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Amstutz A, Firth LB, Foggo A, Spicer JI, Hanley ME. The north-south divide? Macroalgal functional trait diversity and redundancy varies with intertidal aspect. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2024; 133:145-152. [PMID: 37971357 PMCID: PMC10921827 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Marine macroalgae ('seaweeds') are critical to coastal ecosystem structure and function, but also vulnerable to the many environmental changes associated with anthropogenic climate change (ACC). The local habitat conditions underpinning observed and predicted ACC-driven changes in intertidal macroalgal communities are complex and probably site-specific and operate in addition to more commonly reported regional factors such as sea surface temperatures. METHODS We examined how the composition and functional trait expression of macroalgal communities in SW England varied with aspect (i.e. north-south orientation) at four sites with opposing Equator- (EF) and Pole-facing (PF) surfaces. Previous work at these sites had established that average annual (low tide) temperatures vary by 1.6 °C and that EF-surfaces experience six-fold more frequent extremes (i.e. >30 °C). KEY RESULTS PF macroalgal communities were consistently more taxon rich; 11 taxa were unique to PF habitats, with only one restricted to EF. Likewise, functional richness and dispersion were greater on PF-surfaces (dominated by algae with traits linked to rapid resource capture and utilization, but low desiccation tolerance), although differences in both taxon and functional richness were probably driven by the fact that less diverse EF-surfaces were dominated by desiccation-tolerant fucoids. CONCLUSIONS Although we cannot disentangle the influence of temperature variation on algal ecophysiology from the indirect effects of aspect on species interactions (niche pre-emption, competition, grazing, etc.), our study system provides an excellent model for understanding how environmental variation at local scales affects community composition and functioning. By virtue of enhanced taxonomic diversity, PF-aspects supported higher functional diversity and, consequently, greater effective functional redundancy. These differences may imbue PF-aspects with resilience against environmental perturbation, but if predicted increases in global temperatures are realized, some PF-sites may shift to a depauperate, desiccation-tolerant seaweed community with a concomitant loss of functional diversity and redundancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axelle Amstutz
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drakes Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Louise B Firth
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drakes Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Andy Foggo
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drakes Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - John I Spicer
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drakes Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Mick E Hanley
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drakes Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
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Baxter T, Coombes M, Viles H. Intertidal biodiversity and physical habitat complexity on historic masonry walls: A comparison with modern concrete infrastructure and natural rocky cliffs. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 188:114617. [PMID: 36701972 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Maritime built heritage (e.g., historic seawalls) represents an important component of coastal infrastructure around the world. Despite this, the ecological communities supported by these structures are poorly understood. At seven locations across the UK, we compared the biodiversity and physical habitat characteristics of (1) historic (pre-1900s) masonry walls, (2) concrete walls, and (3) natural rocky cliffs. Historic masonry walls were found to support significantly more species than concrete walls, and in some locations, more diverse communities than nearby rocky cliffs. Nevertheless, community composition remained distinct between the three habitat types at each location. We also found that historic masonry walls provided substantially more cryptic space (i.e., crevices) than both concrete walls and rocky cliffs, and this is positively associated with the ecological value of these structures. Overall, our results suggest that the unique physical properties of historic masonry walls make them an important component of habitat diversity along developed coastlines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Baxter
- Oxford Resilient Buildings and Landscapes Lab (OxRBL), School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Martin Coombes
- Oxford Resilient Buildings and Landscapes Lab (OxRBL), School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Heather Viles
- Oxford Resilient Buildings and Landscapes Lab (OxRBL), School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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3
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Curd A, Chevalier M, Vasquez M, Boyé A, Firth LB, Marzloff MP, Bricheno LM, Burrows MT, Bush LE, Cordier C, Davies AJ, Green JAM, Hawkins SJ, Lima FP, Meneghesso C, Mieszkowska N, Seabra R, Dubois SF. Applying landscape metrics to species distribution model predictions to characterize internal range structure and associated changes. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:631-647. [PMID: 36394183 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Distributional shifts in species ranges provide critical evidence of ecological responses to climate change. Assessments of climate-driven changes typically focus on broad-scale range shifts (e.g. poleward or upward), with ecological consequences at regional and local scales commonly overlooked. While these changes are informative for species presenting continuous geographic ranges, many species have discontinuous distributions-both natural (e.g. mountain or coastal species) or human-induced (e.g. species inhabiting fragmented landscapes)-where within-range changes can be significant. Here, we use an ecosystem engineer species (Sabellaria alveolata) with a naturally fragmented distribution as a case study to assess climate-driven changes in within-range occupancy across its entire global distribution. To this end, we applied landscape ecology metrics to outputs from species distribution modelling (SDM) in a novel unified framework. SDM predicted a 