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Liang M, Lamy T, Reuman DC, Wang S, Bell TW, Cavanaugh KC, Castorani MCN. A marine heatwave changes the stabilizing effects of biodiversity in kelp forests. Ecology 2024; 105:e4288. [PMID: 38522859 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Biodiversity can stabilize ecological communities through biological insurance, but climate and other environmental changes may disrupt this process via simultaneous ecosystem destabilization and biodiversity loss. While changes to diversity-stability relationships (DSRs) and the underlying mechanisms have been extensively explored in terrestrial plant communities, this topic remains largely unexplored in benthic marine ecosystems that comprise diverse assemblages of producers and consumers. By analyzing two decades of kelp forest biodiversity survey data, we discovered changes in diversity, stability, and their relationships at multiple scales (biological organizational levels, spatial scales, and functional groups) that were linked with the most severe marine heatwave ever documented in the North Pacific Ocean. Moreover, changes in the strength of DSRs during/after the heatwave were more apparent among functional groups than both biological organizational levels (population vs. ecosystem levels) and spatial scales (local vs. broad scales). Specifically, the strength of DSRs decreased for fishes, increased for mobile invertebrates and understory algae, and were unchanged for sessile invertebrates during/after the heatwave. Our findings suggest that biodiversity plays a key role in stabilizing marine ecosystems, but the resilience of DSRs to adverse climate impacts primarily depends on the functional identities of ecological communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maowei Liang
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, University of Minnesota, East Bethel, Minnesota, USA
| | - Thomas Lamy
- MARBEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Daniel C Reuman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Ecological Research, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Shaopeng Wang
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tom W Bell
- Department of Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kyle C Cavanaugh
- Department of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Max C N Castorani
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Tsai CH, Goedert JL, Boessenecker RW. The oldest mysticete in the Northern Hemisphere. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1794-1800.e3. [PMID: 38552627 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Extant baleen whales (Mysticeti) uniquely use keratinous baleen for filter-feeding and lack dentition, but the fossil record clearly shows that "toothed" baleen whales first appeared in the Late Eocene.1 Globally, only two Eocene mysticetes have been found, and both are from the Southern Hemisphere: Mystacodon selenensis from Peru, 36.4 mega-annum (Ma) ago1,2 and Llanocetus denticrenatus from Antarctica, 34.2 Ma ago.3,4 Based on a partial skull from the lower part of the Lincoln Creek Formation in Washington State, USA, we describe the Northern Hemisphere's geochronologically earliest mysticete, Fucaia humilis sp. nov. Geology, biostratigraphy, and magnetostratigraphy places Fucaia humilis sp. nov. in the latest Eocene (ca. 34.5 Ma ago, near the Eocene/Oligocene transition at 33.9 Ma ago), approximately coeval with the oldest record of fossil kelps, also in the northeastern Pacific.5 This observation leads to our hypothesis that the origin and development of a relatively stable, nutrient-rich kelp ecosystem5,6 in the latest Eocene may have fostered the radiation of small-sized toothed mysticetes (Family Aetiocetidae) in the North Pacific basin, a stark contrast to the larger Llanocetidae (whether Mystacodon belongs to llanocetids or another independent clade remains unresolved) with the latest Eocene onset of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current in the Southern Hemisphere.7,8,9 Our discovery suggests that disparate mechanisms and ecological scenarios may have nurtured contrasting early mysticete evolutionary histories in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Hsiu Tsai
- Department of Life Science and Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; Department of Geology, National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba 305-0005, Japan.
| | - James L Goedert
- Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
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Chen J, Chen X, Qian L, Zhang Y, Li B, Shi H, Sun L, Schöb C, Sun H. Degeneration of foundation cushion species induced by ecological constraints can cause massive changes in alpine plant communities. Sci China Life Sci 2024; 67:789-802. [PMID: 38057621 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2383-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Foundational cushion plants can re-organize community structures and sustain a prominent proportion of alpine biodiversity, but they are sensitive to climate change. The loss of cushion species can have broad consequences for associated biota. The potential plant community changes with the population dynamics of cushion plants remain, however, unclear. Using eight plant communities along a climatic and community successional gradient, we assessed cushion population dynamics, the underlying ecological constraints and hence associated plant community changes in alpine communities dominated by the foundational cushion plant Arenaria polytrichoides. The population dynamics of Arenaria are attributed to ecological constraints at a series of life history stages. Reproductive functions are constrained by increasing associated beneficiary plants; subsequent seedling establishment is constrained by temperature, water and light availability, extreme climate events, and interspecific competition; strong competitive exclusion may accelerate mortality and degeneration of cushion populations. Along with cushion dynamics, species composition, abundance and community structure gradually change. Once cushion plants completely degenerate, previously cushion-dominated communities shift to relatively stable communities that are overwhelmingly dominated by sedges. Climate warming may accelerate the degeneration process of A. polytrichoides. Degeneration of this foundational cushion plant will possibly induce massive changes in alpine plant communities and hence ecosystem functions in alpine ecosystems. The assessment of the population dynamics of foundation species is critical for an effective conservation of alpine biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Chen
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Xufang Chen
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lishen Qian
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yazhou Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Bo Li
- College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Honghua Shi
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lu Sun
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Christian Schöb
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, 28933, Spain.
| | - Hang Sun
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China.
