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Meira A, Byers JE, Sousa R. A global synthesis of predation on bivalves. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1015-1057. [PMID: 38294132 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Predation is a dominant structuring force in ecological communities. In aquatic environments, predation on bivalves has long been an important focal interaction for ecological study because bivalves have central roles as ecosystem engineers, basal components of food webs, and commercial commodities. Studies of bivalves are common, not only because of bivalves' central roles, but also due to the relative ease of studying predatory effects on this taxonomic group. To understand patterns in the interactions of bivalves and their predators we synthesised data from 52 years of peer-reviewed studies on bivalve predation. Using a systematic search, we compiled 1334 studies from 75 countries, comprising 61 bivalve families (N = 2259), dominated by Mytilidae (29% of bivalves), Veneridae (14%), Ostreidae (8%), Unionidae (7%), and Dreissenidae and Tellinidae (6% each). A total of 2036 predators were studied, with crustaceans the most studied predator group (34% of predators), followed by fishes (24%), molluscs (17%), echinoderms (10%) and birds (6%). The majority of studies (86%) were conducted in marine systems, in part driven by the high commercial value of marine bivalves. Studies in freshwater ecosystems were dominated by non-native bivalves and non-native predator species, which probably reflects the important role of biological invasions affecting freshwater biodiversity. In fact, while 81% of the studied marine bivalve species were native, only 50% of the freshwater species were native to the system. In terms of approach, most studies used predation trials, visual analysis of digested contents and exclusion experiments to assess the effects of predation. These studies reflect that many factors influence bivalve predation depending on the species studied, including (i) species traits (e.g. behaviour, morphology, defence mechanisms), (ii) other biotic interactions (e.g. presence of competitors, parasites or diseases), and (iii) environmental context (e.g. temperature, current velocity, beach exposure, habitat complexity). There is a lack of research on the effects of bivalve predation at the population and community and ecosystem levels (only 7% and 0.5% of studies respectively examined impacts at these levels). At the population level, the available studies demonstrate that predation can decrease bivalve density through consumption or the reduction of recruitment. At the community and ecosystem level, predation can trigger effects that cascade through trophic levels or effects that alter the ecological functions bivalves perform. Given the conservation and commercial importance of many bivalve species, studies of predation should be pursued in the context of global change, particularly climate change, acidification and biological invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Meira
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
| | - James E Byers
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, 140 E. Green St, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Ronaldo Sousa
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
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2
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Bao L, Liu Z, Sui M, Yang Z, Wang H, Chen X, Xu Y, Niu Z, Liu N, Xing Q, Bao Z, Huang X. The Glucose-Succinate Pathway: A Crucial Anaerobic Metabolic Pathway in the Scallop Chlamys farreri Experiencing Heat Stress. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4741. [PMID: 38731961 PMCID: PMC11084901 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Recently, the increase in marine temperatures has become an important global marine environmental issue. The ability of energy supply in marine animals plays a crucial role in avoiding the stress of elevated temperatures. The investigation into anaerobic metabolism, an essential mechanism for regulating energy provision under heat stress, is limited in mollusks. In this study, key enzymes of four anaerobic metabolic pathways were identified in the genome of scallop Chlamys farreri, respectively including five opine dehydrogenases (CfOpDHs), two aspartate aminotransferases (CfASTs) divided into cytoplasmic (CfAST1) and mitochondrial subtype (CfAST2), and two phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinases (CfPEPCKs) divided into a primitive type (CfPEPCK2) and a cytoplasmic subtype (CfPEPCK1). It was surprising that lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a key enzyme in the anaerobic metabolism of the glucose-lactate pathway in vertebrates, was absent in the genome of scallops. Phylogenetic analysis verified that CfOpDHs clustered according to the phylogenetic relationships of the organisms rather than substrate specificity. Furthermore, CfOpDHs, CfASTs, and CfPEPCKs displayed distinct expression patterns throughout the developmental process and showed a prominent expression