27.5% overall increase in the area of potentially suitable habitat under RCP 4.5 by 2050, which taken in isolation would have led to the classification of the species as a climate change winner. SDM further revealed that the latitudinal range is predicted to shrink because of decreased habitat suitability in the equatorward part of the range, not compensated by a poleward expansion. The use of landscape ecology metrics provided additional insights by identifying regions that are predicted to become increasingly fragmented in the future, potentially increasing extirpation risk by jeopardising metapopulation dynamics. This increased range fragmentation could have dramatic consequences for ecosystem structure and functioning. Importantly, the proposed framework-which brings together SDM and landscape metrics-can be widely used to study currently overlooked climate-driven changes in species internal range structure, without requiring detailed empirical knowledge of the modelled species. This approach represents an important advancement beyond predictive envelope approaches and could reveal itself as paramount for managers whose spatial scale of action usually ranges from local to regional.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Curd
- IFREMER, Centre de Bretagne, DYNECO LEBCO, Plouzané, France
| | | | | | - Aurélien Boyé
- IFREMER, Centre de Bretagne, DYNECO LEBCO, Plouzané, France
| | - Louise B Firth
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, UK
| | | | | | - Michael T Burrows
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, UK
| | - Laura E Bush
- FUGRO GB Marine Limited, Gait 8, Research Park South, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Céline Cordier
- IFREMER, Centre de Bretagne, DYNECO LEBCO, Plouzané, France
| | - Andrew J Davies
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| | | | - Stephen J Hawkins
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, UK
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- The Marine Biological Association of the UK, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, UK
| | - Fernando P Lima
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Claudia Meneghesso
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nova Mieszkowska
- The Marine Biological Association of the UK, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, UK
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Rui Seabra
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
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Invasion history and distribution of the aquatic alien Elodea canadensis (Hydrocharitaceae) in Turkey. Biologia (Bratisl) 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-022-01297-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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5
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David CL, Marzloff MP, Knights AM, Cugier P, Nunes FLD, Cordier C, Firth LB, Dubois SF. Connectivity modelling informs metapopulation structure and conservation priorities for a reef‐building species. DIVERS DISTRIB 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen L. David
- IFREMER, DYNECO Plouzané France
- Marine Animal Ecology Wageningen University and Research Wageningen The Netherlands
| | | | - Antony M. Knights
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences University of Plymouth Plymouth UK
| | | | | | | | - Louise B. Firth
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences University of Plymouth Plymouth UK
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Vafidis D, Antoniadou C, Voulgaris K, Varkoulis A, Apostologamvrou C. Abundance and population characteristics of the invasive sea urchin Diadema setosum (Leske, 1778) in the south Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean). JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH-THESSALONIKI 2021; 28:11. [PMID: 34016180 PMCID: PMC8138991 DOI: 10.1186/s40709-021-00142-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background The Indo-Pacific sea urchin Diadema setosum has invaded the Mediterranean Sea and has spread along many locations in the southeastern part of the basin, where established populations exist on the shallow subtidal rocky shore. Diadema setosum is a ubiquitous species, of particular ecological importance due to the high levels of grazing pressure it imposes on benthic communities. Its biology, however, is not adequately studied, especially along its introduced range of distribution. The present study examines the population status of D. setosum outside its native range, in the Dodecanese island complex, south Aegean Sea. Thirty-four stations located across 16 islands were surveyed by scientific SCUBA-diving (up to a depth of 10 m) in December 2019 and June-July 2020. Samplings included: (i) visual census along transects to estimate relative abundance and population density, and (ii) random collection of specimens from densely populated stations to assess biometry and reproductive condition (histological examination of gonads) of D. setosum. Results Diadema setosum was found in 21 out of the 34 surveyed stations. The species had sparse populations of well-hidden individuals in rocky crevices, but with dense localized patches in Agathonisi, Leros, Kalymnos, Pserimos, Symi, Alimia and Chalki islands. In those seven islands, mean population density was 2.5 ± 1.48 individuals m−2. Diadema setosum had denser populations in shallower depths but larger dimensions in deeper; these results suggest segregated density and size patterns along a depth gradient. The size structure, according to the size frequency distribution of the test diameter, was unimodal with a fitted mode at 4.0–4.5 and 6.5–7.0 cm in shallow and deep populations, respectively. The examined morphometric relationships followed negative allometry, as previously suggested for the species within its native range of distribution, and test diameter appeared to be a good predictor of biomass. Diadema setosum specimens had immature gonads in winter and mature in summer, suggesting a synchronous reproductive pattern. These results conform to previous data from temperate populations of the species. Conclusions Differences in local environmental conditions, e.g. hydrodynamics and habitat type, together with biotic interactions, e.g. recruitment and competition, probably shape D. setosum population in the south Aegean distributional range. The establishment of D. setosum has severe implications on benthic communities and local sea urchin populations demanding management measures to prevent the forecasted further expansion of this invasive species.