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Piñeiro-Corbeira C, Barrientos S, Provera I, García ME, Díaz-Tapia P, Peña V, Bárbara I, Barreiro R. Kelp forests collapse reduces understorey seaweed β-diversity. Ann Bot 2024; 133:93-104. [PMID: 37815049 PMCID: PMC10921829 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Kelps are the primary foundation species in temperate subtidal rocky shores worldwide. However, global change is causing their decline with consequences for the organisms that rely on them. An accurate assessment of these consequences may depend on which attributes of the associated community are considered. This study shows that conventional α-diversity approaches may overlook some of these consequences compared to spatially explicit approaches such as with β-diversity. METHODS A 1-year seasonal study was conducted to compare the macroalgal understorey between healthy reefs with a Laminaria ochroleuca canopy and degraded reefs where the canopy collapsed years ago due to excessive fish herbivory. At each reef, the understorey seaweed assemblage was recorded in five replicate quadrats to estimate α-diversity (total richness, species density, Shannon index) and β-diversity (intra- and inter-reef scale). KEY RESULTS The understorey assemblage exhibited a distinct seasonal dynamic in both healthy and degraded reefs. α-Diversity attributes increased in spring and summer; turf-forming algae were particularly dominant in degraded reefs during summer. β-Diversity also showed seasonal variability, but mostly due to the changes in degraded reefs. None of the α-diversity estimates differed significantly between healthy and degraded reefs. In contrast, spatial β-diversity was significantly lower in degraded reefs. CONCLUSIONS Although the loss of the kelp canopy affected the composition of the macroalgal understorey, none of the conventional indicators of α-diversity detected significant differences between healthy and degraded reefs. In contrast, small-scale spatial β-diversity decreased significantly as a result of deforestation, suggesting that the loss of kelp canopy may not significantly affect the number of species but still have an effect on their spatial arrangement. Our results suggest that small-scale β-diversity may be a good proxy for a more comprehensive assessment of the consequences of kelp forest decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Piñeiro-Corbeira
- BioCost Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias, and CICA – Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía, Universidad de A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Sara Barrientos
- BioCost Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias, and CICA – Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía, Universidad de A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Isabella Provera
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Manuel E García
- Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM-CSIC), Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Pilar Díaz-Tapia
- BioCost Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias, and CICA – Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía, Universidad de A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de A Coruña, Paseo Marítimo Alcalde Francisco Vázquez, 10, 15001, Coruña, Spain
| | - Viviana Peña
- BioCost Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias, and CICA – Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía, Universidad de A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Ignacio Bárbara
- BioCost Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias, and CICA – Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía, Universidad de A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Rodolfo Barreiro
- BioCost Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias, and CICA – Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía, Universidad de A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
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Cameron NM, Scrosati RA, Valdivia N, Meunier ZD. Global taxonomic and functional patterns in invertebrate assemblages from rocky-intertidal mussel beds. Sci Rep 2024; 14:26. [PMID: 38167569 PMCID: PMC10761853 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50549-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Mussels form extensive beds in rocky intertidal habitats on temperate seashores worldwide. They are foundation species because their beds host many invertebrates. Mussels and their associated species differ taxonomically among biogeographic regions, but all mussel beds exhibit similar structural and functional properties. Therefore, we investigated if rocky-intertidal mussel beds from around the globe host associated communities that are functionally similar despite their underlying taxonomic differences. We gathered datasets on the abundance of invertebrates found in rocky-intertidal mussel beds from the eastern and western boundaries of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from both hemispheres and, then, we compared their taxonomic and functional properties. Taxonomic composition differed markedly among coasts when analyzed at the taxonomic resolution reported by the surveys (often species). However, taxonomic groups with similar ecologies (28 groups including barnacles, decapods, gastropods, polychaetes, etc.) were more universally present in mussel beds. Concomitantly, functional categories of trophic level, body type, and mobility were almost always present on all studied coasts. These taxonomic groups and trait categories, however, showed regional patterns based on their relative abundances. Overall, the ability of mussel beds to host a core community type based on taxonomic groups and functional traits emphasizes their importance for biodiversity and community functioning, making them critical organisms to preserve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M Cameron
- Department of Biology, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, B2G 2W5, Canada
| | - Ricardo A Scrosati
- Department of Biology, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, B2G 2W5, Canada.
