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Fabbrizzi E, Munari M, Fraschetti S, Arena C, Chiarore A, Cannavacciuolo A, Colletti A, Costanzo G, Soler-Fajardo A, Nannini M, Savinelli B, Silvestrini C, Vitale E, Tamburello L. Canopy-forming macroalgae can adapt to marine heatwaves. Environ Res 2023; 238:117218. [PMID: 37778611 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117218] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Seawater warming and marine heatwaves (MHWs) have a major role on the fragmentation and loss of coastal marine habitats. Understanding the resilience and potential for adaptation of marine habitat forming species to ocean warming becomes pivotal for predicting future changes, improving present conservation and restoration strategies. In this study, a thermo-tolerance experiment was conducted to investigate the physiological effects of short vs long MHWs occurring at different timing on recruits of Gongolaria barbata, a canopy-forming species widespread in the Mediterranean Sea. The recruits were collected from a population of the Marine Protected Area of Porto Cesareo (Apulia, Ionian Sea). Recruits length, PSII maximal photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), photosynthetic pigments content, concentrations of antioxidant compounds and total antioxidant activity (DPPH) were the response variables measured during the experiment. Univariate asymmetrical analyses highlighted that all physiological variables were significantly affected by both the duration and the timing of the thermal stress with the only exception of recruits length. The higher Fv/Fm ratio, chlorophylls and carotenoids content, and antioxidant compounds concentration in recruits exposed to long-term stress likely indicate an acclimation of thalli to the new environmental conditions and hence, an increased tolerance of G. barbata to thermal stress. Results also suggest that the mechanisms of adaptation activated in response to thermal stress did not affect the natural growth rate of recruits. Overall, this study supports the hypothesis that canopy-forming species can adapt to future climate conditions demonstrating a physiological acclimation to cope with MHWs, providing strong evidence that adaptation of marine species to thermal stress is more frequent than expected, this contributing to design tailored conservation and restoration strategies for marine coastal habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Fabbrizzi
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy; Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Ischia Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Ischia (Naples), Italy; CoNISMa, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Munari
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Ischia Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Ischia (Naples), Italy; Department of Biology, Stazione Idrobiologica Umberto D'Ancona, University of Padova, Chioggia (Venice), Italy
| | - Simonetta Fraschetti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy; CoNISMa, Rome, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo 90133, Italy.
| | - Carmen Arena
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo 90133, Italy
| | - Antonia Chiarore
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Ischia Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Ischia (Naples), Italy
| | - Antonio Cannavacciuolo
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Ischia Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Ischia (Naples), Italy
| | - Alberto Colletti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy; CoNISMa, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Costanzo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Ana Soler-Fajardo
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Ischia Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Ischia (Naples), Italy
| | - Matteo Nannini
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Ischia Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Ischia (Naples), Italy
| | | | - Chiara Silvestrini
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy; CoNISMa, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Laura Tamburello
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Sicily, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo (complesso Roosevelt), 90142 Palermo, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo 90133, Italy
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2
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Elsherbini J, Corzett C, Ravaglioli C, Tamburello L, Polz M, Bulleri F. Epilithic Bacterial Assemblages on Subtidal Rocky Reefs: Variation Among Alternative Habitats at Ambient and Enhanced Nutrient Levels. Microb Ecol 2023; 86:1552-1564. [PMID: 36790500 PMCID: PMC10497455 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02174-1] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Temperate rocky reefs often support mosaics of alternative habitats such as macroalgal forests, algal turfs and sea urchin barrens. Although the composition of epilithic microbial biofilms (EMBs) is recognized as a major determinant of macroalgal recruitment, their role in regulating the stability of alternative habitats on temperate rocky reefs remains unexplored. On shallow rocky reefs of the Island of Capraia (NW Mediterranean), we compared EMB structure among canopy stands formed by the fucoid Ericaria brachycarpa, algal turfs, and urchin barrens under ambient versus experimentally enhanced nutrient levels. The three habitats shared a core microbial community consisting of 21.6 and 25.3% of total ASVs under ambient and enhanced nutrient conditions, respectively. Although Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Flavobacteriia were the most abundant classes across habitats, multivariate analyses at the ASV level showed marked differences in EMB composition among habitats. Enhancing nutrient level had no significant effect on EMBs, although it increased their similarity between macroalgal canopy and turf habitats. At both ambient and enriched nutrient levels, ASVs mostly belonging to Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were more abundant in EMBs from macroalgal canopies than barrens. In contrast, ASVs belonging to the phylum of Proteobacteria and, in particular, to the families of Rhodobacteraceae and Flavobacteriaceae at ambient nutrient levels and of Rhodobacteraceae and Bacteriovoracaceae at enhanced nutrient levels were more abundant in turf than canopy habitats. Our results show that primary surfaces from alternative habitats that form mosaics on shallow rocky reefs in oligotrophic areas host distinct microbial communities that are, to some extent, resistant to moderate nutrient enhancement. Understanding the role of EMBs in generating reinforcing feedback under different nutrient loading regimes appears crucial to advance our understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the stability of habitats alternative to macroalgal forests as well as their role in regulating reverse shifts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Elsherbini
- MIT Microbiology Graduate Program, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Christopher Corzett
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Chiara Ravaglioli
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Tamburello
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Ischia Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80077, Punta San Pietro, Ischia, (Naples), Italy
| | - Martin Polz
- MIT Microbiology Graduate Program, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Djerassiplatz 1, 1130, Vienna, Austria
| | - Fabio Bulleri
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
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3