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Environmental optima for an ecosystem engineer: a multidisciplinary trait-based approach. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22986. [PMID: 34837006 PMCID: PMC8626476 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02351-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A complex interplay of biotic and abiotic factors underpins the distribution of species and operates across different levels of biological organization and life history stages. Understanding ecosystem engineer reproductive traits is critical for comprehending and managing the biodiversity-rich habitats they create. Little is known about how the reproduction of the reef-forming worm, Sabellaria alveolata, varies across environmental gradients. By integrating broad-scale environmental data with in-situ physiological data in the form of biochemical traits, we identified and ranked the drivers of intraspecific reproductive trait variability (ITV). ITV was highest in locations with variable environmental conditions, subjected to fluctuating temperature and hydrodynamic conditions. Our trait selection pointed to poleward sites being the most physiologically stressful, with low numbers of irregularly shaped eggs suggesting potentially reduced reproductive success. Centre-range individuals allocated the most energy to reproduction, with the highest number of intermediate-sized eggs, whilst equatorward sites were the least physiologically stressful, thus confirming the warm-adapted nature of our model organism. Variation in total egg diameter and relative fecundity were influenced by a combination of environmental conditions, which changed depending on the trait and sampling period. An integrated approach involving biochemical and reproductive traits is essential for understanding macro-scale patterns in the face of anthropogenic-induced climate change across environmental and latitudinal gradients.
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8
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Firth LB, Curd A, Hawkins SJ, Knights AM, Blaze JA, Burrows MT, Dubois SF, Edwards H, Foggo A, Gribben PE, Grant L, Harris D, Mieszkowska N, Nunes FLD, Nunn JD, Power AM, O'Riordan RM, McGrath D, Simkanin C, O'Connor NE. On the diversity and distribution of a data deficient habitat in a poorly mapped region: The case of Sabellaria alveolata L. in Ireland. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 169:105344. [PMID: 34015675 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Data that can be used to monitor biodiversity through time are essential for conservation and management. The reef-forming worm, Sabellaria alveolata (L. 1767) is currently classed as 'Data Deficient' due to an imbalance in the spread of data on its distribution. Little is known about the distribution of this species around Ireland. Using data archaeology, we collated past and present distribution records and discovered that S. alveolata has a discontinuous distribution with large gaps between populations. Many regions lack data and should be targeted for sampling. Biodiversity surveys revealed that S. alveolata supported diverse epibiotic algal communities. Retrograding (declining) reefs supported greater infaunal diversity than prograding (growing) reefs or sand, suggesting that S. alveolata is a dynamic ecosystem engineer that has a lasting legacy effect. Similar research should be carried out for other Data Deficient species, habitats and regions. Such data are invaluable resources for management and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise B Firth
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK; Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | | | - Stephen J Hawkins
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK; Marine Biological Association of the UK, Plymouth, UK; School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Antony M Knights
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Julie A Blaze
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, USA
| | | | | | - Hugh Edwards
- Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Belfast, UK
| | - Andy Foggo
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Paul E Gribben
- Centre for Marine Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Sydney, Australia
| | - Lisa Grant
- Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Daniel Harris
- Estuary & Ocean Science Center, San Francisco State University, California, USA
| | - Nova Mieszkowska
- Marine Biological Association of the UK, Plymouth, UK; Department of Ocean, Earth and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Julia D Nunn
- Centre for Environmental Data & Recording, National Museums Northern Ireland, Holywood, UK; 2 Windmill Lane, Portaferry, UK
| | - Anne Marie Power
- Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Ruth M O'Riordan
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Aquaculture and Fisheries Development Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - David McGrath
- Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway, Ireland
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9
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Firth LB, Harris D, Blaze JA, Marzloff MP, Boyé A, Miller PI, Curd A, Vasquez M, Nunn JD, O’Connor NE, Power AM, Mieszkowska N, O’Riordan RM, Burrows MT, Bricheno LM, Knights AM, Nunes FLD, Bordeyne F, Bush LE, Byers JE, David C, Davies AJ, Dubois SF, Edwards H, Foggo A, Grant L, Green JAM, Gribben PE, Lima FP, McGrath D, Noël LMLJ, Seabra R, Simkanin C, Hawkins SJ. Specific niche requirements underpin multidecadal range edge stability, but may introduce barriers for climate change adaptation. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Louise B. Firth
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences University of Plymouth Plymouth UK