| | - Nelson Valdivia
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas and Centro FONDAP de Investigación de Dinámicas de Ecosistemas Marinos de Altas Latitudes (IDEAL), Universidad Austral de Chile, 5090000, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Zechariah D Meunier
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
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Muller A, Dubois SF, Boyé A, Becheler R, Droual G, Chevalier M, Pasquier M, Roudaut L, Fournier‐Sowinski J, Auby I, Nunes FLD. Environmental filtering and biotic interactions act on different facets of the diversity of benthic assemblages associated with eelgrass. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10159. [PMID: 38034328 PMCID: PMC10682608 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Eelgrass supports diverse benthic communities that ensure a variety of ecosystem functions. To better understand the ecological processes that shape community composition in eelgrass at local and regional scales, taxonomic and functional α- and β-diversity were quantified for communities inhabiting five meadows in France. The extent to which environmental factors affected local and regional benthic communities was quantified by considering their direct and indirect effects (through morphological traits of eelgrass) using piecewise structural equation modeling (pSEM). Communities supported by eelgrass had higher species abundances, as well as taxonomic and functional diversity compared to nearby bare sediments. No significant differences were found between communities from the center relative to the edges of meadows, indicating that both habitats provide similar benefits to biodiversity. The presence of a few abundant species and traits suggests moderate levels of habitat filtering and close associations of certain species with eelgrass. Nevertheless, high turnover of a large number of rare species and traits was observed among meadows, resulting in meadows being characterized by their own distinct communities. High turnover indicates that much of the community is not specific to eelgrass, but rather reflects local species pools. pSEM showed that spatial variation in community composition (β-diversity) was primarily affected by environmental conditions, with temperature, current velocity, and tidal amplitude being the most significant explanatory variables. Local richness and abundance (α-diversity) were affected by both environment and morphological traits. Importantly, morphological traits of Zostera marina were also influenced by environmental conditions, revealing cascading effects of the environment on assemblages. In sum, the environment exerted large effects on community structure at both regional and local scales, while plant traits were only pertinent in explaining local diversity. This complex interplay of processes acting at multiple scales with indirect effects should be accounted for in conservation efforts that target the protection of biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Muller
- IFREMER Centre de Bretagne, DYNECOLaboratoire d'Ecologie Benthique CôtièrePlouzanéFrance
| | - Stanislas F. Dubois
- IFREMER Centre de Bretagne, DYNECOLaboratoire d'Ecologie Benthique CôtièrePlouzanéFrance
| | - Aurélien Boyé
- IFREMER Centre de Bretagne, DYNECOLaboratoire d'Ecologie Benthique CôtièrePlouzanéFrance
| | - Ronan Becheler
- IFREMER Centre de Bretagne, DYNECOLaboratoire d'Ecologie Benthique CôtièrePlouzanéFrance
| | - Gabin Droual
- IFREMER Centre de Bretagne, DYNECOLaboratoire d'Ecologie Benthique CôtièrePlouzanéFrance
- DECOD (Ecosystem Dynamics and Sustainability), IFREMER, INRAEInstitut Agrocampus OuestNantesFrance
| | - Mathieu Chevalier
- IFREMER Centre de Bretagne, DYNECOLaboratoire d'Ecologie Benthique CôtièrePlouzanéFrance
| | - Marine Pasquier
- IFREMER Centre de Bretagne, DYNECOLaboratoire d'Ecologie Benthique CôtièrePlouzanéFrance
| | - Loïg Roudaut
- IFREMER Centre de Bretagne, DYNECOLaboratoire d'Ecologie Benthique CôtièrePlouzanéFrance
| | - Jérôme Fournier‐Sowinski
- CNRS, Centre d'Écologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO)Station de Biologie Marine MNHNConcarneauFrance
| | - Isabelle Auby
- IFREMER, Laboratoire Environnement Ressources d'ArcachonArcachonFrance
| | - Flávia L. D. Nunes
- IFREMER Centre de Bretagne, DYNECOLaboratoire d'Ecologie Benthique CôtièrePlouzanéFrance
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Ansley RJ, Rivera‐Monroy VH, Griffis‐Kyle K, Hoagland B, Emert A, Fagin T, Loss SR, McCarthy HR, Smith NG, Waring EF. Assessing impacts of climate change on selected foundation species and ecosystem services in the South‐Central USA. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- R. James Ansley
- Natural Resource Ecology and Management Department Oklahoma State University Stillwater Oklahoma USA
| | - Victor H. Rivera‐Monroy
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, College of the Coast and Environment Louisiana State University Baton Rouge Louisiana USA
| | - Kerry Griffis‐Kyle
- Department of Natural Resources Management Texas Tech University Lubbock Texas USA
| | - Bruce Hoagland
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma USA
| | - Amanda Emert
- The Institute of Environmental and Human Health Texas Tech University Lubbock Texas USA
| | - Todd Fagin
- The Center for Spatial Analysis University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma USA
| | - Scott R. Loss
- Natural Resource Ecology and Management Department Oklahoma State University Stillwater Oklahoma USA
| | - Heather R. McCarthy
- The Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma USA
| | - Nicholas G. Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences Texas Tech University Lubbock Texas USA
| | - Elizabeth F. Waring
- Department of Natural Sciences Northeastern State University Tahlequah Oklahoma USA
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8
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Srednick G, Cohen A, Diehl O, Tyler K, Swearer SE. Habitat attributes mediate herbivory and influence community development in algal metacommunities. Ecology 2023; 104:e3976. [PMID: 36691779 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the drivers and impacts of spatiotemporal variation in species abundance on community trajectories is key to understanding the factors contributing to ecosystem resilience. Temporal variation in species trajectories across patches can provide compensation for species loss and can influence successional patterns. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms that lead to patterns of species or spatial compensation and how those patterns may be mediated by consumer-resource relationships. Here we describe an experiment testing whether habitat attributes (e.g., structural complexity and spatial heterogeneity) mediate the effects of herbivory on tropical marine macroalgal communities by reducing accessibility and detectability, respectively, leading to variable trajectories among algal species at community (within patch) and metacommunity (i.e., among patch) scales. Reduced accessibility (greater habitat complexity) decreased the effects of herbivory (i.e., depressed consumption rate, increased algal species richness), and both accessibility and detectability (spatial heterogeneity) influenced algal community structure. Moreover, decreased accessibility at the community scale and a mosaic of accessibility at the metacommunity scale led to variation in community assembly. We suggest that habitat attributes can be important influencers of consumer-resource interactions on coral reefs, which in turn can increase species diversity, promote species succession, and enhance stability in algal metacommunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Griffin Srednick
- National Centre for Coasts and Climate, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Alyssa Cohen
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, California, USA
| | - Olivia Diehl
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, California, USA
| | - Kaela Tyler
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, California, USA
| | - Stephen E Swearer
- National Centre for Coasts and Climate, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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9