in muscle, foot, kidney, male gonad, and ganglia tissues. Notably, CfASTs displayed the highest level of expression among these genes during the developmental process and in adult tissues. Under heat stress, the expression of CfASTs exhibited a general downregulation trend in the six tissues examined. The expression of CfOpDHs also displayed a downregulation trend in most tissues, except CfOpDH1/3 in striated muscle showing significant up-regulation at some time points. Remarkably, CfPEPCK1 was significantly upregulated in all six tested tissues at almost all time points. Therefore, we speculated that the glucose-succinate pathway, catalyzed by CfPEPCK1, serves as the primary anaerobic metabolic pathway in mollusks experiencing heat stress, with CfOpDH3 catalyzing the glucose-opine pathway in striated muscle as supplementary. Additionally, the high and stable expression level of CfASTs is crucial for the maintenance of the essential functions of aspartate aminotransferase (AST). This study provides a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the key enzymes involved in anaerobic metabolism pathways, which holds significant importance in understanding the mechanism of energy supply in mollusks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijingjing Bao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Academy of Future Ocean, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Zhi Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Academy of Future Ocean, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Mingyi Sui
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Academy of Future Ocean, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Zujing Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Academy of Future Ocean, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Haoran Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Academy of Future Ocean, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Xiaofei Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Academy of Future Ocean, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Yue Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Academy of Future Ocean, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Zehua Niu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Academy of Future Ocean, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Na Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Academy of Future Ocean, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Qiang Xing
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Academy of Future Ocean, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Zhenmin Bao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Academy of Future Ocean, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
- Laboratory of Tropical Marine Germplasm Resources and Breeding Engineering, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya 572000, China
| | - Xiaoting Huang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Academy of Future Ocean, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
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3
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Donelan SC, Hughes AR, Trussell GC, Grabowski JH. Effects of a non-native cyanobacterium on bay scallops (Argopecten irradians) in a New England seagrass ecosystem. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 170:105427. [PMID: 34303297 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Bay scallops (Argopecten irradians) are an economically valuable species whose populations have declined in recent decades due in part to harmful algal and cyanobacterial blooms. Nantucket, Massachusetts hosts one of the last remaining bay scallop fisheries in the U.S., but recently documented the occurrence of a non-native cyanobacterium (Hydrocoleum sp.). Hydrocoleum can form dense mats in seagrass beds, the primary habitat of scallops, but is also diazotrophic, potentially augmenting bioavailable nitrogen to primary producers and fueling secondary production. We conducted surveys to explore the relationships between Hydrocoleum and scallop condition, reproductive potential, and density in eelgrass beds in Nantucket Harbor as well as effects of other habitat characteristics (e.g., eelgrass cover) on these same scallop traits. We found low Hydrocoleum cover during our sampling, but found fewer large scallops in plots with Hydrocoleum, suggesting that this size class may be especially vulnerable to negative effects of Hydrocoleum. Contrary to expectation, we found a positive correlation between Hydrocoleum cover and scallop condition. These patterns suggest that Hydrocoleum may enhance scallop condition, but also affect habitat use, highlighting the need for manipulative experiments to clarify mechanisms driving these relationships. Understanding how non-native species such as Hydrocoleum impact fishery species will help advance conservation and resource management efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Donelan
- Marine Science Center and the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, Nahant, MA, 01908, USA.