- Zoology, School of Natural Sciences National University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Daniel Harris
- Estuary & Ocean Science Center San Francisco State University San Francisco CA USA
| | - Julie A. Blaze
- Odum School of Ecology University of Georgia Athens GA USA
| | - Martin P. Marzloff
- DYNECO, Laboratory of Coastal Benthic Ecology Ifremer ‐ Centre de Bretagne Plouzané France
| | - Aurélien Boyé
- DYNECO, Laboratory of Coastal Benthic Ecology Ifremer ‐ Centre de Bretagne Plouzané France
| | | | - Amelia Curd
- DYNECO, Laboratory of Coastal Benthic Ecology Ifremer ‐ Centre de Bretagne Plouzané France
| | - Mickaël Vasquez
- DYNECO, Laboratory of Coastal Benthic Ecology Ifremer ‐ Centre de Bretagne Plouzané France
| | - Julia D. Nunn
- Centre for Environmental Data & Recording National Museums Northern Ireland Holywood UK
- 2 Windmill Lane Portaferry UK
| | | | - Anne Marie Power
- Zoology, School of Natural Sciences National University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Nova Mieszkowska
- Marine Biological Association of the UK Plymouth UK
- School of Environmental Sciences University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Ruth M. O’Riordan
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Aquaculture and Fisheries Development Centre Environmental Research Institute University College Cork Cork Ireland
| | | | | | - Antony M. Knights
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences University of Plymouth Plymouth UK
| | - Flavia L. D. Nunes
- DYNECO, Laboratory of Coastal Benthic Ecology Ifremer ‐ Centre de Bretagne Plouzané France
| | - François Bordeyne
- Sorbonne Université Station Biologique de Roscoff, CNRS, UMR AD2M Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin Roscoff France
| | - Laura E. Bush
- School of Ocean Sciences Bangor University Menai Bridge UK
| | - James E. Byers
- Odum School of Ecology University of Georgia Athens GA USA
| | - Carmen David
- DYNECO, Laboratory of Coastal Benthic Ecology Ifremer ‐ Centre de Bretagne Plouzané France
| | - Andrew J. Davies
- School of Ocean Sciences Bangor University Menai Bridge UK
- College of the Environment and Life Sciences University of Rhode Island Kingston RI USA
| | - Stanislas F. Dubois
- DYNECO, Laboratory of Coastal Benthic Ecology Ifremer ‐ Centre de Bretagne Plouzané France
| | - Hugh Edwards
- Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Belfast UK
| | - Andy Foggo
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences University of Plymouth Plymouth UK
| | - Lisa Grant
- Zoology, School of Natural Sciences National University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
| | | | - Paul E. Gribben
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Fernando P. Lima
- CIBIO/InBIO Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos Universidade de Porto Porto Portugal
| | | | - Laure M. L. J. Noël
- Sorbonne Université Station Biologique de Roscoff, CNRS, UMR AD2M Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin Roscoff France
| | - Rui Seabra
- CIBIO/InBIO Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos Universidade de Porto Porto Portugal
| | | | - Stephen J. Hawkins
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences University of Plymouth Plymouth UK
- Marine Biological Association of the UK Plymouth UK
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton University of Southampton Southampton UK
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10
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Muir AP, Dubois SF, Ross RE, Firth LB, Knights AM, Lima FP, Seabra R, Corre E, Le Corguillé G, Nunes FLD. Seascape genomics reveals population isolation in the reef-building honeycomb worm, Sabellaria alveolata (L.). BMC Evol Biol 2020; 20:100. [PMID: 32778052 PMCID: PMC7418442 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-020-01658-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Under the threat of climate change populations can disperse, acclimatise or evolve in order to avoid fitness loss. In light of this, it is important to understand neutral gene flow patterns as a measure of dispersal potential, but also adaptive genetic variation as a measure of evolutionary potential. In order to assess genetic variation and how this relates to environment in the honeycomb worm (Sabellaria alveolata (L.)), a reef-building polychaete that supports high biodiversity, we carried out RAD sequencing using individuals from along its complete latitudinal range. Patterns of neutral population genetic structure were compared to larval dispersal as predicted by ocean circulation modelling, and outlier analyses and genotype-environment association tests were used to attempt to identify loci under selection in relation to local temperature data. RESULTS We genotyped 482 filtered SNPs, from 68 individuals across nine sites, 27 of which were identified as outliers using BAYESCAN and ARLEQUIN. All outlier loci were potentially under balancing selection, despite previous evidence of local adaptation in the system. Limited gene flow was observed among reef-sites (FST = 0.28 ± 0.10), in line with the low dispersal potential identified by the larval dispersal models. The North Atlantic reef emerged as a distinct population and this was linked to high local larval retention and the effect of the North Atlantic Current on dispersal. CONCLUSIONS As an isolated population, with limited potential for natural genetic or demographic augmentation from other reefs, the North Atlantic site warrants conservation attention in order to preserve not only this species, but above all the crucial functional ecological roles that are associated with their bioconstructions. Our study highlights the utility of using seascape genomics to identify populations of conservation concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna P Muir
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Chester, Parkgate Road, Chester, CH1 4BJ, UK.