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Fabbrizzi E, Giakoumi S, De Leo F, Tamburello L, Chiarore A, Colletti A, Coppola M, Munari M, Musco L, Rindi F, Rizzo L, Savinelli B, Franzitta G, Grech D, Cebrian E, Verdura J, Bianchelli S, Mangialajo L, Nasto I, Sota D, Orfanidis S, Papadopoulou NK, Danovaro R, Fraschetti S. The challenge of setting restoration targets for macroalgal forests under climate changes. J Environ Manage 2023; 326:116834. [PMID: 36436438 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116834] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The process of site selection and spatial planning has received scarce attention in the scientific literature dealing with marine restoration, suggesting the need to better address how spatial planning tools could guide restoration interventions. In this study, for the first time, the consequences of adopting different restoration targets and criteria on spatial restoration prioritization have been assessed at a regional scale, including the consideration of climate changes. We applied the decision-support tool Marxan, widely used in systematic conservation planning on Mediterranean macroalgal forests. The loss of this habitat has been largely documented, with limited evidences of natural recovery. Spatial priorities were identified under six planning scenarios, considering three main restoration targets to reflect the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Results show that the number of suitable sites for restoration is very limited at basin scale, and targets are only achieved when the recovery of 10% of regressing and extinct macroalgal forests is planned. Increasing targets translates into including unsuitable areas for restoration in Marxan solutions, amplifying the risk of ineffective interventions. Our analysis supports macroalgal forests restoration and provides guiding principles and criteria to strengthen the effectiveness of restoration actions across habitats. The constraints in finding suitable areas for restoration are discussed, and recommendations to guide planning to support future restoration interventions are also included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Fabbrizzi
- University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Luigi Musco
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy; University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Fabio Rindi
- Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Lucia Rizzo
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy; Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council, Lecce, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Emma Cebrian
- Centre d'Estudios Avançats de Blanes, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientìficas (CEAB-CSIC), Blanes, Spain; University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Jana Verdura
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, UMR 7035 ECOSEAS, Nice, France
| | | | | | - Ina Nasto
- University of Vlora "Ismail Qemali", Sheshi Pavaresia, Vlore, Albania
| | - Denada Sota
- University of Vlora "Ismail Qemali", Sheshi Pavaresia, Vlore, Albania
| | - Sotiris Orfanidis
- Fisheries Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-Demeter, Kavala, Greece
| | | | - Roberto Danovaro
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy; Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Simonetta Fraschetti
- University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo 90133, Italy
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4
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Garrabou J, Gómez‐Gras D, Medrano A, Cerrano C, Ponti M, Schlegel R, Bensoussan N, Turicchia E, Sini M, Gerovasileiou V, Teixido N, Mirasole A, Tamburello L, Cebrian E, Rilov G, Ledoux J, Souissi JB, Khamassi F, Ghanem R, Benabdi M, Grimes S, Ocaña O, Bazairi H, Hereu B, Linares C, Kersting DK, la Rovira G, Ortega J, Casals D, Pagès‐Escolà M, Margarit N, Capdevila P, Verdura J, Ramos A, Izquierdo A, Barbera C, Rubio‐Portillo E, Anton I, López‐Sendino P, Díaz D, Vázquez‐Luis M, Duarte C, Marbà N, Aspillaga E, Espinosa F, Grech D, Guala I, Azzurro E, Farina S, Cristina Gambi M, Chimienti G, Montefalcone M, Azzola A, Mantas TP, Fraschetti S, Ceccherelli G, Kipson S, Bakran‐Petricioli T, Petricioli D, Jimenez C, Katsanevakis S, Kizilkaya IT, Kizilkaya Z, Sartoretto S, Elodie R, Ruitton S, Comeau S, Gattuso J, Harmelin J. Marine heatwaves drive recurrent mass mortalities in the Mediterranean Sea. Glob Chang Biol 2022; 28:5708-5725. [PMID: 35848527 PMCID: PMC9543131 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [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: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is causing an increase in the frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves (MHWs) and mass mortality events (MMEs) of marine organisms are one of their main ecological impacts. Here, we show that during the 2015-2019 period, the Mediterranean Sea has experienced exceptional thermal conditions resulting in the onset of five consecutive years of widespread MMEs across the basin. These MMEs affected thousands of kilometers of coastline from the surface to 45 m, across a range of marine habitats and taxa (50 taxa across 8 phyla). Significant relationships were found between the incidence of MMEs and the heat exposure associated with MHWs observed both at the surface and across depths. Our findings reveal that the Mediterranean Sea is experiencing an acceleration of the ecological impacts of MHWs which poses an unprecedented threat to its ecosystems' health and functioning. Overall, we show that increasing the resolution of empirical observation is critical to enhancing our ability to more effectively understand and manage the consequences of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquim Garrabou
- Institut de Ciències del Mar‐CSICBarcelonaSpain
- Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIOAix Marseille UnivMarseilleFrance
| | - Daniel Gómez‐Gras
- Institut de Ciències del Mar‐CSICBarcelonaSpain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Alba Medrano
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Carlo Cerrano
- Dept of Life and Environmental SciencesPolytechnic University of MarcheAnconaItaly
- Fano Marine CentreFanoItaly
| | - Massimo Ponti
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
- CoNISMaRomeItaly
| | - Robert Schlegel
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie de VillefrancheSorbonne, Université, CNRSVillefranche‐sur‐merFrance
| | - Nathaniel Bensoussan
- Institut de Ciències del Mar‐CSICBarcelonaSpain
- Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIOAix Marseille UnivMarseilleFrance
| | - Eva Turicchia
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaRavennaItaly
- CoNISMaRomeItaly
| | - Maria Sini
- Department of Marine SciencesUniversity of the AegeanMytileneGreece
| | - Vasilis Gerovasileiou
- Department of Environment, Faculty of EnvironmentIonian UniversityZakynthosGreece
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR)Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC)HeraklionGreece
| | - Nuria Teixido
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie de VillefrancheSorbonne, Université, CNRSVillefranche‐sur‐merFrance
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine EcologyIschia Marine CentreNaplesItaly
| | - Alice Mirasole
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine EcologyIschia Marine CentreNaplesItaly
| | - Laura Tamburello
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine EcologyIschia Marine CentreNaplesItaly
| | - Emma Cebrian
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB‐CSIC)GironaSpain
| | - Gil Rilov
- National Institute of OceanographyIsrael Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR)HaifaIsrael
| | - Jean‐Baptiste Ledoux
- Institut de Ciències del Mar‐CSICBarcelonaSpain
- CIIMAR‐Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental ResearchUniversity of PortoMatosinhosPortugal
| | - Jamila Ben Souissi
- National Agronomic Institute of TunisiaTunis University of CarthageTunisTunisia
- Biodiversity, Biotechnology and Climate Change Laboratory‐LR11ES09University of Tunis El ManarTunisTunisia
| | - Faten Khamassi
- National Agronomic Institute of TunisiaTunis University of CarthageTunisTunisia
| | - Raouia Ghanem
- Biodiversity, Biotechnology and Climate Change Laboratory‐LR11ES09University of Tunis El ManarTunisTunisia
| | | | - Samir Grimes
- Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Sciences de la Mer et de l'Aménagement (ENSSMAL)AlgerAlgeria
| | | | - Hocein Bazairi
- Laboratory 'Biodiversity, Ecology and Genome', Faculty of SciencesMohamed V University in RabatRabatMorocco
| | - Bernat Hereu
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Cristina Linares
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Diego Kurt Kersting
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Graciel la Rovira
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Júlia Ortega