| | - A Randall Hughes
- Marine Science Center and the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, Nahant, MA, 01908, USA
| | - Geoffrey C Trussell
- Marine Science Center and the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, Nahant, MA, 01908, USA
| | - Jonathan H Grabowski
- Marine Science Center and the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, Nahant, MA, 01908, USA
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Hovel KA, Duffy JE, Stachowicz JJ, Reynolds P, Boström C, Boyer KE, Cimon S, Cusson M, Fodrie FJ, Gagnon K, Hereu CM, Hori M, Jorgensen P, Kruschel C, Lee KS, Nakaoka M, O'Connor NE, Rossi F, Ruesink J, Tomas F, Ziegler S. Joint effects of patch edges and habitat degradation on faunal predation risk in a widespread marine foundation species. Ecology 2021; 102:e03316. [PMID: 33630346 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Human activities degrade and fragment coastal marine habitats, reducing their structural complexity and making habitat edges a prevalent seascape feature. Though habitat edges frequently are implicated in reduced faunal survival and biodiversity, results of experiments on edge effects have been inconsistent, calling for a mechanistic approach to the study of edges that explicitly includes indirect and interactive effects of habitat alteration at multiple scales across biogeographic gradients. We used an experimental network spanning 17 eelgrass (Zostera marina) sites across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Mediterranean Sea to determine (1) if eelgrass edges consistently increase faunal predation risk, (2) whether edge effects on predation risk are altered by habitat degradation (shoot thinning), and (3) whether variation in the strength of edge effects among sites can be explained by biogeographical variability in covarying eelgrass habitat features. Contrary to expectations, at most sites, predation risk for tethered crustaceans (crabs or shrimps) was lower along patch edges than in patch interiors, regardless of the extent of habitat degradation. However, the extent to which edges reduced predation risk, compared to the patch interior, was correlated with the extent to which edges supported higher eelgrass structural complexity and prey biomass compared to patch interiors. This suggests an indirect component to edge effects in which the impact of edge proximity on predation risk is mediated by the effect of edges on other key biotic factors. Our results suggest that studies on edge effects should consider structural characteristics of patch edges, which may vary geographically, and multiple ways that humans degrade habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin A Hovel
- Department of Biology, Coastal and Marine Institute, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California, 92182, USA
| | - J Emmett Duffy
- Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network, Smithsonian Institution, Edgewater, Maryland, 20013-7012, USA
| | - John J Stachowicz
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Pamela Reynolds
- Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network, Smithsonian Institution, Edgewater, Maryland, 20013-7012, USA.,DataLab: Data Science and Informatics, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Christoffer Boström
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Artillerigatan 6, Åbo, 20520, Finland
| | - Katharyn E Boyer
- Estuary & Ocean Science Center, Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, 94132, USA
| | - Stéphanie Cimon
- Département des Sciences Fondamentales & Québec-Océan, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, Québec, G7H 2B1, Canada
| | - Mathieu Cusson
- Département des Sciences Fondamentales & Québec-Océan, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, Québec, G7H 2B1, Canada
| | - Fredrick Joel Fodrie
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, North Carolina, 28557, USA
| | - Karine Gagnon
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Artillerigatan 6, Åbo, 20520, Finland
| | - Clara M Hereu
- Facultad de Ciencias, UABC, Km. 103 Carretera Tijuana - Ensenada, Ensenada, Baja California C.P. 22860, Mexico
| | - Masakazu Hori
- Fisheries Research Agency, Hiroshima, 739-0452, Japan
| | - Pablo Jorgensen
- Geomare AC, Paseo del Pedregal No. 82, Ensenada, 22860, Mexico
| | - Claudia Kruschel
- Department of Ecology, Agronomy and Aquaculture, University of Zadar, Zadar, 23000, Croatia
| | - Kun-Seop Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Korea
| | - Masahiro Nakaoka
- Akkeshi Marine Station, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Akkeshi, 088-1113, Japan
| | - Nessa E O'Connor
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, UK
| | - Francesca Rossi
- ECOSEAS Laboratory, Université de la Cote d'Azur, CNRS, Nice, France
| | - Jennifer Ruesink
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA
| | - Fiona Tomas
- IMEDEA (UIB-CSIC), C/Miquel Marques 21, Esporles, 07190, Spain.,Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA
| | - Shelby Ziegler
- School of Marine Science, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, The College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia, 23062-1346, USA
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Pavone CB, Gorman D, Flores AAV. Evidence of surplus carrying capacity for benthic invertebrates with the poleward range extension of the tropical seagrass Halophila decipiens in SE Brazil. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 162:105108. [PMID: 32846321 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Seagrasses may enhance the abundance and diversity of benthic invertebrates through trophic facilitation. We investigated this potential ecological function for two seagrasses in SE Brazil: Halodule emarginata, a native species, and Halophila decipiens, a tropical seagrass recently established in the region. At Halophila sites, the organic matter (or carbon) in sediments decreased steadily from seagrass patches to isolated bare grounds, indicating surplus primary production. This was not observed at Halodule sites. At one of the two Halophila sites, localized trophic enrichment was also consistently linked to increased invertebrate abundance within patches, chiefly through increased carrying capacity of small mesoherbivores. Rather than spillover, edge effects were observed at bordering bare habitats, where polychaete predators were abundant. The transition from seagrass edges to isolated bare habitats was marked by an increase of the density of sipunculid worms. The current spread of Halophila may thus change the spatial distribution of benthic ecological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla B Pavone
- Centre for Marine Biology - University of São Paulo, São Sebastião, SP, Brazil; Institute of Biology - State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Daniel Gorman
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Augusto A V Flores
- Centre for Marine Biology - University of São Paulo, São Sebastião, SP, Brazil.