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Castorani MCN, Bell TW, Walter JA, Reuman D, Cavanaugh KC, Sheppard LW. Disturbance and nutrients synchronise kelp forests across scales through interacting Moran effects. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:1854-1868. [PMID: 35771209 PMCID: PMC9541195 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Spatial synchrony is a ubiquitous and important feature of population dynamics, but many aspects of this phenomenon are not well understood. In particular, it is largely unknown how multiple environmental drivers interact to determine synchrony via Moran effects, and how these impacts vary across spatial and temporal scales. Using new wavelet statistical techniques, we characterised synchrony in populations of giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera, a widely distributed marine foundation species, and related synchrony to variation in oceanographic conditions across 33 years (1987-2019) and >900 km of coastline in California, USA. We discovered that disturbance (storm-driven waves) and resources (seawater nutrients)-underpinned by climatic variability-act individually and interactively to produce synchrony in giant kelp across geography and timescales. Our findings demonstrate that understanding and predicting synchrony, and thus the regional stability of populations, relies on resolving the synergistic and antagonistic Moran effects of multiple environmental drivers acting on different timescales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max C. N. Castorani
- Department of Environmental SciencesUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
| | - Tom W. Bell
- Department of Applied Ocean Physics & EngineeringWoods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionWoods HoleMassachusettsUSA
- Earth Research InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jonathan A. Walter
- Department of Environmental SciencesUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
| | - Daniel C. Reuman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of KansasLawrenceKansasUSA
- Center for Ecological ResearchUniversity of KansasLawrenceKansasUSA
- Laboratory of PopulationsRockefeller UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Kyle C. Cavanaugh
- Department of GeographyUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Lawrence W. Sheppard
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of KansasLawrenceKansasUSA
- Marine Biological Association of the United KingdomPlymouthUK
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10
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Fica-Rojas E, Catalán AM, Broitman BR, Pérez-Matus A, Valdivia N. Independent Effects of Species Removal and Asynchrony on Invariability of an Intertidal Rocky Shore Community. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.866950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecological stability depends on interactions between different levels of biological organization. The insurance effects occur when increasing species diversity leads to more temporally invariable (i.e., more stable) community-level properties, due in part to asynchronous population-level fluctuations. While the study of insurance effects has received considerable attention, the role of dominant species that contribute with particular functional traits across different level of organizations is less understood. Using a field-based manipulative experiment, we investigated how species richness and different types of parameters at the population level, such as the invariability of dominants, population invariability, and population asynchrony, influence the community invariability. The experiment involved the repetitive removal of the canopy forming alga Mazzaella laminarioides (hereafter “Mazzaella”) during 32 months in two rocky intertidal sites of northern-central Chile. We predicted that the invariability of dominants enhances community invariability, that the effect of multispecies population-level parameters on community invariability are dependent on species richness, and that subdominant algae are unable to fully compensate the loss of canopies of the dominant species. Biomass of algae and mobile invertebrates was quantified over time. We observed independent effects of Mazzaella removal and community-wide asynchrony on community invariability. While canopy removal reduced community invariability, population asynchrony boosted community invariability regardless of the presence of canopies. In addition, filamentous and foliose algae were unable to compensate the loss of biomass triggered by the experimental removal of Mazzaella. Canopy removal led to a severe decrement in the biomass of macrograzers, while, at the same time, increased the biomass of mesograzers. Asynchrony stemmed from compensatory trophic responses of mesograzers to increased abundances of opportunistic algae. Thus, further work on consumer-resource interactions will improve our understanding of the links between population- and community-level aspects of stability.
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11
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S. Smith
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia
| | - Bo Lusk
- Virginia Coast Reserve The Nature Conservancy Nassawadox Virginia
| | - Max C. N. Castorani
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia
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12
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Houskeeper HF, Rosenthal IS, Cavanaugh KC, Pawlak C, Trouille L, Byrnes JEK, Bell TW, Cavanaugh KC. Automated satellite remote sensing of giant kelp at the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). PLoS One 2022; 17:e0257933. [PMID: 34990455 PMCID: PMC8735600 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Giant kelp populations that support productive and diverse coastal ecosystems at temperate and subpolar latitudes of both hemispheres are vulnerable to changing climate conditions as well as direct human impacts. Observations of giant kelp forests are spatially and temporally uneven, with disproportionate coverage in the northern hemisphere, despite the size and comparable density of southern hemisphere kelp forests. Satellite imagery enables the mapping of existing and historical giant kelp populations in understudied regions, but automating the detection of giant kelp using satellite imagery requires approaches that are robust to the optical complexity of the shallow, nearshore environment. We present and compare two approaches for automating the detection of giant kelp in satellite datasets: one based on crowd sourcing of satellite imagery classifications and another based on a decision tree paired with a spectral unmixing algorithm (automated using Google Earth Engine). Both approaches are applied to satellite imagery (Landsat) of the Falkland Islands or Islas Malvinas (FLK), an archipelago in the southern Atlantic Ocean that supports expansive giant kelp ecosystems. The performance of each method is evaluated by comparing the automated classifications with a subset of expert-annotated imagery (8 images spanning the majority of our continuous timeseries, cumulatively covering over 2,700 km of coastline, and including all relevant sensors). Using the remote sensing approaches evaluated herein, we present the first continuous timeseries of giant kelp observations in the FLK region using Landsat imagery spanning over three decades. We do not detect evidence of long-term change in the FLK region, although we observe a recent decline in total canopy area from 2017-2021. Using a nitrate model based on nearby ocean state measurements obtained from ships and incorporating satellite sea surface temperature products, we find that the area of giant kelp forests in the FLK region is positively correlated with the nitrate content observed during the prior year. Our results indicate that giant kelp classifications using citizen science are approximately consistent with classifications based on a state-of-the-art automated spectral approach. Despite differences in accuracy and sensitivity, both approaches find high interannual variability that impedes the detection of potential long-term changes in giant kelp canopy area, although recent canopy area declines are notable and should continue to be monitored carefully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry F. Houskeeper
