Research Article

The need for clear and comparable terminology in benthic ecology. Part I. Ecological concepts

  1. Jean-Claude Dauvin1,*,
  2. Gerard Bellan2,
  3. Denise Bellan-Santini2

Article first published online: 26 SEP 2007

DOI: 10.1002/aqc.865

Issue

Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems

Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems

Volume 18, Issue 4, pages 432–445, June 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Dauvin, J.-C., Bellan, G. and Bellan-Santini, D. (2008), The need for clear and comparable terminology in benthic ecology. Part I. Ecological concepts. Aquatic Conserv: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst., 18: 432–445. doi: 10.1002/aqc.865

Author Information

  1. 1

    Station Marine de Wimereux, FRE 2016 CNRS ELICO, Université Lille1, Wimereux, France

  2. 2

    Station Marine d'Endoume, UMR CNRS DIMAR, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France

*Station Marine de Wimereux, Université Lille1, B.P. 80, F-62930 Wimereux, France

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 28 MAY 2008
  2. Article first published online: 26 SEP 2007
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 18 MAR 2007
  4. Manuscript Received: 3 JAN 2007

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Keywords:

  • benthos;
  • definitions;
  • benthic ecology;
  • comparison of classification

Abstract

  • 1.
    This note highlights problems with the definition and use of terminology in the field of benthic ecology, and compares the French classification with the UK and EUNIS classifications. These problems stem partly from language-related difficulties, particularly the translation from English to French and vice versa, but also from the incoherence of certain typologies used in EU classifications and Directives.
  • 2.
    The boundaries used by legislators and developers take neither ecological constraints nor environmental parameters into account. Most often, these boundaries are set using distances or depths that have no basis in the distribution of benthic species.
  • 3.
    Retaining the definition of ‘étage’ that was proposed by Pérès (1961) is recommended, and the following classification hierarchy is proposed: supralittoral, mediolittoral, infralittoral with an upper littoral fringe, circalittoral with distinct coastal circalittoral and open circalittoral zones, bathyal, abyssal and hadal.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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