) footsteps applied during 3 consecutive days. Samples were taken before trampling started and then 1 day and 1, 2 and 3 months after the end of trampling. Multivariate and univariate analyses were used to test for changes in the phytal substrate, the densities of the main meiofaunal major taxa, and the diversity, comparing the trampling intensities and the time periods. The immediate impact of trampling negatively affected the phytal substrate, causing large reductions in sediment content, total substrate weight, and algal turf height. Trampling also drastically decreased the density of the associated meiofauna and modified the community structure. The major meiofauna groups showed different patterns of recovery during the first and second months. However, 3 months after trampling ended, no impact was found for densities of total meiofauna and for most major taxa, and no differences were observed in the community structure among all trampling intensities. Finally, the results for trampling susceptibility and resilience allowed us to extend the discussion to management strategies for the use of reef areas for recreation.