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Tsirintanis K, Sini M, Ragkousis M, Zenetos A, Katsanevakis S. Cumulative Negative Impacts of Invasive Alien Species on Marine Ecosystems of the Aegean Sea. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:933. [PMID: 37508363 PMCID: PMC10376206 DOI: 10.3390/biology12070933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Biological invasions are a human-induced environmental disturbance that can cause major changes in ecosystem structure and functioning. Located in the northeastern Mediterranean basin, the Aegean Sea is a hotspot of biological invasions. Although the presence of alien species in the Aegean has been studied and monitored, no assessment has been conducted on their cumulative impacts on native biodiversity. To address this gap, we applied the CIMPAL index, a framework developed for mapping the cumulative impacts of invasive species, to identify the most affected areas and habitat types and determine the most invasive species in the region. Coastal areas showed stronger impacts than the open sea. The highest CIMPAL scores were four times more frequent in the South than in the North Aegean. Shallow (0-60 m) hard substrates were the most heavily impacted habitat type, followed by shallow soft substrates and seagrass meadows. We identified Caulerpa cylindracea, Lophocladia lallemandii, Siganus luridus, Siganus rivulatus, and Womersleyella setacea as the most impactful species across their range of occurrence in the Aegean but rankings varied depending on the habitat type and impact indicator applied. Our assessment can support marine managers in prioritizing decisions and actions to control biological invasions and mitigate their impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Tsirintanis
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Lofos Panepistimiou, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
| | - Maria Sini
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Lofos Panepistimiou, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
| | - Michail Ragkousis
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Lofos Panepistimiou, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
| | - Argyro Zenetos
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, 19013 Attika, Greece
| | - Stelios Katsanevakis
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Lofos Panepistimiou, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
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2
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Santamaría J, Golo R, Verdura J, Tomas F, Ballesteros E, Alcoverro T, Arthur R, Cebrian E. Learning takes time: Biotic resistance by native herbivores increases through the invasion process. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:2525-2539. [PMID: 36209457 PMCID: PMC9828756 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
As invasive species spread, the ability of local communities to resist invasion depends on the strength of biotic interactions. Evolutionarily unused to the invader, native predators or herbivores may be initially wary of consuming newcomers, allowing them to proliferate. However, these relationships may be highly dynamic, and novel consumer-resource interactions could form as familiarity grows. Here, we explore the development of effective biotic resistance towards a highly invasive alga using multiple space-for-time approaches. We show that the principal native Mediterranean herbivore learns to consume the invader within less than a decade. At recently invaded sites, the herbivore actively avoided the alga, shifting to distinct preference and high consumptions at older sites. This rapid strengthening of the interaction contributed to the eventual collapse of the alga after an initial dominance. Therefore, our results stress the importance of conserving key native populations to allow communities to develop effective resistance mechanisms against invaders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Santamaría
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain,GRMAR, Institut d'Ecologia Aquàtica, Universitat de GironaGironaSpain
| | - Raül Golo
- GRMAR, Institut d'Ecologia Aquàtica, Universitat de GironaGironaSpain
| | - Jana Verdura
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain,Université Côte d'Azur, CNRSECOSEASNiceFrance
| | - Fiona Tomas
- Marine Ecosystems Dynamics Group—Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados (IMEDEA), Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB) – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)EsporlesBalearic IslandsSpain
| | - Enric Ballesteros
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain
| | - Teresa Alcoverro
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain
| | - Rohan Arthur
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain,Nature Conservation FoundationMysoreIndia
| | - Emma Cebrian
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain,GRMAR, Institut d'Ecologia Aquàtica, Universitat de GironaGironaSpain
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3
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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? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 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] [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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Riquet F, De Kuyper CA, Fauvelot C, Airoldi L, Planes S, Fraschetti S, Mačić V, Milchakova N, Mangialajo L, Bottin L. Highly restricted dispersal in habitat-forming seaweed may impede natural recovery of disturbed populations. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16792. [PMID: 34408197 PMCID: PMC8373921 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96027-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cystoseira sensu lato (Class Phaeophyceae, Order Fucales, Family Sargassaceae) forests play a central role in marine Mediterranean ecosystems. Over the last decades, Cystoseira s.l. suffered from a severe loss as a result of multiple anthropogenic stressors. In particular, Gongolaria barbata has faced multiple human-induced threats, and, despite its ecological importance in structuring rocky communities and hosting a large number of species, the natural recovery of G. barbata depleted populations is uncertain. Here, we used nine microsatellite loci specifically developed for G. barbata to assess the genetic diversity of this species and its genetic connectivity among fifteen sites located in the Ionian, the Adriatic and the Black Seas. In line with strong and significant heterozygosity deficiencies across loci, likely explained by Wahlund effect, high genetic structure was observed among the three seas (ENA corrected FST = 0.355, IC = [0.283, 0.440]), with an estimated dispersal distance per generation smaller than 600 m, both in the Adriatic and Black Sea. This strong genetic structure likely results from restricted gene flow driven by geographic distances and limited dispersal abilities, along with genetic drift within isolated populations. The presence of genetically disconnected populations at small spatial scales (< 10 km) has important implications for the identification of relevant conservation and management measures for G. barbata: each population should be considered as separated evolutionary units with dedicated conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florentine Riquet
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR ENTROPIE, Nouméa, New Caledonia.