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - David Casals
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Marta Pagès‐Escolà
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Núria Margarit
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Pol Capdevila
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | | | - Alfonso Ramos
- Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología AplicadaUniversidad de AlicanteAlicanteSpain
| | | | - Carmen Barbera
- Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología AplicadaUniversidad de AlicanteAlicanteSpain
| | | | | | | | - David Díaz
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO‐CSIC)Palma de MallorcaSpain
| | | | - Carlos Duarte
- Red Sea Research CenterKing Abudllah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis AvançatsMallorcaSpain
| | - Nuria Marbà
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis AvançatsMallorcaSpain
| | | | - Free Espinosa
- Laboratorio de Biología MarinaUniversidad de SevillaSevillaSpain
| | | | - Ivan Guala
- IMC—International Marine CentreOristanoItaly
| | - Ernesto Azzurro
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine EcologyIschia Marine CentreNaplesItaly
- CNR‐IRBIM, NR‐IRBIM, National Research CouncilInstitute of Biological Resources and Marine BiotechnologiesAnconaItaly
| | - Simone Farina
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Deptartment of Integrative Marine EcologyGenoa Marine CentreGenoaItaly
| | | | - Giovanni Chimienti
- CoNISMaRomeItaly
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Bari Aldo MoroBariItaly
| | - Monica Montefalcone
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life SciencesUniversity of GenoaGenoaItaly
| | - Annalisa Azzola
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life SciencesUniversity of GenoaGenoaItaly
| | | | - Simonetta Fraschetti
- CoNISMaRomeItaly
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Naples Federico IINaplesItaly
| | | | - Silvija Kipson
- SEAFANZagrebCroatia
- Faculty of Science, Department of BiologyUniversity of ZagrebZagrebCroatia
| | | | - Donat Petricioli
- D.I.I.V. Ltd for Marine, Freshwater and Subterranean EcologySaliCroatia
| | - Carlos Jimenez
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research CentreNicosiaCyprus
- The Cyprus Institute Energy Environment and Water Research CenterAglantziaCyprus
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Sandrine Ruitton
- Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIOAix Marseille UnivMarseilleFrance
| | - Steeve Comeau
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie de VillefrancheSorbonne, Université, CNRSVillefranche‐sur‐merFrance
| | - Jean‐Pierre Gattuso
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie de VillefrancheSorbonne, Université, CNRSVillefranche‐sur‐merFrance
- Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations. Sciences PoParisFrance
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5
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Fraschetti S, Fabbrizzi E, Tamburello L, Uyarra MC, Micheli F, Sala E, Pipitone C, Badalamenti F, Bevilacqua S, Boada J, Cebrian E, Ceccherelli G, Chiantore M, D'Anna G, Di Franco A, Farina S, Giakoumi S, Gissi E, Guala I, Guidetti P, Katsanevakis S, Manea E, Montefalcone M, Sini M, Asnaghi V, Calò A, Di Lorenzo M, Garrabou J, Musco L, Oprandi A, Rilov G, Borja A. An integrated assessment of the Good Environmental Status of Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas. J Environ Manage 2022; 305:114370. [PMID: 34968935 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Local, regional and global targets have been set to halt marine biodiversity loss. Europe has set its own policy targets to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) of marine ecosystems by implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) across member states. We combined an extensive dataset across five Mediterranean ecoregions including 26 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), their reference unprotected areas, and a no-trawl case study. Our aim was to assess if MPAs reach GES, if their effects are local or can be detected at ecoregion level or up to a Mediterranean scale, and which are the ecosystem components driving GES achievement. This was undertaken by using the analytical tool NEAT (Nested Environmental status Assessment Tool), which allows an integrated assessment of the status of marine systems. We adopted an ecosystem approach by integrating data from several ecosystem components: the seagrass Posidonia oceanica, macroalgae, sea urchins and fish. Thresholds to define the GES were set by dedicated workshops and literature review. In the Western Mediterranean, most MPAs are in good/high status, with P. oceanica and fish driving this result within MPAs. However, GES is achieved only at a local level, and the Mediterranean Sea, as a whole, results in a moderate environmental status. Macroalgal forests are overall in bad condition, confirming their status at risk. The results are significantly affected by the assumption that discrete observations over small spatial scales are representative of the total extension investigated. This calls for large-scale, dedicated assessments to realistically detect environmental status changes under different conditions. Understanding MPAs effectiveness in reaching GES is crucial to assess their role as sentinel observatories of marine systems. MPAs and trawling bans can locally contribute to the attainment of GES and to the fulfillment of the MSFD objectives. Building confidence in setting thresholds between GES and non-GES, investing in long-term monitoring, increasing the spatial extent of sampling areas, rethinking and broadening the scope of complementary tools of protection (e.g., Natura 2000 Sites), are indicated as solutions to ameliorate the status of the basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simonetta Fraschetti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy; CoNISMa, Rome, Italy.
| | - Erika Fabbrizzi
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy; Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Laura Tamburello
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - María C Uyarra
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Herrera Kaia, Portualdea S/n, 20110, Pasaia, Spain
| | - Fiorenza Micheli
- Hopkins Marine Station and Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, United States
| | - Enric Sala
- National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Carlo Pipitone
- CNR-IAS, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4521, 90149, Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabio Badalamenti
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy; CNR-IAS, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4521, 90149, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Jordi Boada
- GrMAR Institut d'Ecologia Aquàtica, Universitat de Girona, 17003, Girona, Spain
| | - Emma Cebrian
- GrMAR Institut d'Ecologia Aquàtica, Universitat de Girona, 17003, Girona, Spain; Centre d'estudis Avançats de Blanes CEAB-CSIC, Blanes, 17300, Girona, Spain
| | - Giulia Ceccherelli
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, via Piandanna 4, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Chiantore
- DiSTAV, Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giovanni D'Anna
- CNR-IAS, via Giovanni da Verrazzano 17, 91014, Castellammare del Golfo, Italy
| | - Antonio Di Franco
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Sicily, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo, 90149, Palermo, Italy
| | - Simone Farina
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Sylvaine Giakoumi
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Elena Gissi
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Boulevard, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, USA; National Research Council, Institute of Marine Science, CNR ISMAR, Arsenale, Tesa 104 - Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy
| | - Ivan Guala
- IMC - International Marine Centre, Loc. Sa Mardini, Torregrande, Oristano, Italy
| | - Paolo Guidetti
- ECOSEAS UMR 7035, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Parc Valrose, 28 Avenue Valrose, 06108, Nice, France; Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn-National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Genoa Marine Centre, 16126, Genoa, Italy
