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Marco-Méndez C, Marbà N, Amores Á, Romero J, Minguito-Frutos M, García M, Pagès JF, Prado P, Boada J, Sánchez-Lizaso JL, Ruiz JM, Muñoz-Ramos G, Sanmartí N, Mayol E, Buñuel X, Bernardeau-Esteller J, Navarro-Martinez PC, Marín-Guirao L, Morell C, Wesselmann M, Font R, Hendriks IE, Seglar X, Camps-Castella J, Bonfill E, Requena-Gutiérrez A, Blanco-Murillo F, Aguilar-Escribano J, Jimenez-Gutierrez S, Martínez-Vidal J, Guillén JE, Cefalì ME, Pérez M, Marcos M, Alcoverro T. Evaluating the extent and impact of the extreme Storm Gloria on Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows. Sci Total Environ 2024; 908:168404. [PMID: 37939948 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168404] [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: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Extreme storms can trigger abrupt and often lasting changes in ecosystems by affecting foundational (habitat-forming) species. While the frequency and intensity of extreme events are projected to increase under climate change, its impacts on seagrass ecosystems remain poorly documented. In January 2020, the Spanish Mediterranean coast was hit by Storm Gloria, one of the most devastating recent climate events in terms of intensity and duration. We conducted rapid surveys of 42 Posidonia oceanica meadows across the region to evaluate the extent and type of impact (burial, unburial and uprooting). We investigated the significance of oceanographic (wave impact model), geomorphological (latitude, depth, exposure), and structural (patchiness) factors in predicting impact extent and intensity. The predominant impact of Storm Gloria was shoot unburial. More than half of the surveyed sites revealed recent unburial, with up to 40 cm of sediment removed, affecting over 50 % of the meadow. Burial, although less extensive, was still significant, with 10-80 % of meadow cover being buried under 7 cm of sediment, which is considered a survival threshold for P. oceanica. In addition, we observed evident signs of recently dead matte in some meadows and large amounts of detached drifting shoots on the sea bottom or accumulated as debris on the beaches. Crucially, exposed and patchy meadows were much more vulnerable to the overall impact than sheltered or continuous meadows. Given how slow P. oceanica is able to recover after disturbances, we state that it could take from decades to centuries for it to recoup its losses. Seagrass ecosystems play a vital role as coastal ecological infrastructure. Protecting vulnerable meadows from anthropogenic fragmentation is crucial for ensuring the resilience of these ecosystems in the face of the climate crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candela Marco-Méndez
- Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB, CSIC), Carrer Accés Cala Sant Francesc, 14, 17300 Blanes, Girona, Spain.
| | - Núria Marbà
- Marine technologies, operational and coastal oceanography Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Miquel Marqués 21, 07190 Esporles, Spain
| | - Ángel Amores
- Marine technologies, operational and coastal oceanography Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Miquel Marqués 21, 07190 Esporles, Spain; Department of Physics, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra. de Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Spain
| | - Javier Romero
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals Secció d'Ecologia, Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mario Minguito-Frutos
- Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB, CSIC), Carrer Accés Cala Sant Francesc, 14, 17300 Blanes, Girona, Spain
| | - María García
- Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB, CSIC), Carrer Accés Cala Sant Francesc, 14, 17300 Blanes, Girona, Spain
| | - Jordi F Pagès
- Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB, CSIC), Carrer Accés Cala Sant Francesc, 14, 17300 Blanes, Girona, Spain
| | - Patricia Prado
- IRTA, Aquatic ecosystems, Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Ctra. Poble Nou km 5.5, 43540 Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Tarragona, Spain; Institute of Environment and Marine Science Research (IMEDMAR-UCV), Universidad Católica de Valencia SVM, C/Explanada del Puerto S/n, 03710 Calpe, Alicante, Spain
| | - Jordi Boada
- Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB, CSIC), Carrer Accés Cala Sant Francesc, 14, 17300 Blanes, Girona, Spain
| | - José Luis Sánchez-Lizaso
- Department of Marine Science and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690 Alicante, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel Ruiz
- Centro Oceanográfico de Murcia, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, C/Varadero s/n, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Neus Sanmartí
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals Secció d'Ecologia, Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elvira Mayol