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Tettelbach ST, Furman BT, Hughes SWT, Carroll JM, Peterson BJ, Havelin J, Tettelbach CRH, Patricio RM. Attempted use of an uncommon bay scallop color morph for tracking the contribution of restoration efforts to population recovery. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T. Tettelbach
- Marine ProgramCornell Cooperative Extension 3690 Cedar Beach Road Southold NY 11971 U.S.A
- Professor Emeritus of BiologyLong Island University 720 Northern Boulevard Brookville New York 11548 U.S.A
| | - Bradley T. Furman
- Florida Fish Wildlife Conservation CommissionFlorida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 100 Eighth Avenue SE St. Petersburg FL 33701 U.S.A
| | - Scott W. T. Hughes
- Marine ProgramCornell Cooperative Extension 3690 Cedar Beach Road Southold NY 11971 U.S.A
| | - John M. Carroll
- Department of BiologyGeorgia Southern University 1332 Southern Drive Statesboro GA 30458 U.S.A
| | - Bradley J. Peterson
- School of Marine and Atmospheric SciencesStony Brook‐Southampton 8 Little Neck Road Southampton NY 11968 U.S.A
| | - Jason Havelin
- Marine ProgramCornell Cooperative Extension 3690 Cedar Beach Road Southold NY 11971 U.S.A
| | - Christian R. H. Tettelbach
- Estuary & Ocean Science Center, Romberg Tiburon CampusSan Francisco State University 3150 Paradise Drive Tiburon CA 94920 U.S.A
| | - R. Michael Patricio
- Marine ProgramCornell Cooperative Extension 3690 Cedar Beach Road Southold NY 11971 U.S.A
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Gagnon K, Rinde E, Bengil EGT, Carugati L, Christianen MJA, Danovaro R, Gambi C, Govers LL, Kipson S, Meysick L, Pajusalu L, Tüney Kızılkaya İ, Koppel J, Heide T, Katwijk MM, Boström C. Facilitating foundation species: The potential for plant–bivalve interactions to improve habitat restoration success. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karine Gagnon
- Environmental and Marine Biology Åbo Akademi University Turku Finland
| | - Eli Rinde
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research Oslo Norway
| | - Elizabeth G. T. Bengil
- Mediterranean Conservation Society Izmir Turkey
- Girne American UniversityMarine School Girne TRNC via Turkey
| | - Laura Carugati
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences Polytechnic University of Marche Ancona Italy
| | - Marjolijn J. A. Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group Wageningen University Wageningen The Netherlands
- Department of Environmental Science Institute for Wetland and Water Research Radboud University Nijmegen Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Roberto Danovaro
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences Polytechnic University of Marche Ancona Italy
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Naples Italy
| | - Cristina Gambi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences Polytechnic University of Marche Ancona Italy
| | - Laura L. Govers
- Department of Environmental Science Institute for Wetland and Water Research Radboud University Nijmegen Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Silvija Kipson
- Faculty of Science Department of Biology University of Zagreb Zagreb Croatia
| | - Lukas Meysick
- Environmental and Marine Biology Åbo Akademi University Turku Finland
| | - Liina Pajusalu
- Estonian Marine Institute University of Tartu Tallinn Estonia
| | - İnci Tüney Kızılkaya
- Mediterranean Conservation Society Izmir Turkey
- Faculty of Science Ege University Izmir Turkey
| | - Johan Koppel
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
- Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University Yerseke The Netherlands
| | - Tjisse Heide
- Department of Environmental Science Institute for Wetland and Water Research Radboud University Nijmegen Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
- Department of Coastal Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht University Den Burg The Netherlands
| | - Marieke M. Katwijk
- Department of Environmental Science Institute for Wetland and Water Research Radboud University Nijmegen Nijmegen The Netherlands
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Yeager LA, Geyer JK, Fodrie FJ. Trait sensitivities to seagrass fragmentation across spatial scales shape benthic community structure. J Anim Ecol 2019; 88:1743-1754. [PMID: 31325173 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The structure of local ecological communities is thought to be determined by a series of hierarchical abiotic and biotic filters which select for or against species based on their traits. Many human impacts, like fragmentation, serve to alter environmental conditions across a range of spatial scales and may impact trait-environment interactions. We examined the effects of environmental variation associated with habitat fragmentation of seagrass habitat measured from microhabitat to landscape scales in controlling the taxonomic and trait-based community