| | - Stelios Katsanevakis
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100, Mytilene, Greece
| | - Elisabetta Manea
- Institute of Marine Sciences, National Research Council (ISMAR-CNR), Arsenale, Tesa 104, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy
| | - Monica Montefalcone
- DiSTAV, Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Sini
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100, Mytilene, Greece
| | - Valentina Asnaghi
- DiSTAV, Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Antonio Calò
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, via Archirafi 20-22, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - Manfredi Di Lorenzo
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies, National Research Council (IRBIM-CNR), Via L. Vaccara, Mazara del Vallo 61, 91026, Italy
| | | | - Luigi Musco
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy; Laboratory of Marine Biology and Zoology, DiSTeBA, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Alice Oprandi
- DiSTAV, Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gil Rilov
- National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR), PO Box 8030, Haifa, 31080, Israel
| | - Angel Borja
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Herrera Kaia, Portualdea S/n, 20110, Pasaia, Spain; King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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6
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Tamburello L, Chiarore A, Fabbrizzi E, Colletti A, Franzitta G, Grech D, Rindi F, Rizzo L, Savinelli B, Fraschetti S. Can we preserve and restore overlooked macroalgal forests? Sci Total Environ 2022; 806:150855. [PMID: 34678362 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Habitat degradation and loss are severely affecting macroalgal forests worldwide, and their successful mitigation depends on the identification of the drivers of loss and the implementation of effective conservation and restoration actions. We made an extensive literature review 1- to document the historical (1789-1999) and recent (2000-2020) occurrence of the genus Cystoseira, Ericaria and Gongolaria reported in the literature along the 8000 km of the coasts of Italy, 2- to assess their decline and patterns of extinction, 3- to ascertain the drivers responsible for these changes, 4- to highlight the existence of success stories in their conservation and natural recovery. In the last twenty years, overall information on the distribution of Cystoseira s.l. exponentially increased, although research focused almost exclusively on intertidal reefs. Despite the lack of systematic monitoring programs, the local extinction of 371 populations of 19 different species of Cystoseira s.l. was documented across several regions, since 2000. Coastal engineering and poor quality of waters due to urban, agricultural or industrial activities were often documented as leading causes of habitat loss. However, the drivers of extinction were actually unknown for the majority of the populations and cause-effects relationships are scarcely documented. Although the proportion of protected populations increased to 77.8%, Marine Protected Areas are unlikely to guarantee adequate conservation efficacy, possibly also for the widespread lack of management and monitoring plans dealing specifically with Cystoseira s.l. species, and few evidences of natural recovery were observed. Our review shows the dramatic lack of baseline information for macroalgal forests, highlighting the urgent need for the monitoring of less accessible habitats, the collection of long-term data to unveil drivers of loss, and an updated reporting about the conservation status of the species of interest to plan future interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tamburello
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Ischia Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Punta San Pietro, Ischia, NA, Italy.
| | - Antonia Chiarore
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Erika Fabbrizzi
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Ischia Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Punta San Pietro, Ischia, NA, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Alberto Colletti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Giulio Franzitta
- Department of Research Infrastructures for Marine Biological Resources (RIMAR), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Daniele Grech
- IMC - International Marine Centre, Loc. Sa Mardini, Torre Grande, 09170 Oristano, Italy
| | - Fabio Rindi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Lucia Rizzo
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Ischia Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Punta San Pietro, Ischia, NA, Italy
| | | | - Simonetta Fraschetti
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Ischia Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Punta San Pietro, Ischia, NA, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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7
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Colletti A, Savinelli B, Di Muzio G, Rizzo L, Tamburello L, Fraschetti S, Musco L, Danovaro R. The date mussel Lithophaga lithophaga: Biology, ecology and the multiple impacts of its illegal fishery. Sci Total Environ 2020; 744:140866. [PMID: 32674023 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The date mussel Lithophaga lithophaga is an edible endolithic bivalve, protected by the EU Habitats Directive and other international agreements, living inside carbonate rocks. Its illegal harvesting is carried by breaking the rocks where the bivalve grows. The impact has cascade consequences as it causes permanent changes in the substrate characteristics, the removal of benthic species, a shift from highly complex to structurally simplified habitats. As a result, the rich biodiversity of rocky reefs turns into a biological desert, named "barren". Along with the over exploitation of fish, this practice leads to the increase of sea urchin density and grazing pressure on habitats, hampering the resilience of the associated biodiversity and functions. This paper summarizes the information on date mussel biology, ecology, ecotoxicology, fishery and the legal framework regulating its protection. Evidence indicates that illegal harvesting is still operated and widespread along the Mediterranean and has huge costs in terms of loss of natural capital and ecosystem services, and in terms of active ecological restoration. Two case study areas (the Sorrento and Salento peninsulas) were selected to assess the economic costs of this practice. Tangible economic costs in terms of ecosystems services' loss are huge (from ca. 35,000 to more than 400,000 euros/year in 6.6 km of Sorrento and ca. 1.8 million euros/year along the 69 km of Salento). These costs are, on average, ca. 30 times lower than those of ecosystem restoration. Data mining from websites indicates that date mussels are presently commercialized in hundreds of restaurants in Greece, Balkan countries, Spain and Italy, favoured also by the lack of appropriate consumer information. This practice should be controlled and contrasted at local scale, enforced by national legislations, and implemented by transnational initiatives. Social campaigns are needed to increase public awareness of the serious consequences of date-mussel fishery and consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Colletti
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale 1, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Beatrice Savinelli
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale 1, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Giorgia Di Muzio
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Torino, Italy
| | - Lucia Rizzo
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale 1, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Laura Tamburello
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Ischia Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Punta San Pietro, 80077 Ischia, Naples, Italy
| | - Simonetta Fraschetti
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale 1, 80121 Naples, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Musco
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale 1, 80121 Naples, Italy.