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin, LEMAR UMR 6539 CNRS/UBO/IRD/Ifremer, Université de Brest (UBO), Université Européenne de Bretagne (UEB), Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM), 29280, Plouzané, France.
| | - Stanislas F Dubois
- Ifremer, DYNECO, Laboratory of Coastal Benthic Ecology, F-29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Rebecca E Ross
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
- Institute of Marine Research, 1870 Nordnes, 5817, Bergen, Norway
| | - Louise B Firth
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Antony M Knights
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Fernando P Lima
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Rui Seabra
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Erwan Corre
- CNRS, Sorbonne Université, FR2424, ABiMS, Station Biologique de Roscoff, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Gildas Le Corguillé
- CNRS, Sorbonne Université, FR2424, ABiMS, Station Biologique de Roscoff, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Flavia L D Nunes
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin, LEMAR UMR 6539 CNRS/UBO/IRD/Ifremer, Université de Brest (UBO), Université Européenne de Bretagne (UEB), Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM), 29280, Plouzané, France
- Ifremer, DYNECO, Laboratory of Coastal Benthic Ecology, F-29280, Plouzané, France
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11
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Hawkins SJ, O'Shaughnessy KA, Adams LA, Langston WJ, Bray S, Allen JR, Wilkinson S, Bohn K, Mieszkowska N, Firth LB. Recovery of an urbanised estuary: Clean-up, de-industrialisation and restoration of redundant dock-basins in the Mersey. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 156:111150. [PMID: 32510354 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
For much of the 20th century, the Mersey in North West England was one of the worst polluted estuaries in Europe. Water from a range of polluting industries plus domestic sewage was discharged into the Mersey Catchment and Estuary. Recovery came through a concerted clean-up campaign and tightening environmental regulations, partly driven by European Commission Directives, coupled with de-industrialisation from the 1970s onward. Recovery of oxygen levels in the Estuary led to the return of a productive ecosystem. This led to conservation designations, but also concerns about transfer of pollutants to higher trophic levels in fish, birds and humans. As part of urban renewal, ecosystems in disused dock basins were restored using mussel biofiltration and artificial de-stratification, facilitating commercial redevelopment and creation of a tourist destination. The degradation and recovery of the Mersey from peak-pollution in the mid-20th century is put in the context of wider environmental change and briefly compared to other systems to develop a hysteresis model of degradation and recovery, often to novel ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Hawkins
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton SO17 3ZH, United Kingdom; The Marine Biological Association of the UK, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, United Kingdom; School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom; Department of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom
| | - K A O'Shaughnessy
- The Marine Biological Association of the UK, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, United Kingdom; School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom.
| | - L A Adams
- The Marine Biological Association of the UK, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, United Kingdom
| | - W J Langston
- The Marine Biological Association of the UK, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, United Kingdom
| | - S Bray
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building 85, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom; AQASS Ltd Unit 16, Sidings Industrial Estate, Netley Abbey, Southampton SO31 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - J R Allen
- Department of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom
| | - S Wilkinson
- Department of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom; Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough PE1 1JY, United Kingdom
| | - K Bohn
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton SO17 3ZH, United Kingdom; Natural England, Nottingham NG2 4LA, United Kingdom
| | - N Mieszkowska
- The Marine Biological Association of the UK, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, United Kingdom; School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, United Kingdom
| | - L B Firth
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
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12
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Bertolini C, Montgomery WI, O’Connor NE. Habitat with small inter-structural spaces promotes mussel survival and reef generation. MARINE BIOLOGY 2018; 165:163. [PMID: 30363846 PMCID: PMC6182589 DOI: 10.1007/s00227-018-3426-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Spatially complex habitats provide refuge for prey and mediate many predator-prey interactions. Increasing anthropogenic pressures are eroding such habitats, reducing their complexity and potentially altering ecosystem stability on a global scale. Yet, we have only a rudimentary understanding of how structurally complex habitats create ecological refuges for most ecosystems. Better informed management decisions require an understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the provision of physical refuge and this may be linked to prey size, predator size and predator identity in priority habitats. We tested each of these factors empirically in a model biogenic reef system. Specifically, we tested whether mortality rates of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) of different sizes differed among: (i) different forms of reef structural distribution (represented as 'clumped', 'patchy' and 'sparse'); (ii) predator species identity (shore crab, Carcinus maenas and starfish, Asterias rubens); and (iii) predator size. The survival rate of small mussels was greatest in the clumped experimental habitat and larger predators generally consumed more prey regardless of the structural organisation of treatment. Small mussels were protected from larger A. rubens but not from larger C. maenas in the clumped habitats. The distribution pattern of structural objects, therefore, may be considered a useful proxy for reef complexity when assessing predator-prey interactions, and optimal organisations should be considered based on both prey and predator sizes. These findings are essential to understand ecological processes underpinning predation rates in structurally complex habitats and to inform future restoration and ecological engineering practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Bertolini
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University of Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL Northern Ireland, UK
- NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Utrecht University, PO Box 140, 4401 NT Yerseke, The Netherlands
| | - W. I. Montgomery
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University of Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Nessa E. O’Connor
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University of Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL Northern Ireland, UK
- School of Natural Sciences, Zoology Building, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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13