- Department of Geography, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Isaac S. Rosenthal
- School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Katherine C. Cavanaugh
- Department of Geography, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Camille Pawlak
- Department of Geography, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Laura Trouille
- The Adler Planetarium, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Jarrett E. K. Byrnes
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Tom W. Bell
- Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kyle C. Cavanaugh
- Department of Geography, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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13
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Lanari M, Horta PA, da Silva Copertino M. Functional redundancy and stability in a subtidal macroalgal community in the Southwestern Atlantic coast. Mar Environ Res 2022; 173:105519. [PMID: 34775208 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Functional redundancy can stabilize ecological functions as asynchronous fluctuations among functionally similar species may buffer environmental changes. We investigated the temporal dynamics of a subtidal macroalgal community in the warm temperate Southwestern Atlantic coast (SWA) to evaluate whether functional redundancy stabilize ecosystems functions through compensatory dynamics under realistic environmental scenarios. Despite temporal variations in the community structure occurred, a high stability in macroalgal coverage was found at the community-level driven by taxa asynchronous fluctuations. No relationship between functional redundancy and stability occurred, suggesting that functional compensation cannot surpass the influence of environmental fluctuations on the performance of ecological functions. Declines in Sargassum species abundance, along with its low functional redundancy, indicate that this canopy-forming algae must be prioritized in conservation efforts in the SWA. Our study adds to the comprehension and generalization of biodiversity-stability findings in natural systems across distinct geographical areas, also contributing to their operationalization in marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Lanari
- Coastal Plant Ecology Laboratory, Institute of Oceanography, Federal University of Rio Grande, Av. Italia, km 08, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP: 96201-900, Brazil.
| | - Paulo Antunes Horta
- Phycology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Biological Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Margareth da Silva Copertino
- Coastal Plant Ecology Laboratory, Institute of Oceanography, Federal University of Rio Grande, Av. Italia, km 08, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP: 96201-900, Brazil
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14
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15
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Azpeleta Tarancón A, Sánchez Meador AJ, Padilla T, Fulé PZ, Kim YS. Trends of forest and ecosystem services changes in the Mescalero Apache Tribal Lands. Ecol Appl 2021; 31:e02459. [PMID: 34582603 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Forests are critically important for the provision of ecosystem services. The Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico, USA, are a hotspot for conservation management and the Mescalero Apache Tribe's homeland. The multiple ecosystem services and functions and its high vulnerability to changes in climate conditions make their forests of ecological, cultural, and social importance. We used data from the Mescalero Apache Tribal Lands (MATL) Continuous Forest Inventory over 30 yr to analyze changes in the structure and composition of ecosystems as well as trends in ecosystem services. Many provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services were shared among the MATL ecosystems and were tied to foundational species dominance, which could serve as a reliable indicator of ecosystem functioning. Our analysis indicates that the MATL are in an ongoing transition from conifer forests to woodlands with declines in two foundation species, quaking aspen and ponderosa pine, linked to past forest management and changing climate. In addition, we detected a decrease in species richness and tree size variability, amplifying the risk of forest loss in a rapid climatic change. Continuous permanent plots located on a dense grid (1 × 1 km) such as the ones monitored by the Bureau of Indian Affairs are the most detailed data available to estimate forests multiresource transitions over time. Native lands across the USA could serve as the leading edge of detecting decadal-scale forest changes and tracking climate impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Azpeleta Tarancón
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, 200 East Pine Knoll Drive, Flagstaff, Arizona, 86011, USA
| | - Andrew J Sánchez Meador
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, 200 East Pine Knoll Drive, Flagstaff, Arizona, 86011, USA
- Ecological Restoration Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, 86011, USA
| | - Thora Padilla
- Mescalero Apache Tribe, Division of Resource Management and Protection, Mescalero, New Mexico, 88340, USA
| | - Peter Z Fulé
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, 200 East Pine Knoll Drive, Flagstaff, Arizona, 86011, USA
| | - Yeon-Su Kim
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, 200 East Pine Knoll Drive, Flagstaff, Arizona, 86011, USA
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16
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Castorani MCN, Harrer SL, Miller RJ, Reed DC. Disturbance structures canopy and understory productivity along an environmental gradient. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:2192-2206. [PMID: 34339096 PMCID: PMC8518717 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Disturbances often disproportionately impact different vegetation layers in forests and other vertically stratified ecosystems, shaping community structure and ecosystem function. However, disturbance-driven changes may be mediated by environmental conditions that affect habitat quality and species interactions. In a decade-long field experiment, we tested how kelp forest net primary productivity (NPP) responds to repeated canopy loss along a gradient in grazing and substrate suitability. We discovered that habitat quality can mediate the effects of intensified disturbance on canopy and understory NPP. Experimental annual and quarterly disturbances suppressed total macroalgal NPP, but effects were strongest in high-quality habitats that supported dense kelp canopies that were removed by disturbance. Understory macroalgae partly compensated for canopy NPP losses and this effect magnified with increasing habitat quality. Disturbance-driven increases in understory NPP were still rising after 5-10 years of disturbance, demonstrating the value of long-term experimentation for understanding ecosystem responses to changing disturbance regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max C. N. Castorani
- Department of Environmental SciencesUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVAUSA
| | | | - Robert J. Miller
- Marine Science InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCAUSA
| | - Daniel C. Reed
- Marine Science InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCAUSA
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17