| | - Roberto Danovaro
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale 1, 80121 Naples, Italy; Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
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8
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Rilov G, Fraschetti S, Gissi E, Pipitone C, Badalamenti F, Tamburello L, Menini E, Goriup P, Mazaris AD, Garrabou J, Benedetti‐Cecchi L, Danovaro R, Loiseau C, Claudet J, Katsanevakis S. A fast-moving target: achieving marine conservation goals under shifting climate and policies. Ecol Appl 2020; 30:e02009. [PMID: 31549453 PMCID: PMC7027527 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [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: 03/30/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In the Anthropocene, marine ecosystems are rapidly shifting to new ecological states. Achieving effective conservation of marine biodiversity has become a fast-moving target because of both global climate change and continuous shifts in marine policies. How prepared are we to deal with this crisis? We examined EU Member States Programs of Measures designed for the implementation of EU marine environmental policies, as well as recent European Marine Spatial Plans, and discovered that climate change is rarely considered operationally. Further, our analysis revealed that monitoring programs in marine protected areas are often insufficient to clearly distinguish between impacts of local and global stressors. Finally, we suggest that while the novel global Blue Growth approach may jeopardize previous marine conservation efforts, it can also provide new conservation opportunities. Adaptive management is the way forward (e.g., preserving ecosystem functions in climate change hotspots, and identifying and targeting climate refugia areas for protection) using Marine Spatial Planning as a framework for action, especially given the push for Blue Growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gil Rilov
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological ResearchNational Institute of OceanographyP.O. Box 8030Haifa31080Israel
| | - Simonetta Fraschetti
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Naples Federico IINaples80926Italy
- CoNISMaPiazzale Flaminio 9Roma00196Italy
- Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaples80121Italy
| | - Elena Gissi
- University Iuav of VeniceTolentini 191Venice30135Italy
| | - Carlo Pipitone
- CNR‐IASvia Giovanni da Verrazzano 17Castellammare del Golfo91014Italy
| | - Fabio Badalamenti
- Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaples80121Italy
- CNR‐IASvia Giovanni da Verrazzano 17Castellammare del Golfo91014Italy
| | - Laura Tamburello
- CoNISMaPiazzale Flaminio 9Roma00196Italy
- Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaples80121Italy
| | - Elisabetta Menini
- Department of Life & Environmental SciencePolytechnic University of MarcheAncona60131Italy
| | - Paul Goriup
- NatureBureau, Votec HouseHambridge RoadNewburyRG14 5TNUnited Kingdom
| | - Antonios D. Mazaris
- Department of EcologySchool of BiologyAristotle University of ThessalonikiThessaloniki54124Greece
| | - Joaquim Garrabou
- Institute of Marine SciencesCSICPasseig Marítim de la BarcelonetaBarcelona37‐49 08003Spain
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de ToulonCNRS, IRD, MIOMarseilleFrance
| | - Lisandro Benedetti‐Cecchi
- CoNISMaPiazzale Flaminio 9Roma00196Italy
- Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaples80121Italy
- Department of BiologyUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
| | - Roberto Danovaro
- Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaples80121Italy
- Department of Life & Environmental SciencePolytechnic University of MarcheAncona60131Italy
| | - Charles Loiseau
- National Center for Scientific ResearchPSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS‐EPHE‐UPVDMaison des Océans, 195 rue Saint‐JacquesParis75005France
| | - Joachim Claudet
- National Center for Scientific ResearchPSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS‐EPHE‐UPVDMaison des Océans, 195 rue Saint‐JacquesParis75005France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAILMooreaFrench Polynesia
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9
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Tamburello L, Papa L, Guarnieri G, Basconi L, Zampardi S, Scipione MB, Terlizzi A, Zupo V, Fraschetti S. Are we ready for scaling up restoration actions? An insight from Mediterranean macroalgal canopies. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224477. [PMID: 31652294 PMCID: PMC6814225 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Extensive loss of macroalgal forests advocates for large-scale restoration interventions, to compensate habitat degradation and recover the associated ecological functions and services. Yet, restoration attempts have generally been limited to small spatial extensions, with the principal aim of developing efficient restoration techniques. Here, the success of outplanting Cystoseira amentacea v. stricta germlings cultured in aquaria was experimentally explored at a scale of tens of kms, by means of a multifactorial experimental design. In the intertidal rocky shores of SE Italy, locations with a continuous distribution for hundreds of meters or with few thalli forming patches of few centimeters of C. amentacea canopy were selected. In each location, the effects of adult conspecifics and the exclusion of macrograzers (salema fish and sea urchins) on the survival of germlings were tested. We evaluated the most critical determinants of mortality for germlings, including the overlooked pressure of mesograzers (e.g. amphipods, small mollusks, polychaetes). Despite the high mortality observed during outplanting and early settlement stages, survival of C. amentacea germlings was consistently favored by the exclusion of macrograzers, while the presence of adult conspecifics had no effects. In addition, the cost analysis of the interventions showed the feasibility of the ex-situ method, representing an essential tool for preserving Cystoseira forests. Large scale restoration is possible but requires baseline information with an in-depth knowledge of the species ecology and of the areas to be restored, together with the development of specific cultivation protocols to make consistently efficient restoration interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tamburello
- CoNISMa, Roma, Italy
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Napoli, Italy
| | - Loredana Papa
- Department of Biology, and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Guarnieri
- CoNISMa, Roma, Italy
- Department of Biology, and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Laura Basconi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice, Italy
| | | | | | - Antonio Terlizzi
- CoNISMa, Roma, Italy
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Napoli, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Simonetta Fraschetti
- CoNISMa, Roma, Italy
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Napoli, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
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10
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Tamburello L, Ravaglioli C, Mori G, Nuccio C, Bulleri F. Enhanced nutrient loading and herbivory do not depress the resilience of subtidal canopy forests in Mediterranean oligotrophic waters. Mar Environ Res 2019; 149:7-17. [PMID: 31136874 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [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: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The interaction between top-down and bottom-up forces determines the recovery trajectory of macroalgal forests exposed to multiple stressors. In an oligotrophic system, we experimentally investigated how nutrient inputs affected the recovery of Cystoseira brachycarpa following physical disturbance of varying intensities, both inside forested areas and at the boundary with sea urchin barrens. Unexpectedly, Cystoseira forests were highly resilient to disturbance, as they were able to recover from any partial damage. In general, the addition of nutrients sped up the recovery of Cystoseira. Thus, only the total canopy removal, in combination with either low nutrient availability or intense grazing pressure, promoted the expansion of mat-forming algae or urchin barrens, respectively. Our study suggests that the effects of enhanced nutrient levels may vary according to the trophic characteristics of the waterbody, and hence, are likely to vary among regions of the Mediterranean basin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chiara Ravaglioli
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Giovanna Mori
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via Micheli 1, Firenze, 50121, Italy
| | - Caterina Nuccio
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via Micheli 1, Firenze, 50121, Italy
| | - Fabio Bulleri
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, Pisa, 56126, Italy
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11