- Global Change Research Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Miquel Marqués 21, c7190 Esporles, Spain
| | - Xavier Buñuel
- Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB, CSIC), Carrer Accés Cala Sant Francesc, 14, 17300 Blanes, Girona, Spain
| | - Jaime Bernardeau-Esteller
- Centro Oceanográfico de Murcia, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, C/Varadero s/n, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Pedro Clemente Navarro-Martinez
- Centro Oceanográfico de Murcia, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, C/Varadero s/n, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Lázaro Marín-Guirao
- Centro Oceanográfico de Murcia, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, C/Varadero s/n, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Carlos Morell
- Global Change Research Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Miquel Marqués 21, c7190 Esporles, Spain
| | - Marlene Wesselmann
- Global Change Research Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Miquel Marqués 21, c7190 Esporles, Spain
| | - Rita Font
- Global Change Research Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Miquel Marqués 21, c7190 Esporles, Spain
| | - Iris E Hendriks
- Global Change Research Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Miquel Marqués 21, c7190 Esporles, Spain
| | | | - Judith Camps-Castella
- IRTA, Aquatic ecosystems, Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Ctra. Poble Nou km 5.5, 43540 Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Eli Bonfill
- Plàncton, Divulgació y Serveis Marins, Calle Número Vint-i-tres, 284, local 2 (Urb. Les 3 Cales), L'Ametlla de Mar, Spain
| | - Aurora Requena-Gutiérrez
- Plàncton, Divulgació y Serveis Marins, Calle Número Vint-i-tres, 284, local 2 (Urb. Les 3 Cales), L'Ametlla de Mar, Spain
| | - Fabio Blanco-Murillo
- Department of Marine Science and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690 Alicante, Spain
| | - Javier Aguilar-Escribano
- Department of Marine Science and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690 Alicante, Spain
| | | | - Joaquín Martínez-Vidal
- Institut de Ecología Litoral, Carrer de Sta. Teresa, 50, 03560 El Campello, Alicante, Spain
| | - Juan Eduardo Guillén
- Institut de Ecología Litoral, Carrer de Sta. Teresa, 50, 03560 El Campello, Alicante, Spain
| | - Maria Elena Cefalì
- Estació d'Investigació Jaume Ferrer, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Mahón, Spain
| | - Marta Pérez
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals Secció d'Ecologia, Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Marcos
- Marine technologies, operational and coastal oceanography Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Miquel Marqués 21, 07190 Esporles, Spain; Department of Physics, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra. de Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Spain
| | - Teresa Alcoverro
- Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB, CSIC), Carrer Accés Cala Sant Francesc, 14, 17300 Blanes, Girona, Spain
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Minguito-Frutos M, Adams MP, Alcoverro T, Vilas MP, Alonso D, Mayol E, Bernardeu-Esteller J, Marín-Guirao L, Ruiz JM, Boada J. Quantifying the role of photoacclimation and self-facilitation for seagrass resilience to light deprivation. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1186538. [PMID: 37546272 PMCID: PMC10401047 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1186538] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Light gradients are ubiquitous in marine systems as light reduces exponentially with depth. Seagrasses have a set of mechanisms that help them to cope with light stress gradients. Physiological photoacclimation and clonal integration help to maximize light capture and minimize carbon losses. These mechanisms can shape plants minimum light requirements (MLR), which establish critical thresholds for seagrass survival and help us predict ecosystem responses to the alarming reduction in light availability. Methods Using the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa as a case study, we compare the MLR under different carbon model scenarios, which include photoacclimation and/or self-facilitation (based on clonal integration) and that where parameterized with values from field experiments. Results Physiological photoacclimation conferred plants with increased tolerance to reducing light, approximately halving their MLR from 5-6% surface irradiance (SI) to ≈ 3% SI. In oligotrophic waters, this change in MLR could translate to an increase of several meters in their depth colonization limit. In addition, we show that reduced mortality rates derived from self-facilitation mechanisms (promoted by high biomass) induce bistability of seagrass meadows along the light stress gradient, leading to abrupt shifts and hysteretic behaviors at their deep limit. Discussion The results from our models point to (i) the critical role of physiological photoacclimation in conferring greater resistance and ability to recover (i.e., resilience), to seagrasses facing light deprivation and (ii) the importance of self-facilitating reinforcing mechanisms in driving the resilience and recovery of seagrass systems exposed to severe light reduction events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Minguito-Frutos
- Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Carrer d’Accés a la cala Sant Francesc, Girona, Spain
| | - Matthew P. Adams
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Teresa Alcoverro
- Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Carrer d’Accés a la cala Sant Francesc, Girona, Spain
| | - María P. Vilas
- Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - David Alonso
- Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Carrer d’Accés a la cala Sant Francesc, Girona, Spain
| | - Elvira Mayol
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Global Change Research, IMEDEA (Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies) (UIB-CSIC), Esporles, Spain
| | - Jaime Bernardeu-Esteller
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Oceanographic Center of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), Murcia, Spain
| | - Lázaro Marín-Guirao
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Oceanographic Center of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan M. Ruiz
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Oceanographic Center of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), Murcia, Spain
| | - Jordi Boada
- Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Carrer d’Accés a la cala Sant Francesc, Girona, Spain
- Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche-sur-Mer, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Villefranche sur mer, France
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Illa‐López L, Aubach‐Masip À, Alcoverro T, Ceccherelli G, Piazzi L, Kleitou P, Santamaría J, Verdura J, Sanmartí N, Mayol E, Buñuel X, Minguito‐Frutos M, Bulleri F, Boada J. Nutrient conditions determine the strength of herbivore‐mediated stabilizing feedbacks in barrens. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9929. [PMID: 36969938 PMCID: PMC10030269 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9929] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Abiotic environmental conditions can significantly influence the way species interact. In particular, plant–herbivore interactions can be substantially dependent on temperature and nutrients. The overall product of these relationships is critical for the fate and stability of vegetated ecosystems like marine forests. The last few decades have seen a rapid spread of barrens on temperate rocky reefs mainly as a result of overgrazing. The ecological feedbacks that characterize the barren state involve a different set of interactions than those occurring in vegetated habitats. Reversing these trends requires a proper understanding of the novel feedbacks and the conditions under which they operate. Here, we explored the role of a secondary herbivore in reinforcing the stability of barrens formed by sea urchin overgrazing under different nutrient conditions. Combining comparative and experimental studies in two Mediterranean regions characterized by contrasting nutrient conditions, we assessed: (i) if the creation of barren areas enhances limpet abundance, (ii) the size‐specific grazing impact by limpets, and (iii) the ability of limpets alone to maintain barrens. Our results show that urchin overgrazing enhanced limpet abundance. The effects of limpet grazing varied with nutrient conditions, being up to five times more intense under oligotrophic conditions. Limpets were able to maintain barrens in the absence of sea urchins only under low‐nutrient conditions, enhancing the stability of the depauperate state. Overall, our study suggests a greater vulnerability of subtidal forests in oligotrophic regions of the Mediterranean and demonstrates the importance of environment conditions in regulating feedbacks mediated by plant–herbivore interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Illa‐López
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM_CSIC)Passeig Marítim de la BarcelonetaBarcelonaSpain
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain
| | - Àlex Aubach‐Masip
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain
- Departament de Biologia EvolutivaEcologia i Ciències AmbientalsFacultat de BiologiaUniversitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Teresa Alcoverro
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain
- Nature Conservation FoundationMysoreKarnatakaIndia
| | - Giulia Ceccherelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, FisicheMatematiche e NaturaliUniversità di SassariSassariItaly
| | - Luigi Piazzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, FisicheMatematiche e NaturaliUniversità di SassariSassariItaly