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Ingrosso G, Abbiati M, Badalamenti F, Bavestrello G, Belmonte G, Cannas R, Benedetti-Cecchi L, Bertolino M, Bevilacqua S, Bianchi CN, Bo M, Boscari E, Cardone F, Cattaneo-Vietti R, Cau A, Cerrano C, Chemello R, Chimienti G, Congiu L, Corriero G, Costantini F, De Leo F, Donnarumma L, Falace A, Fraschetti S, Giangrande A, Gravina MF, Guarnieri G, Mastrototaro F, Milazzo M, Morri C, Musco L, Pezzolesi L, Piraino S, Prada F, Ponti M, Rindi F, Russo GF, Sandulli R, Villamor A, Zane L, Boero F. Mediterranean Bioconstructions Along the Italian Coast. ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2018; 79:61-136. [PMID: 30012277 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2018.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Marine bioconstructions are biodiversity-rich, three-dimensional biogenic structures, regulating key ecological functions of benthic ecosystems worldwide. Tropical coral reefs are outstanding for their beauty, diversity and complexity, but analogous types of bioconstructions are also present in temperate seas. The main bioconstructions in the Mediterranean Sea are represented by coralligenous formations, vermetid reefs, deep-sea cold-water corals, Lithophyllum byssoides trottoirs, coral banks formed by the shallow-water corals Cladocora caespitosa or Astroides calycularis, and sabellariid or serpulid worm reefs. Bioconstructions change the morphological and chemicophysical features of primary substrates and create new habitats for a large variety of organisms, playing pivotal roles in ecosystem functioning. In spite of their importance, Mediterranean bioconstructions have not received the same attention that tropical coral reefs have, and the knowledge of their biology, ecology and distribution is still fragmentary. All existing data about the spatial distribution of Italian bioconstructions have been collected, together with information about their growth patterns, dynamics and connectivity. The degradation of these habitats as a consequence of anthropogenic pressures (pollution, organic enrichment, fishery, coastal development, direct physical disturbance), climate change and the spread of invasive species was also investigated. The study of bioconstructions requires a holistic approach leading to a better understanding of their ecology and the application of more insightful management and conservation measures at basin scale, within ecologically coherent units based on connectivity: the cells of ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Ingrosso
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy.
| | - Marco Abbiati
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Beni Culturali (DBC), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze Marine (CNR-ISMAR), Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Badalamenti
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per l'Ambiente Marino Costiero (CNR-IAMC), Marine Ecology Laboratory, Castellammare del Golfo, Italy
| | - Giorgio Bavestrello
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita (DiSTAV), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Genuario Belmonte
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Cannas
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Bertolino
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita (DiSTAV), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Stanislao Bevilacqua
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Nike Bianchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita (DiSTAV), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Marzia Bo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita (DiSTAV), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Elisa Boscari
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Frine Cardone
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Riccardo Cattaneo-Vietti
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cau
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Carlo Cerrano
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Renato Chemello
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Chimienti
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Leonardo Congiu
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Corriero
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Federica Costantini
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali (BiGeA), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Francesco De Leo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy
| | - Luigia Donnarumma
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Parthenope University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Annalisa Falace
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Simonetta Fraschetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy
| | - Adriana Giangrande
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Flavia Gravina
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Biologia, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Guarnieri
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Mastrototaro
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Marco Milazzo
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Carla Morri
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita (DiSTAV), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Luigi Musco
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Integrative Marine Ecology Department, Napoli, Italy
| | - Laura Pezzolesi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali (BiGeA), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Stefano Piraino
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorella Prada
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per l'Ambiente Marino Costiero (CNR-IAMC), Marine Ecology Laboratory, Castellammare del Golfo, Italy
| | - Massimo Ponti
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali (BiGeA), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Fabio Rindi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Fulvio Russo
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Parthenope University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberto Sandulli
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Parthenope University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Adriana Villamor
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali (BiGeA), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Zane
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Ferdinando Boero
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Rome, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze Marine (CNR-ISMAR), Genova, Italy
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14
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La Marca EC, Catania V, Quatrini P, Milazzo M, Chemello R. Settlement performance of the Mediterranean reef-builders Dendropoma cristatum (Biondi 1859) in response to natural bacterial films. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 137:149-157. [PMID: 29571588 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The gastropod Dendropoma cristatum is a biogenic engineer of the central Mediterranean, forming reefs along the lower rocky intertidal fringe with a remarkable ecological role. To understand whether reef-associated biofilm cultivable bacterial and biofilm ageing may trigger the settlement of the juvenile snails, a combination of laboratory techniques and field experiments was used. Reef-associated biofilm cultivable bacteria were isolated, and a settlement-choice experiment was performed in situ on artificial biofilms composed of i) a mixture of six biofilm-forming selected isolates, ii) all the cultivable bacteria, and iii) 13-, 23-, 32-day old biofilms formed under natural conditions. Overall, settlement rate significantly differed among biofilm treatments (p < 0.0001). A significant positive correlation between biofilm ageing and juvenile D. cristatum settlement was assessed (r = 0.69 (p < 0.001), whereas the biofilm bacterial composition (relatively to the cultivable fraction) did not show any effect on the vermetid's settlement rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Claudia La Marca
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 22, 90123, Palermo, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Roma, Italy.