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Murdock SA, Tunnicliffe V, Boschen-Rose RE, Juniper SK. Emergent "core communities" of microbes, meiofauna and macrofauna at hydrothermal vents. ISME Commun 2021; 1:27. [PMID: 36739470 PMCID: PMC9723782 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-021-00031-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Assessment of ecosystem health entails consideration of species interactions within and between size classes to determine their contributions to ecosystem function. Elucidating microbial involvement in these interactions requires tools to distil diverse microbial information down to relevant, manageable elements. We used covariance ratios (proportionality) between pairs of species and patterns of enrichment to identify "core communities" of likely interacting microbial (<64 µm), meiofaunal (64 µm to 1 mm) and macrofaunal (>1 mm) taxa within assemblages hosted by a foundation species, the hydrothermal vent tubeworm Ridgeia piscesae. Compared with samples from co-located hydrothermal fluids, microbial communities within R. piscesae assemblages are hotspots of taxonomic richness and are high in novelty (unclassified OTUs) and in relative abundance of Bacteroidetes. We also observed a robust temperature-driven distinction in assemblage composition above and below ~25 °C that spanned micro to macro size classes. The core high-temperature community included eight macro- and meiofaunal taxa and members of the Bacteroidetes and Epsilonbacteraeota, particularly the genera Carboxylicivirga, Nitratifractor and Arcobacter. The core low-temperature community included more meiofaunal species in addition to Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Inferred associations among high-temperature core community taxa suggest increased reliance on species interactions under more severe hydrothermal conditions. We propose refinement of species diversity to "core communities" as a tool to simplify investigations of relationships between taxonomic and functional diversity across domains and scales by narrowing the taxonomic scope.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Murdock
- School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada.
| | - V Tunnicliffe
- School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - R E Boschen-Rose
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
- Ocean & Earth Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - S K Juniper
- School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
- Ocean Networks Canada, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
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18
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Miner CM, Burnaford JL, Ammann K, Becker BH, Fradkin SC, Ostermann-Kelm S, Smith JR, Whitaker SG, Raimondi PT. Latitudinal variation in long-term stability of North American rocky intertidal communities. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:2077-2093. [PMID: 34002377 PMCID: PMC8518646 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Although long‐term ecological stability is often discussed as a community attribute, it is typically investigated at the species level (e.g. density, biomass), or as a univariate metric (e.g. species diversity). To provide a more comprehensive assessment of long‐term community stability, we used a multivariate similarity approach that included all species and their relative abundances. We used data from 74 sites sampled annually from 2006 to 2017 to examine broad temporal and spatial patterns of change within rocky intertidal communities along the west coast of North America. We explored relationships between community change (inverse of stability) and the following potential drivers of change/stability: (a) marine heatwave events; (b) three attributes of biodiversity: richness, diversity and evenness and (c) presence of the mussel, Mytilus californianus, a dominant space holder and foundation species in this system. At a broad scale, we found an inverse relationship between community stability and elevated water temperatures. In addition, we found substantial differences in stability among regions, with lower stability in the south, which may provide a glimpse into the patterns expected with a changing climate. At the site level, community stability was linked to high species richness and, perhaps counterintuitively, to low evenness, which could be a consequence of the dominance of mussels in this system. Synthesis. Assessments of long‐term stability at the whole‐community level are rarely done but are key to a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of climate change. In communities structured around a spatially dominant species, long‐term stability can be linked to the stability of this ‘foundation species’, as well as to traditional predictors, such as species richness.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Melissa Miner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer L Burnaford
- Department of Biological Science, California State University, Fullerton, CA, USA
| | - Karah Ammann
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin H Becker
- U.S. National Park Service, Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes Station, CA, USA
| | - Steven C Fradkin
- U.S. National Park Service, Olympic National Park, Port Angeles, WA, USA
| | - Stacey Ostermann-Kelm
- U.S. National Park Service, Inventory and Monitoring Division, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Jayson R Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, USA
| | - Stephen G Whitaker
- U.S. National Park Service, Channel Islands National Park, Ventura, CA, USA
| | - Peter T Raimondi
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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19
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Rodil IF, Attard KM, Gustafsson C, Norkko A. Variable contributions of seafloor communities to ecosystem metabolism across a gradient of habitat-forming species. Mar Environ Res 2021; 167:105321. [PMID: 33826971 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The contributions of habitat-forming species to the biodiversity and ecosystem processes of marine and terrestrial ecosystems are widely recognized. Aquatic plants are considered foundation species in shallow ecosystems, as they maintain biodiversity and sustain many ecosystem functions such as primary production and respiration. Despite the increasing amount of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning experiments in seagrass habitats, the effects of benthic variability on ecosystem functioning are rarely investigated across spatially variable aquatic plant habitats. Here, we quantitatively link seasonal variability in seafloor metabolism (i.e. gross primary production and community respiration) with major benthic community components (i.e. microphytobenthos, aquatic plants and macrofauna) across a structural complexity gradient of habitat-forming species (in terms of shoot density and biomass), ranging from bare sand, to a sparse mixture of plants to a dense monospecific seagrass meadow. The increasing complexity gradient enhanced the magnitude of the relationships between benthic community and seafloor metabolism. The daily average seafloor metabolism per season at the bare site was similar to the sparse site, highlighting the role of microphytobenthos for seafloor metabolism in shallow unvegetated sediments. The contribution of the associated macrofauna to the seafloor respiration was similar to the aquatic plant community contribution. Infauna was the main macrofaunal component significantly explaining the seasonal variability of seafloor respiration. However, benthic community-metabolism relationships were stronger within the plant community than within the macrofauna community (i.e. steepest slopes and lowest p-values). Understanding these relationships are a priority since climate change and biodiversity loss are reducing habitat complexity around the world, jeopardizing valuable ecosystem functions and services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván F Rodil
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland; Departamento de Biología, Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), University of Cádiz, Spain; Baltic Sea Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Karl M Attard
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Alf Norkko
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland; Baltic Sea Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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20
