Trends for Research on Hard Substrate Colonization by Meiofauna

Abstract

The relationships between meiofaunal communities and hard substrate are relatively well-documented in the scientific literature. However, a comprehensive quantitative review of global research on meiofauna colonization across different hard substrates has not yet been conducted. In this study, a scientometric analysis was performed to evaluate scientific interest in various hard substrates in studies exploring the influence of spatial heterogeneity on meiofaunal colonization. A total of 124 articles published from 1967 to 2023 were selected from online databases. Macroalgae were the most frequently studied hard substrate, and it was the one that harbors the highest abundance and richness values compared to other substrates. Studies predominantly focused on specific taxonomic groups, particularly Copepoda, Harpacticoida, and Ostracoda. Nematoda, Copepoda, Harpacticoida, and Amphipoda were the most commonly recorded meiofaunal taxa. Geographically, the United States of America was the most productive country in this field, followed by Brazil. Multivariate analyses, especially Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (nMDS), were the primary quantitative methods used. A decline in studies on meiofauna-substrate relationships over recent years was observed. Given the extensive research on macroalgal colonization, future studies should consider a wider variety of hard substrates to expand understanding in this field.