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Falace A, Tamburello L, Guarnieri G, Kaleb S, Papa L, Fraschetti S. Effects of a glyphosate-based herbicide on Fucus virsoides (Fucales, Ochrophyta) photosynthetic efficiency. Environ Pollut 2018; 243:912-918. [PMID: 30245453 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.08.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Herbicides are increasingly recognised as sources of water pollution. Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are widely used because of their low cost and high effectiveness. By measuring the photosynthetic efficiency of Fucus virsoides fronds exposed to a GBH (Roundup® Power 2.0), we investigated the effect of a continuous exposure (6 days) and the potential of recovery after a short exposure (24 h). Both experiments were carried out combining GBH with and without nutrient enrichment, simulating a runoff event. A factorial experimental design allowed us to assess the potential of interactions between GBH and nutrients, which are likely to co-occur in coastal areas. Our results show deleterious effects of GBH at low concentration on F. virsoides, independently from the duration of exposure and the presence of nutrients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Falace
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy; CoNISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Roma, Italy
| | - Laura Tamburello
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100, Lecce, Italy; CoNISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Roma, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Guarnieri
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100, Lecce, Italy; CoNISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Roma, Italy
| | - Sara Kaleb
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Loredana Papa
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100, Lecce, Italy; CoNISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Roma, Italy
| | - Simonetta Fraschetti
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100, Lecce, Italy; CoNISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Roma, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121, Napoli, Italy
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12
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Ravaglioli C, Lauritano C, Buia MC, Balestri E, Capocchi A, Fontanini D, Pardi G, Tamburello L, Procaccini G, Bulleri F. Nutrient Loading Fosters Seagrass Productivity Under Ocean Acidification. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13732. [PMID: 29062025 PMCID: PMC5653774 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14075-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of climate change are likely to be dependent on local settings. Nonetheless, the compounded effects of global and regional stressors remain poorly understood. Here, we used CO2 vents to assess how the effects of ocean acidification on the seagrass, Posidonia oceanica, and the associated epiphytic community can be modified by enhanced nutrient loading. P. oceanica at ambient and low pH sites was exposed to three nutrient levels for 16 months. The response of P. oceanica to experimental conditions was assessed by combining analyses of gene expression, plant growth, photosynthetic pigments and epiphyte loading. At low pH, nutrient addition fostered plant growth and the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments. Overexpression of nitrogen transporter genes following nutrient additions at low pH suggests enhanced nutrient uptake by the plant. In addition, enhanced nutrient levels reduced the expression of selected antioxidant genes in plants exposed to low pH and increased epiphyte cover at both ambient and low pH. Our results show that the effects of ocean acidification on P. oceanica depend upon local nutrient concentration. More generally, our findings suggest that taking into account local environmental settings will be crucial to advance our understanding of the effects of global stressors on marine systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Ravaglioli
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna, 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Chiara Lauritano
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Elena Balestri
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna, 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonella Capocchi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna, 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Debora Fontanini
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna, 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Pardi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna, 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Tamburello
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna, 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy.,CoNISMa, Piazzale Flaminio, 9, 00196, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Bulleri
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna, 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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13
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Benedetti-Cecchi L, Canepa A, Fuentes V, Tamburello L, Purcell JE, Piraino S, Roberts J, Boero F, Halpin P. Deterministic Factors Overwhelm Stochastic Environmental Fluctuations as Drivers of Jellyfish Outbreaks. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141060. [PMID: 26485278 PMCID: PMC4617864 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Jellyfish outbreaks are increasingly viewed as a deterministic response to escalating levels of environmental degradation and climate extremes. However, a comprehensive understanding of the influence of deterministic drivers and stochastic environmental variations favouring population renewal processes has remained elusive. This study quantifies the deterministic and stochastic components of environmental change that lead to outbreaks of the jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca in the Mediterranen Sea. Using data of jellyfish abundance collected at 241 sites along the Catalan coast from 2007 to 2010 we: (1) tested hypotheses about the influence of time-varying and spatial predictors of jellyfish outbreaks; (2) evaluated the relative importance of stochastic vs. deterministic forcing of outbreaks through the environmental bootstrap method; and (3) quantified return times of extreme events. Outbreaks were common in May and June and less likely in other summer months, which resulted in a negative relationship between outbreaks and SST. Cross- and along-shore advection by geostrophic flow were important concentrating forces of jellyfish, but most outbreaks occurred in the proximity of two canyons in the northern part of the study area. This result supported the recent hypothesis that canyons can funnel P. noctiluca blooms towards shore during upwelling. This can be a general, yet unappreciated mechanism leading to outbreaks of holoplanktonic jellyfish species. The environmental bootstrap indicated that stochastic environmental fluctuations have negligible effects on return times of outbreaks. Our analysis emphasized the importance of deterministic processes leading to jellyfish outbreaks compared to the stochastic component of environmental variation. A better understanding of how environmental drivers affect demographic and population processes in jellyfish species will increase the ability to anticipate jellyfish outbreaks in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonio Canepa
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, ICM-CSIC, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37–49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Veronica Fuentes
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, ICM-CSIC, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37–49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Tamburello
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, Pisa, Italy
| | - Jennifer E. Purcell
- Università del Salento, CoNISMa via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, LE, Italy
- Western Washington University, Shannon Point Marine Center, Anacortes, Washington 98221, United States of America
| | - Stefano Piraino
- Università del Salento, CoNISMa via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, LE, Italy
| | - Jason Roberts
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Ferdinando Boero
- Università del Salento, CoNISMa via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, LE, Italy
- CNR-ISMAR, Genova, Italy
| | - Patrick Halpin
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