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR LOV, Villefranche‑sur‑Mer, France.
| | | | - Cécile Fauvelot
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR ENTROPIE, Nouméa, New Caledonia
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR LOV, Villefranche‑sur‑Mer, France
| | - Laura Airoldi
- Department of Biology, Chioggia Hydrobiological Station Umberto D'Ancona, University of Padova, Chioggia, Italy
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, UO CoNISMa, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Serge Planes
- PSL Research University, EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
| | - Simonetta Fraschetti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
- CoNISMa, Rome, Italy
| | - Vesna Mačić
- Institut za biologiju mora, Univerzitet Crne Gore, Kotor, Montenegro
| | - Nataliya Milchakova
- Laboratory of Phytoresources, Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS (IBSS), Sevastopol, Russia
| | | | - Lorraine Bottin
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, UMR 7035 ECOSEAS, Nice, France
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Menicagli V, Balestri E, Vallerini F, De Battisti D, Lardicci C. Plastics and sedimentation foster the spread of a non-native macroalga in seagrass meadows. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 757:143812. [PMID: 33246728 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Plastics are found in marine environments worldwide, and their effects on macrophytes (seagrasses and macroalgae) colonizing sandy bottoms are still poorly known. Seagrass meadows are valuable but declining ecosystems due to local and global-change related stressors, including sediment disturbance and introduced macroalgae. Understanding whether plastics pose a further threat to seagrasses is critically important. In two simultaneous additive experiments performed in an aquaculture tank, we examined the individual and combined effects of macroplastics (non-biodegradable high-density polyethylene and biodegradable starch-based) and sedimentation (no and repeated sedimentation) on the performance (in terms of biomass and architectural variables) of a native Mediterranean seagrass (Cymodocea nodosa) and an introduced macroalga (Caulerpa cylindracea), and on the intensity of their interactions. Macroplastics were still present in sediments after 18 months. Cymodocea nodosa produced a greater biomass and longer horizontal rhizome internodes forming clones with more spaced shoots probably to escape from plastics. Plastics prevented C. nodosa to react to sedimentation by increasing vertical rhizome growth. Under C. cylindracea invasion, C. nodosa allocated more biomass to roots, particularly to fine roots. In the presence of C. nodosa, C. cylindracea performance was reduced. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic and sedimentation shifted species interactions from competitive to neutral. These results suggest that both HDPE and biodegradable starch-based macroplastics, if deposited on marine bottoms, could make seagrasses vulnerable to sedimentation and reduce plant cover within meadows. HDPE plastic and sedimentation could contribute to the decline of seagrass habitats by facilitating the spread of non-native macroalgae within meadows. Overall, the study highlights the urgent need to implement more effective post-marketing management actions to prevent a further entering of plastics in natural environments in the future, as well as to establish to conservation measures specifically tailored to protect seagrass habitats from plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Menicagli
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Balestri
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Flavia Vallerini
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Davide De Battisti
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudio Lardicci
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa, via S. Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Centre for Climate Change Impact, University of Pisa, Via Del Borghetto 80, Pisa 56124, Italy
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6
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Bloomfield NJ, Wei S, A Woodham B, Wilkinson P, Robinson AP. Automating the assessment of biofouling in images using expert agreement as a gold standard. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2739. [PMID: 33531525 PMCID: PMC7854599 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81011-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofouling is the accumulation of organisms on surfaces immersed in water. It is of particular concern to the international shipping industry because it increases fuel costs and presents a biosecurity risk by providing a pathway for non-indigenous marine species to establish in new areas. There is growing interest within jurisdictions to strengthen biofouling risk-management regulations, but it is expensive to conduct in-water inspections and assess the collected data to determine the biofouling state of vessel hulls. Machine learning is well suited to tackle the latter challenge, and here we apply deep learning to automate the classification of images from in-water inspections to identify the presence and severity of fouling. We combined several datasets to obtain over 10,000 images collected from in-water surveys which were annotated by a group biofouling experts. We compared the annotations from three experts on a 120-sample subset of these images, and found that they showed 89% agreement (95% CI: 87-92%). Subsequent labelling of the whole dataset by one of these experts achieved similar levels of agreement with this group of experts, which we defined as performing at most 5% worse (p [Formula: see text] 0.009-0.054). Using these expert labels, we were able to train a deep learning model that also agreed similarly with the group of experts (p [Formula: see text] 0.001-0.014), demonstrating that automated analysis of biofouling in images is feasible and effective using this method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel J Bloomfield
- Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Susan Wei
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Bartholomew A Woodham
- Biosecurity Animal Division, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra, Australia
| | - Peter Wilkinson
- Biosecurity Animal Division, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra, Australia
| | - Andrew P Robinson
- Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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7