| | | | | | - Jana Verdura
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRSUMR 7035 ECOSEASNiceFrance
- Federative Research Institute ‐ Marine ResourcesUniversité Côte d'AzurNiceFrance
| | - Neus Sanmartí
- Departament de Biologia EvolutivaEcologia i Ciències AmbientalsFacultat de BiologiaUniversitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Elvira Mayol
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA‐CSIC)EsporlesSpain
| | - Xavi Buñuel
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain
- Departament de Biologia EvolutivaEcologia i Ciències AmbientalsFacultat de BiologiaUniversitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | | | - Fabio Bulleri
- Dipartimento di BiologiaUniversità di PisaCoNISMaPisaItaly
| | - Jordi Boada
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain
- Laboratorie d'Océanographie de Villefranche‐sur‐MerCNRSSorbonne UniversitéVillefranche sur merFrance
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Mayol E, Boada J, Pérez M, Sanmartí N, Minguito-Frutos M, Arthur R, Alcoverro T, Alonso D, Romero J. Understanding the depth limit of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa as a critical transition: Field and modeling evidence. Mar Environ Res 2022; 182:105765. [PMID: 36252284 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105765] [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: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Changes in light and sediment conditions can sometimes trigger abrupt regime shifts in seagrass meadows resulting in dramatic and unexpected die-offs of seagrass. Light attenuates rapidly with depth, and in seagrass systems with non-linear behaviours, can serve as a sharp boundary beyond which the meadow transitions to bare sand. Determining system behaviour is therefore essential to ensuring resilience is maintained and to prevent stubborn critical ecosystem transitions caused by declines in water quality. Here we combined field and modelling studies to explore the transition from meadow to bare sand in the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa at the limit of its depth distribution in a shallow, light-limited bay. We first describe the relationship between light availability and seagrass density along a depth gradient in an extensive unfragmented meadow (Alfacs bay, NE Spain). We then develop a simple mechanistic model to characterise system behaviour. In the field, we identified sharp decline in shoot density beyond a threshold of ∼1.9 m depth, shifting from a vegetated state to bare sand. The dynamic population model we developed assumes light-dependent growth and an inverse density-dependent mortality due to facilitation between shoots (mortality rate decreases as shoot density increases). The model closely tracked our empirical observations, and both the model and the field data showed signs of bistability. This strongly suggests that the depth limit of C. nodosa is a critical transition driven by photosynthetic light requirements. While the mechanisms still need to be confirmed with experimental evidence, recognizing the non-linear behaviour of C. nodosa meadows is vital not only in improving our understanding of light effects on seagrass dynamics, but also in managing shallow-water meadows. Given the shallow threshold (<2m), light-limited systems may experience significant and recalcitrant meadow retractions with even small changes in sediment and light conditions. Understanding the processes underlying meadow resilience can inform the maintenance and restoration of meadows worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Mayol
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA-CSIC), Carrer Miquel Marqués 21, 07190, Esporles, Spain.
| | - Jordi Boada
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
| | - Marta Pérez
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Neus Sanmartí
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mario Minguito-Frutos
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Carrer d'Accés a la cala Sant Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Spain
| | - Rohan Arthur
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Carrer d'Accés a la cala Sant Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Spain; Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311 Amritha, 12th Cross, Vijayanagara 1st Stage, Mysore, 570017, India
| | - Teresa Alcoverro
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Carrer d'Accés a la cala Sant Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Spain; Nature Conservation Foundation, 1311 Amritha, 12th Cross, Vijayanagara 1st Stage, Mysore, 570017, India
| | - David Alonso
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Carrer d'Accés a la cala Sant Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Spain
| | - Javier Romero
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
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