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Benedetti-Cecchi L, Tamburello L, Maggi E, Bulleri F. Experimental Perturbations Modify the Performance of Early Warning Indicators of Regime Shift. Curr Biol 2015; 25:1867-72. [PMID: 26166776 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [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: 03/11/2015] [Revised: 04/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Ecosystems may shift abruptly between alternative states in response to environmental perturbations. Early warning indicators have been proposed to anticipate such regime shifts, but experimental field tests of their validity are rare. We exposed rocky intertidal algal canopies to a gradient of press perturbations and recorded the response of associated assemblages over 7 years. Reduced cover and biomass of algal canopies promoted the invasion of algal turfs, driving understory assemblages toward collapse upon total canopy removal. A dynamic model indicated the existence of a critical threshold separating the canopy- and turf-dominated states. We evaluated common indicators of regime shift as the system approached the threshold, including autocorrelation, SD, and skewness. These indicators captured changes in understory cover due to colonization of algal turfs. All indicators increased significantly as the system approached the critical threshold, in agreement with theoretical predictions. The performance of indicators changed when we superimposed a pulse disturbance on the press perturbation that amplified environmental noise. This treatment caused several experimental units to switch repeatedly between the canopy- and the turf-dominated state, resulting in a significant increase in overall variance of understory cover, a negligible effect on skewness and no effect on autocorrelation. Power analysis indicated that autocorrelation and SD were better suited at anticipating a regime shift under mild and strong fluctuations of the state variable, respectively. Our results suggest that regime shifts may be anticipated under a broad range of fluctuating conditions using the appropriate indicator.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Tamburello
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Maggi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Bulleri
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Tamburello L, Maggi E, Benedetti-Cecchi L, Bellistri G, Rattray AJ, Ravaglioli C, Rindi L, Roberts J, Bulleri F. Variation in the impact of non-native seaweeds along gradients of habitat degradation: a meta-analysis and an experimental test. OIKOS 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.02197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tamburello
- Dipto di Biologia; Univ. of Pisa, CoNISMa; via Derna 1 IT-56126 Pisa Italy
| | - Elena Maggi
- Dipto di Biologia; Univ. of Pisa, CoNISMa; via Derna 1 IT-56126 Pisa Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Bellistri
- Dipto di Biologia; Univ. of Pisa, CoNISMa; via Derna 1 IT-56126 Pisa Italy
| | - Alex James Rattray
- Dipto di Biologia; Univ. of Pisa, CoNISMa; via Derna 1 IT-56126 Pisa Italy
| | - Chiara Ravaglioli
- Dipto di Biologia; Univ. of Pisa, CoNISMa; via Derna 1 IT-56126 Pisa Italy
| | - Luca Rindi
- Dipto di Biologia; Univ. of Pisa, CoNISMa; via Derna 1 IT-56126 Pisa Italy
| | - Jason Roberts
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke Univ.; Durham NC 27708 USA
| | - Fabio Bulleri
- Dipto di Biologia; Univ. of Pisa, CoNISMa; via Derna 1 IT-56126 Pisa Italy
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Tamburello L, Bulleri F, Balata D, Benedetti-Cecchi L. The role of overgrazing and anthropogenic disturbance in shaping spatial patterns of distribution of an invasive seaweed. J Appl Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tamburello
- Dipartimento di Biologia; Università di Pisa; CoNISMa; via Derna 1 56126 Pisa Italy
| | - Fabio Bulleri
- Dipartimento di Biologia; Università di Pisa; CoNISMa; via Derna 1 56126 Pisa Italy
| | - David Balata
- Tenuta San Beda; via Carmignani 18 55015 Montecarlo (Lu) Italy
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17
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Fantozzi L, Ferrara R, Dini F, Tamburello L, Pirrone N, Sprovieri F. Study on the reduction of atmospheric mercury emissions from mine waste enriched soils through native grass cover in the Mt. Amiata region of Italy. Environ Res 2013; 125:69-74. [PMID: 23477569 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2013.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 07/10/2012] [Revised: 10/19/2012] [Accepted: 02/15/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric mercury emissions from mine-waste enriched soils were measured in order to compare the mercury fluxes of bare soils with those from other soils covered by native grasses. Our research was conducted near Mt. Amiata in central Italy, an area that was one of the largest and most productive mining centers in Europe up into the 1980s. To determine in situ mercury emissions, we used a Plexiglas flux chamber connected to a portable mercury analyzer (Lumex RA-915+). This allowed us to detect, in real time, the mercury vapor in the air, and to correlate this with the meteorological parameters that we examined (solar radiation, soil temperature, and humidity). The highest mercury flux values (8000ngm(-2)h(-1)) were observed on bare soils during the hours of maximum insulation, while lower values (250ngm(-2)h(-1)) were observed on soils covered by native grasses. Our results indicate that two main environmental variables affect mercury emission: solar radiation intensity and soil temperature. The presence of native vegetation, which can shield soil surfaces from incident light, reduced mercury emissions, a result that we attribute to a drop in the efficiency of mercury photoreduction processes rather than to decreases in soil temperature. This finding is consistent with decreases in mercury flux values down to 3500ngm(-2)h(-1), which occurred under cloudy conditions despite high soil temperatures. Moreover, when the soil temperature was 28°C and the vegetation was removed from the experimental site, mercury emissions increased almost four-fold. This increase occurred almost immediately after the grasses were cut, and was approximately eight-fold after 20h. Thus, this study demonstrates that enhancing wild vegetation cover could be an inexpensive and effective approach in fostering a natural, self-renewing reduction of mercury emissions from mercury-contaminated soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Fantozzi
- CNR-Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, c/o: UNICAL-Polifunzionale, 87036 Rende, Italy.
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Tamburello L, Bulleri F, Bertocci I, Maggi E, Benedetti-Cecchi L. Reddened seascapes: experimentally induced shifts in 1/f spectra of spatial variability in rocky intertidal assemblages. Ecology 2013; 94:1102-11. [PMID: 23858650 DOI: 10.1890/12-1293.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2023]
Abstract
Ecological tests of 1/f-noise models have advanced our understanding of how environmental fluctuations affect population abundance and species distributions. Most empirical studies have been conducted under controlled laboratory conditions and have focused on individual drivers. We present the results of a four-year field experiment in which canopy presence/absence and the availability of primary space were manipulated as red-noise and white-noise spatial processes, respectively, to evaluate their separate and compounded effects on algal turf distribution in a rocky intertidal community. Algal turfs closely tracked spatial variation in canopy distribution, displaying a reddened spectrum of spatial variation. Surprisingly, white-noise clearings also induced a red-shift in turf distribution, a pattern that was related to a nonlinear relation between gap size and turf colonization. The two disturbances interacted antagonistically, dampening the red-shift of turf distribution. Our results provide evidence of experimentally induced shifts in the spectrum of a spatial variable under natural environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tamburello
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
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Tamburello L, Benedetti-Cecchi L, Masini L, Bulleri F. Habitat heterogeneity promotes the coexistence of exotic seaweeds. Oecologia 2012; 172:505-13. [PMID: 23104272 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-012-2510-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 06/04/2012] [Accepted: 10/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Despite the progressive accumulation of exotic species in natural communities, little effort has been devoted to elucidating the mechanisms underpinning the coexistence of invaders in environmentally and biologically heterogeneous systems. The exotic seaweeds, Asparagopsis taxiformis and Caulerpa racemosa, exhibit a segregated distribution on Mediterranean rocky reefs. A. taxiformis dominates assemblages in topographically complex habitats, but is virtually absent on homogenous platforms. In contrast, C. racemosa achieves extensive cover in both types of habitat. We assessed whether differences in their distribution were generated by biotic interactions (between invaders and/or between invaders and natives) or by environmental constraints. Three models were proposed to explain seaweed distribution patterns: (1) invaders inhibit one another; (2) native assemblages, differing between complex and simple habitats, prevent the establishment/spread of one invader, but not that of the other; and (3) environmental conditions regulate the establishment/persistence of the seaweeds in different habitats. We removed the dominant invader and resident assemblages in each type of habitat. Moreover, A. taxiformis thalli were transplanted into the habitat dominated by C. racemosa to establish whether its failure to colonize the simple habitat was due to the lack of propagules or post-recruitment mortality. C. racemosa spread in the complex habitat was not influenced by the removal of resident assemblages, but it was slightly enhanced by A. taxiformis removal. Neither C. racemosa removal nor that of resident assemblages promoted A. taxiformis colonization and survival in simple habitats. Our results suggest that heterogeneity in environmental conditions can promote invader coexistence by mitigating the effects of negative biotic interactions. Therefore, the accumulation of introduced species in native communities does not necessarily imply established invaders fostering further invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Tamburello