structure of benthic fauna. We measured patterns in species abundance and biomass of seagrass epifauna and infauna sampled using sediment cores from 86 sites (across 21 meadows) in Back Sound, North Carolina, USA. We related local faunal community structure to environmental variation measured at three spatial scales (microhabitat, patch and landscape). Additionally, we tested the value of species traits in predicting species-specific responses to habitat fragmentation across scales. While univariate measures of faunal communities (i.e. total density, biomass and species richness) were positively related to microhabitat-scale seagrass biomass only, overall community structure was predicted by environmental variation at the microhabitat, patch (i.e. patch size) and landscape (i.e. number of patches, landscape seagrass area) scales. Furthermore, fourth-corner analysis revealed that species traits explained as much variation in organismal densities as species identity. For example, species with planktonic-dispersing larvae and deposit-feeding trophic modes were more abundant in contiguous, high seagrass cover landscapes while suspension feeders favoured more fragmented landscapes. We present quantitative evidence supporting hierarchal models of community assembly which predict that interactions between species traits and environmental variation across scales ultimately drive local community composition. Variable responses of individual traits to multiple environmental variables suggest that community assembly processes that act on species via traits related to dispersal, mobility and trophic mode will be altered under habitat fragmentation. Additionally, with increasing global temperatures, the tropical seagrass Halodule wrightii is predicted to replace the temperate Zostera marina as the dominate seagrass in our study region, therefore potentially favouring species with planktonic-dispersing larva and weakening the strength of environmental control on community assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Yeager
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, TX, USA
| | - Julie K Geyer
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, NC, USA
| | - Fredrick Joel Fodrie
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, NC, USA
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Rielly-Carroll E, Freestone AL. Habitat fragmentation differentially affects trophic levels and alters behavior in a multi-trophic marine system. Oecologia 2016; 183:899-908. [PMID: 28000022 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3791-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Seagrass, an important subtidal marine ecosystem, is being lost at a rate of 110 km2 year-1, leading to fragmented seagrass seascapes. Habitat fragmentation is predicted to affect trophic levels differently, with higher trophic levels being more sensitive, stressing the importance of a multi-trophic perspective. Utilizing the trophic relationship between the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) and hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria), where adult blue crabs prey on juvenile blue crabs, and juvenile blue crabs prey on small hard clams, we examined whether predation rates, abundance, and behavior of predators and prey differed between continuous and fragmented seagrass in a multi-trophic context at two sites in Barnegat Bay, NJ. We tested the hypothesis that fragmented habitats would differentially affect trophic levels within a tri-trophic system, and our results supported this hypothesis. Densities of adult blue crabs were higher in fragmented than continuous habitats. Densities of juvenile blue crabs, the primary predator of hard clams, were lower in fragmented habitats than continuous, potentially due to increased predation by adult blue crabs. Clams experienced lower predation and burrowed to a shallower depth in fragmented habitats than in continuous habitat, likely due in part to the low densities of juvenile blue crabs, their primary predator. Our results suggest that while trophic levels are differentially affected, the impact of habitat fragmentation may be stronger on intermediate rather than top trophic levels in some marine systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Rielly-Carroll
- Department of Biology, Holy Family University, 9801 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19114, USA.
| | - Amy L Freestone
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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11
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Orensanz J(L, Parma AM, Smith SJ. Dynamics, Assessment, and Management of Exploited Natural Scallop Populations. SCALLOPS - BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AQUACULTURE, AND FISHERIES 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-62710-0.00014-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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