Preliminary results on a high east–west gradient in the macrozoobenthic community structure of the macrotidal Mont Saint-Michel bay

Environmental conditions in terms of river inputs, salt marsh development, shellfish cultures, hydrodynamics and sediment characteristics are very different from the western and the eastern part of the Mont Saint-Michel bay. A large scale study on the spatial structure of the intertidal macrozoobenthic community was then performed at the bay scale in order to determinate how these various conditions may modify the community composition and species density. In terms of density, the community was globally dominated by suspension/deposit filter-feeding bivalves, as well as amphipods in the eastern high levels of the intertidal zone. Several biocoenotic assemblage of the Macoma balthica community were described and large differences in the species composition and density were observed between the eastern and the western sectors of the bay. Total density for all species and recruitment were much higher in the eastern sector than in the west. We discussed about these east–west variations in terms of hydrodynamics, sedimentation processes and trophic conditions. Indeed, the large salt marsh extension and river inputs, as well as the lack of shellfish cultures in the east, may favour high food availability for benthic invertebrates of the area whereas the low river inputs and salt marsh development, the high sedimentation process and the intensification of mussel and oyster cultures in the west may create less favourable environments.