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, via Derna 1, 56126, Pisa, Italy
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Benedetti-Cecchi L, Tamburello L, Bulleri F, Maggi E, Gennusa V, Miller M. Linking patterns and processes across scales: the application of scale-transition theory to algal dynamics on rocky shores. J Exp Biol 2012; 215:977-85. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.058826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
SUMMARY
Understanding how species and environments respond to global anthropogenic disturbances is one of the greatest challenges for contemporary ecology. The ability to integrate modeling, correlative and experimental approaches within individual research programs will be key to address large-scale, long-term environmental problems. Scale-transition theory (STT) enables this level of integration, providing a powerful framework to link ecological patterns and processes across spatial and temporal scales. STT predicts the large-scale (e.g. regional) behavior of a system on the basis of nonlinear population models describing local (e.g. patch-scale) dynamics and the interaction between these nonlinearities and spatial variation in population abundance or environmental conditions. Here we use STT to predict the dynamics of turf-forming algae on rocky shores at Capraia Island, in the northwest Mediterranean. We developed a model of algal turf dynamics based on density-dependent growth that included the effects of local interactions with canopy algae. The model was parameterized with field data and used to scale up the dynamics of algal turfs from the plot scale (20×20 cm) to the island scale (tens of km). The interaction between nonlinear growth and spatial variance in cover of turfing algae emerged as a key term to translate the local dynamics up to the island scale. The model successfully predicted short-term and long-term mean values of turf cover estimated independently from a separate experiment. These results illustrate how STT can be used to identify the relevant mechanisms that drive large-scale changes in ecological communities. We argue that STT can contribute significantly to the connection between biomechanics and ecology, a synthesis that is at the core of the emerging field of ecomechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Tamburello
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Bulleri
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, Pisa, Italy
- Dipartimento di Science Botaniche, Ecologiche e Geologiche, Università di Sassari, Via Piandanna 4, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Elena Maggi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, Pisa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Gennusa
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, Pisa, Italy
- Dipartimento di Science Botaniche, Ecologiche e Geologiche, Università di Sassari, Via Piandanna 4, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Matthew Miller
- Department of Mathematics, 1523 Greene Street, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
- Mathematical Biosciences Institute, Jennings Hall, 1735 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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Pohle G, Iken K, Clarke KR, Trott T, Konar B, Cruz-Motta JJ, Wong M, Benedetti-Cecchi L, Mead A, Miloslavich P, Mieszkowska N, Milne R, Tamburello L, Knowlton A, Kimani E, Shirayama Y. Aspects of benthic decapod diversity and distribution from rocky nearshore habitat at geographically widely dispersed sites. PLoS One 2011; 6:e18606. [PMID: 21533220 PMCID: PMC3077369 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0018606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2010] [Accepted: 03/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Relationships of diversity, distribution and abundance of benthic decapods in intertidal and shallow subtidal waters to 10 m depth are explored based on data obtained using a standardized protocol of globally-distributed samples. Results indicate that decapod species richness overall is low within the nearshore, typically ranging from one to six taxa per site (mean = 4.5). Regionally the Gulf of Alaska decapod crustacean community structure was distinguishable by depth, multivariate analysis indicating increasing change with depth, where assemblages of the high and mid tide, low tide and 1 m, and 5 and 10 m strata formed three distinct groups. Univariate analysis showed species richness increasing from the high intertidal zone to 1 m subtidally, with distinct depth preferences among the 23 species. A similar depth trend but with peak richness at 5 m was observed when all global data were combined. Analysis of latitudinal trends, confined by data limitations, was equivocal on a global scale. While significant latitudinal differences existed in community structure among ecoregions, a semi-linear trend in changing community structure from the Arctic to lower latitudes did not hold when including tropical results. Among boreal regions the Canadian Atlantic was relatively species poor compared to the Gulf of Alaska, whereas the Caribbean and Sea of Japan appeared to be species hot spots. While species poor, samples from the Canadian Atlantic were the most diverse at the higher infraordinal level. Linking 11 environmental variables available for all sites to the best fit family-based biotic pattern showed a significant relationship, with the single best explanatory variable being the level of organic pollution and the best combination overall being organic pollution and primary productivity. While data limitations restrict conclusions in a global context, results are seen as a first-cut contribution useful in generating discussion and more in-depth work in the still poorly understood field of biodiversity distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Pohle
- Huntsman Marine Science Centre, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada.
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Benedetti-Cecchi L, Iken K, Konar B, Cruz-Motta J, Knowlton A, Pohle G, Castelli A, Tamburello L, Mead A, Trott T, Miloslavich P, Wong M, Shirayama Y, Lardicci C, Palomo G, Maggi E. Spatial relationships between polychaete assemblages and environmental variables over broad geographical scales. PLoS One 2010; 5:e12946. [PMID: 20886075 PMCID: PMC2944868 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2010] [Accepted: 08/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined spatial relationships between rocky shore polychaete assemblages and environmental variables over broad geographical scales, using a database compiled within the Census of Marine Life NaGISA (Natural Geography In Shore Areas) research program. The database consisted of abundance measures of polychaetes classified at the genus and family levels for 74 and 93 sites, respectively, from nine geographic regions. We tested the general hypothesis that the set of environmental variables emerging as potentially important drivers of variation in polychaete assemblages depend on the spatial scale considered. Through Moran's eigenvector maps we indentified three submodels reflecting spatial relationships among sampling sites at intercontinental (>10000 km), continental (1000–5000 km) and regional (20–500 km) scales. Using redundancy analysis we found that most environmental variables contributed to explain a large and significant proportion of variation of the intercontinental submodel both for genera and families (54% and 53%, respectively). A subset of these variables, organic pollution, inorganic pollution, primary productivity and nutrient contamination was also significantly related to spatial variation at the continental scale, explaining 25% and 32% of the variance at the genus and family levels, respectively. These variables should therefore be preferably considered when forecasting large-scale spatial patterns of polychaete assemblages in relation to ongoing or predicted changes in environmental conditions. None of the variables considered in this study were significantly related to the regional submodel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, CoNISMa (National Interuniversity Consortium of Marine Sciences), Pisa, Italy.
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Bulleri F, Balata D, Bertocci I, Tamburello L, Benedetti-Cecchi L. The seaweed Caulerpa racemosa on Mediterranean rocky reefs: from passenger to driver of ecological change. Ecology 2010; 91:2205-12. [PMID: 20836441 DOI: 10.1890/09-1857.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Bulleri
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, Pisa 56126, Italy.
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Bulleri F, Tamburello L, Benedetti-Cecchi L. Loss of consumers alters the effects of resident assemblages on the local spread of an introduced macroalga. OIKOS 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2008.16955.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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