| | - Valentina Catania
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed.16, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Paola Quatrini
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed.16, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Marco Milazzo
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 22, 90123, Palermo, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Roma, Italy.
| | - Renato Chemello
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 22, 90123, Palermo, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Roma, Italy.
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15
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López Abbate MC, Molinero JC, Guinder VA, Perillo GME, Freije RH, Sommer U, Spetter CV, Marcovecchio JE. Time-varying environmental control of phytoplankton in a changing estuarine system. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 609:1390-1400. [PMID: 28797145 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Estuaries are among the most valuable aquatic systems by their services to human welfare. However, increasing human activities at the watershed along with the pressure of climate change are fostering the co-occurrence of multiple environmental drivers, and warn of potential negative impacts on estuaries resources. At present, no clear understanding of how coastal ecosystems will respond to the non-stationary effect of multiple drivers. Here we analysed the temporal interaction among multiple environmental drivers and their changing priority on shaping phytoplankton response in the Bahía Blanca Estuary, SW Atlantic Ocean. The interaction among environmental drivers and the number of significant direct and indirect effects on chlorophyll concentration increased over time in concurrence with enhanced anthropogenic stress, changing winter climate and wind patterns. Over the period 1978-1993, proximal variables such as nutrients, water temperature and salinity, showed a dominant effect on chlorophyll, whereas in more recent years (1993-2009) climate signals (SAM and ENSO) boosted indirect effects through its influence on precipitation, wind, water temperature and turbidity. Turbidity emerged as the dominant driver of chlorophyll while in recent years acted synergistically with the concentration of dissolved nitrogen. As a result, chlorophyll concentration showed a significant negative trend and a loss of seasonal peaks reflecting a pronounced reorganisation of the phytoplankton community. We stress the need to account for the changing priority of drivers to understand, and eventually forecast, biological responses under projected scenarios of global anthropogenic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Celeste López Abbate
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (CONICET-UNS), Camino La Carrindanga km 7.5, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
| | - Juan Carlos Molinero
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Marine Ecology/Food Webs, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Valeria A Guinder
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (CONICET-UNS), Camino La Carrindanga km 7.5, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Gerardo M E Perillo
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (CONICET-UNS), Camino La Carrindanga km 7.5, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Departamento de Geología, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Av. Alem 1253, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - R Hugo Freije
- Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Av. Alem 1253, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Ulrich Sommer
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Marine Ecology/Food Webs, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Carla V Spetter
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (CONICET-UNS), Camino La Carrindanga km 7.5, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Av. Alem 1253, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Jorge E Marcovecchio
- Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (CONICET-UNS), Camino La Carrindanga km 7.5, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Facultad Regional Bahía Blanca (UTN-BHI), 11 de Abril 461, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Universidad FASTA, Facultad de Ingeniería, Gascón 3145, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
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16
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Bertocci I, Badalamenti F, Lo Brutto S, Mikac B, Pipitone C, Schimmenti E, Vega Fernández T, Musco L. Reducing the data-deficiency of threatened European habitats: Spatial variation of sabellariid worm reefs and associated fauna in the Sicily Channel, Mediterranean Sea. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 130:325-337. [PMID: 28882387 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Revised: 08/12/2017] [Accepted: 08/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Biogenic reefs, such as those produced by tube-dwelling polychaetes of the genus Sabellaria, are valuable marine habitats which are a focus of protection according to European legislation. The achievement of this goal is potentially hindered by the lack of essential empirical data, especially in the Mediterranean Sea. This study addresses some of the current knowledge gaps by quantifying and comparing multi-scale patterns of abundance and distribution of two habitat-forming species (Sabellaria alveolata and S. spinulosa) and their associated fauna along 190 km of coast on the Italian side of the Sicily Channel. While the abundance of the two sabellariids and the total number of associated taxa did not differ at any of the examined scales (from tens of centimetres to tens-100 of kilometres), the structure (composition in terms of both the identity and the relative abundance of constituting taxa) of the associated fauna and the abundance of several taxa (the polychaetes Eulalia ornata, Syllis pulvinata, S. garciai, Nereis splendida and Arabella iricolor, and the amphipods Apolochus neapolitanus, Tethylembos viguieri and Caprella acanthifera) varied among locations established ∼50-100 km apart. Syllis pulvinata also showed significant variation between sites (hundreds of metres apart), analogously to the other syllid polychaetes S. armillaris and S. gracilis, the nereidid polychaete Nereis rava, and the amphipod Gammaropsis ulrici. The largest variance of S. spinulosa, of the structure of the whole associated fauna and of 56% of taxa analysed individually occurred at the scale of replicates (metres apart), while that of the dominant bio-constructor S. alveolata and of 25% of taxa occurred at the scale of sites. The remaining 19% and the total richness of taxa showed the largest variance at the scale of locations. Present findings contribute to meet a crucial requirement of any future effective protection strategy, i.e., identifying relevant scales of variation to be included in protection schemes aiming at preserving representative samples not only of target habitats and organisms, but also of the processes driving such variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iacopo Bertocci
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy.