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Detmer AR, Miller RJ, Reed DC, Bell TW, Stier AC, Moeller HV. Variation in disturbance to a foundation species structures the dynamics of a benthic reef community. Ecology 2021; 102:e03304. [PMID: 33565608 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Disturbance and foundation species can both have strong impacts on ecosystem structure and function, but studies of their interacting effects are hindered by the long life spans and slow growth of most foundation species. Here, we investigated the extent to which foundation species may mediate the impacts of disturbance on ecological communities, using the kelp forest ecosystem as a study system. Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) grows rapidly and experiences wave disturbance from winter storms. We developed and analyzed a model of the effects of variable storm regimes on giant kelp population dynamics and of the cascading effects on kelp-mediated competition between benthic community members in kelp forests. Simulations of severe storm regimes resulted in a greater abundance of understory macroalgae and a lower abundance of sessile invertebrates than did milder regimes. Both the cascading effects of periodic loss of giant kelp as well as the degree to which storms directly impacted the benthos (in the form of scouring) influenced the outcome of competition between benthic community members. The model's qualitative predictions were consistent with empirical data from a 20-yr time series of community dynamics, suggesting that interannual variability in disturbance that affects giant kelp abundance can have strong consequences for benthic community structure. Our findings point to the value of long-term studies in elucidating the interacting effects of disturbance and foundation species.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Raine Detmer
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Robert J Miller
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Daniel C Reed
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Tom W Bell
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Adrian C Stier
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Holly V Moeller
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
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21
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Morton DN, Antonino CY, Broughton FJ, Dykman LN, Kuris AM, Lafferty KD. A food web including parasites for kelp forests of the Santa Barbara Channel, California. Sci Data 2021; 8:99. [PMID: 33833244 PMCID: PMC8032823 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-021-00880-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We built a high-resolution topological food web for the kelp forests of the Santa Barbara Channel, California, USA that includes parasites and significantly improves resolution compared to previous webs. The 1,098 nodes and 21,956 links in the web describe an economically, socially, and ecologically vital system. Nodes are broken into life-stages, with 549 free-living life-stages (492 species from 21 Phyla) and 549 parasitic life-stages (450 species from 10 Phyla). Links represent three kinds of trophic interactions, with 9,352 predator-prey links, 2,733 parasite-host links and 9,871 predator-parasite links. All decisions for including nodes and links are documented, and extensive metadata in the node list allows users to filter the node list to suit their research questions. The kelp-forest food web is more species-rich than any other published food web with parasites, and it has the largest proportion of parasites. Our food web may be used to predict how kelp forests may respond to change, will advance our understanding of parasites in ecosystems, and fosters development of theory that incorporates large networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana N Morton
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-6150, USA.
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-9610, USA.
| | - Cristiana Y Antonino
- College of Creative Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-6150, USA
| | - Farallon J Broughton
- College of Creative Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-6150, USA
| | - Lauren N Dykman
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-6150, USA
| | - Armand M Kuris
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-6150, USA
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-9610, USA
| | - Kevin D Lafferty
- Western Ecological Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, at Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-9610, USA
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Abstract
In marine ecosystems, fishing often targets predators, which can drive direct and indirect effects on entire food webs. Marine reserves can induce trophic cascades by increasing predator density and body size, thereby increasing predation pressure on populations of herbivores, such as sea urchins. In California's northern Channel Islands, two species of sea urchins are abundant: the red urchin Mesocentrotus franciscanus, which is targeted by an economically valuable fishery, and the virtually unfished purple urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. We hypothesized that urchin populations inside marine reserves would be depressed by higher predation, but that red urchins would be less affected due to fishing outside reserves. Instead, our analyses revealed that purple urchin populations were unaffected by reserves, and red urchin biomass significantly increased in response to protection. Therefore, urchin biomass overall has increased inside reserves, and we found no evidence that giant kelp is positively affected by reserves. Our results reveal the overwhelming direct effect of protecting fished species in marine reserves over indirect effects that are often predicted but seldom clearly documented. Indirect effects due to marine reserves may eventually occur in some cases, but very effective predators, large reserves or extended time periods may be needed to induce them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina D Malakhoff
- Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010, USA
| | - Robert J Miller
- Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010, USA
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23
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Teixeira CD, Chiroque-Solano PM, Ribeiro FV, Carlos-Júnior LA, Neves LM, Salomon PS, Salgado LT, Falsarella LN, Cardoso GO, Villela LB, Freitas MO, Moraes FC, Bastos AC, Moura RL. Decadal (2006-2018) dynamics of Southwestern Atlantic's largest turbid zone reefs. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247111. [PMID: 33617570 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropical reefs are declining rapidly due to climate changes and local stressors such as water quality deterioration and overfishing. The so-called marginal reefs sustain significant coral cover and growth but are dominated by fewer species adapted to suboptimal conditions to most coral species. However, the dynamics of marginal systems may diverge from that of the archetypical oligotrophic tropical reefs, and it is unclear whether they are more or less susceptible to anthropogenic stress. Here, we present the largest (100 fixed quadrats at five reefs) and longest time series (13 years) of benthic cover data for Southwestern Atlantic turbid zone reefs, covering sites under contrasting anthropogenic and oceanographic forcing. Specifically, we addressed how benthic cover changed among habitats and sites, and possible dominance-shift trends. We found less temporal variation in offshore pinnacles' tops than on nearshore ones and, conversely, higher temporal fluctuation on offshore pinnacles' walls than on nearshore ones. In general, the Abrolhos reefs sustained a stable coral cover and we did not record regional-level dominance shifts favoring other organisms. However, coral decline was evidenced in one reef near a dredging disposal site. Relative abundances of longer-lived reef builders showed a high level of synchrony, which indicates that their dynamics fluctuate under similar drivers. Therefore, changes on those drivers could threaten the stability of these reefs. With the intensification of thermal anomalies and land-based stressors, it is unclear whether the Abrolhos reefs will keep providing key ecosystem services. It is paramount to restrain local stressors that contributed to coral reef deterioration in the last decades, once reversal and restoration tend to become increasingly difficult as coral reefs degrade further and climate changes escalate.
