Human activities and environmental variables drive infaunal community structure and functioning in West African mangroves

In West African tropical estuaries, such as the Saloum Delta (Senegal), mangroves provide specific socio-economic functions including various natural food resources for local human populations. Mangrove-habitat loss is therefore of great concern, in terms of conservation and management, and highlights the need to study West African mangrove under human-induced pressures. Based on data from 2007 to 2008, this study aimed to establish a conditions report for two of the main Southern West Senegal mangroves areas: the Sine Saloum and the Petite Côte. We assessed the influence of environmental variables and human-induced pressures (i.e. shellfish harvesting and heavy metals (potentially toxic elements, PTEs)) on infaunal community structure and functions through trait-based approaches.