| | - Fabio Badalamenti
- CNR-IAMC, Istituto per l'Ambiente Marino Costiero, Marine Ecology Laboratory, Via Giovanni da Verrazzano 17, 91014 Castellammare del Golfo, Italy
| | - Sabrina Lo Brutto
- Laboratorio di Tassonomia, Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Barbara Mikac
- CNR-IAMC, Istituto per l'Ambiente Marino Costiero, Marine Ecology Laboratory, Via Giovanni da Verrazzano 17, 91014 Castellammare del Golfo, Italy
| | - Carlo Pipitone
- CNR-IAMC, Istituto per l'Ambiente Marino Costiero, Marine Ecology Laboratory, Via Giovanni da Verrazzano 17, 91014 Castellammare del Golfo, Italy
| | - Eugenia Schimmenti
- Laboratorio di Tassonomia, Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Tomás Vega Fernández
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy; CNR-IAMC, Istituto per l'Ambiente Marino Costiero, Marine Ecology Laboratory, Via Giovanni da Verrazzano 17, 91014 Castellammare del Golfo, Italy
| | - Luigi Musco
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
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17
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Lipid remodelling in the reef-building honeycomb worm, Sabellaria alveolata, reflects acclimation and local adaptation to temperature. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35669. [PMID: 27762300 PMCID: PMC5071839 DOI: 10.1038/srep35669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Acclimation and adaptation, which are key to species survival in a changing climate, can be observed in terms of membrane lipid composition. Remodelling membrane lipids, via homeoviscous adaptation (HVA), counteracts membrane dysfunction due to temperature in poikilotherms. In order to assess the potential for acclimation and adaptation in the honeycomb worm, Sabellaria alveolata, a reef-building polychaete that supports high biodiversity, we carried out common-garden experiments using individuals from along its latitudinal range. Individuals were exposed to a stepwise temperature increase from 15 °C to 25 °C and membrane lipid composition assessed. Our results suggest that S. alveolata was able to acclimate to higher temperatures, as observed by a decrease in unsaturation index and 20:5n-3. However, over the long-term at 25 °C, lipid composition patterns are not consistent with HVA expectations and suggest a stress response. Furthermore, unsaturation index of individuals from the two coldest sites were higher than those from the two warmest sites, with individuals from the thermally intermediate site being in-between, likely reflecting local adaptation to temperature. Therefore, lipid remodelling appears limited at the highest temperatures in S. alveolata, suggesting that individuals inhabiting warm environments may be close to their upper thermal tolerance limits and at risk in a changing climate.
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Last KS, Hendrick VJ, Beveridge CM, Roberts DA, Wilding TA. Lethal and sub-lethal responses of the biogenic reef forming polychaete Sabellaria alveolata to aqueous chlorine and temperature. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2016; 117:44-53. [PMID: 27085057 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2016.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Revised: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Sabellaria alveolata, a reef-forming marine polychaete, was exposed to aqueous chlorine which is routinely used as an anti-fouling agent in power station cooling water. Worms were treated to a range of chlorination levels (0, 0.02, 0.1 and 0.5 mg l(-1) Total Residual Oxidant referred to as control, low, intermediate and high TRO) at mean and maximum summer temperatures (18 and 23 °C respectively). Overall mortality was relatively low, however a combination of high temperature and intermediate and high TRO resulted in a significant increase in mortality compared to the control and low TRO treatments. In contrast the extension of dwelling tubes was reduced at high TRO, but increased at low and intermediate TRO levels relative to the controls independent of temperature. Finally, tube strength was found to decrease with increasing TRO, again independent of temperature. On the basis of these findings, S. alveolata can be considered tolerant of one month exposures to low TRO at water temperatures up to and including the summer maxima for southern UK waters. However, at higher TRO levels and during warm weather, high mortality would be predicted.
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Affiliation(s)
- K S Last
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban PA37 1QA, UK.
| | - V J Hendrick
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban PA37 1QA, UK.
| | - C M Beveridge
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban PA37 1QA, UK.
| | - D A Roberts
- Building 67, School of Marine & Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
| | - T A Wilding
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban PA37 1QA, UK.
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