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Ruttan A, Lortie CJ, Haas SM. Shrubs as magnets for pollination: A test of facilitation and reciprocity in a shrub-annual facilitation system. Current Research in Insect Science 2021; 1:100008. [PMID: 36003594 PMCID: PMC9387484 DOI: 10.1016/j.cris.2021.100008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Insect-pollinated shrub Larrea tridentata increases the pollinator visitation to annuals. The effect of Larrea tridentata on pollinator visitation is inconsistent between years. Wind-pollinated shrub Ambrosia dumosa reduces the visitation duration of flies to annuals. Surrounding annuals reduce the visitation duration of pollinators to the shrub Larrea tridentata.
The magnet species hypothesis proposes that flowering plants that are attractive to pollinators can increase the relative pollination rates of neighbouring plants by acting as ‘magnets.’ Here, we test the hypothesis that insect-pollinated shrub species Larrea tridentata and wind-pollinated shrub species Ambrosia dumosa act as magnets for the pollinator visitation of understory annual plant species in an arid ecosystem. As an extension to the magnet species hypothesis, we propose the double magnet species hypothesis in which we further test for reciprocity by the floral island created in the understory of the benefactor shrubs as an additional pollinator magnet for the shrub itself. We used an annual plant placed near each shrub and the open to measure the effect of shrubs on annuals. The double magnet species hypothesis was tested using L. tridentata with and without surrounding annuals. We measured pollinator visitation and visit duration using video and in-situ observation techniques to test whether shrubs increase pollinator visitation to understory annual plants, if insect-pollinated shrubs act as better pollinator magnets than wind-pollinated shrubs (to determine the effects of the floral resource itself), and whether shrubs with annuals in their understory have higher pollinator visitation rates relative to shrubs without annuals. We found that insect-pollinated shrubs increased the visitation rate and duration of visits by pollinators to their understory plants and that wind-pollinated shrubs decreased the duration of visits of some insect visitors, but these relationships varied between years. While the presence of annuals did not change the visitation rate of all possible pollinators to L. tridentata flowers, they did decrease the visitation duration of specifically bees, indicating a negative reciprocal effect of the understory on pollination. Thus, the concentrated floral resources of flowers on insect-pollinated shrubs can act as a magnet that attract pollinators but that in turn provide a cost to pollination of the shrub. However, while wind-pollinated shrubs may provide other benefits, they may provide a cost to the pollination of their understory. These findings support the magnet species hypothesis as an additional mechanism of facilitation by insect-pollinated shrubs to other plant species within arid ecosystems.
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Liu W, Pennings SC. Variation in synchrony of production among species, sites, and intertidal zones in coastal marshes. Ecology 2020; 102:e03278. [PMID: 33370500 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Spatially synchronous population dynamics are important to ecosystem functioning and have several potential causes. By looking at synchrony in plant productivity over 18 yr across two elevations in three types of coastal marsh habitat dominated by different clonal plant species in Georgia, USA, we were able to explore the importance of plant species and different habitat conditions to synchrony. Synchrony was highest when comparing within a plant species and within a marsh zone, and decreased across species, with increasing distance, and with increasing elevational differences. Abiotic conditions that were measured at individual sites (water column temperature and salinity) also showed high synchrony among sites, and in one case (salinity) decreased with increasing distance among sites. The Moran effect (synchronous abiotic conditions among sites) is the most plausible explanation for our findings. Decreased synchrony between creekbank and mid-marsh zones, and among habitat types (tidal fresh, brackish, and salt marsh) was likely due in part to different exposure to abiotic conditions and in part to variation in sensitivity of dominant plant species to these abiotic conditions. We found no evidence for asynchrony among species, sites or zones, indicating that one habitat type or zone will not compensate for poor production in another during years with low productivity; however, tidal fresh, brackish. and salt marsh sites were also not highly synchronous with each other, which will moderate productivity variation among years at the landscape level due to the portfolio effect. We identified the creekbank zone as more sensitive than the mid-marsh to abiotic variation and therefore as a priority for monitoring and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Liu
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Fujian, 361102, China.,Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77204, USA
| | - Steven C Pennings
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77204, USA
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