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An Alien Invader is the Cause of Homogenization in the Recipient Ecosystem: A Simulation-Like Approach. DIVERSITY-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/d11090146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Biotic homogenization is an expected effect of biological invasions. Invasive alien species typically show great adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions and may expand into different habitats, thus reducing the dissimilarity among the recipient communities. We tested this assumption by analyzing a comprehensive database (78 species × 229 samples) collected between 2012 and 2017 in the marine protected area of Portofino (NW Italy), where Caulerpa cylindracea, one of the worst invaders in the Mediterranean Sea, exhibits high substratum cover at depths between 1 m and 45 m in 14 different communities (identified according to the European Nature Information System EUNIS for habitat classification). Five samples for each of the eight depth zones (i.e., 5 m, 10 m, 15 m, 20 m, 25 m, 30 m, 35 m, and 40 m) were randomly re-sampled from the comprehensive database to produce a dataset of 67 species × 40 samples. Then, a second dataset of 66 species × 40 samples was simulated by excluding Caulerpa cylindracea. Both re-sampled datasets underwent multivariate analysis. In the presence of C. cylindracea, the overall similarity among samples was higher, thus indicating homogenization of the rocky reef communities of Portofino Marine Protected Area. Continued monitoring activity is needed to understand and assess the pattern and extent of C. cylindracea’s inclusion in the recipient ecosystems.
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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. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 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] [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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Biotic resistance and vegetative propagule pressure co-regulate the invasion success of a marine clonal macrophyte. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16621. [PMID: 30413748 PMCID: PMC6226502 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35015-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Propagule pressure is considered a major driver of plant invasion success. Great propagule pressure would enable invasive species to colonize new areas overcoming the resistance of native species. Many highly invasive aquatic macrophytes regenerate from vegetative propagules, but few studies have experimentally investigated the importance of propagule pressure and biotic resistance, and their interaction, in determining invasion success. By manipulating both recipient habitat and the input of vegetative propagules of the invasive seaweed Caulerpa cylindracea in mesocosm, we examined whether higher propagule pressure would overcome the resistance of a native congeneric (Caulerpa prolifera) and influence its performance. With the native, C. cylindracea population frond number decreased irrespectively of pressure level. High propagule pressure did not increase stolon length and single plant size decreased due to the effects of intra- and interspecific competition. Native biomass decreased with increasing C. cylindracea propagule pressure. These results indicate that higher propagule pressure may fail in enhancing C. cylindracea invasion success in habitats colonized by the native species, and they suggest that biotic resistance and propagule pressure co-regulate the invasion process. These findings emphasize the need to preserve/restore native seaweed populations and may help to design effective management actions to prevent further C. cylindracea spread.
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10
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Fragment quality and sediment organic loading regulate the survival of an invasive, clonal seaweed. Biol Invasions 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-018-1685-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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11
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Wangensteen OS, Cebrian E, Palacín C, Turon X. Under the canopy: Community-wide effects of invasive algae in Marine Protected Areas revealed by metabarcoding. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2018; 127:54-66. [PMID: 29475694 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Revised: 11/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We analysed with multigene (18S and COI) metabarcoding the effects of the proliferation of invasive seaweeds on rocky littoral communities in two Spanish Marine Protected Areas. The invasive algae studied were Caulerpa cylindracea, Lophocladia lallemandii and Asparagopsis armata. They are canopy-forming, landscape-dominant seaweeds, and we were interested in their effects on the underlying communities of meiobenthos and macrobenthos, separated in two size fractions through sieving. A new semiquantitative treatment of metabarcoding data is introduced. The results for both markers showed that the presence of the invasive seaweed had a significant effect on the understory communities for Lophocladia lallemandii and Asparagopsis armata but not for Caulerpa cylindracea. Likewise, changes in MOTU richness and diversity with invasion status varied in magnitude and direction depending on the alga considered. Our results showed that metabarcoding allows monitoring of the less conspicuous, but not least important, effects of the presence of dominant invasive seaweeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Owen S Wangensteen
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Emma Cebrian
- Aquatic Ecology Institute, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, Girona, Spain
| | - Creu Palacín
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Turon
- Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Blanes (Girona), Spain.
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12
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South PM, Floerl O, Forrest BM, Thomsen MS. A review of three decades of research on the invasive kelp Undaria pinnatifida in Australasia: An assessment of its success, impacts and status as one of the world's worst invaders. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 131:243-257. [PMID: 28958575 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 09/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/16/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Marine invasive macroalgae can have severe local-scale impacts on ecological communities. The kelp Undaria pinnatifida is one of the most successful marine invasive species worldwide, and is widely regarded as one of the worst. Here, we review research on Undaria in Australasia, where the kelp is established throughout much of New Zealand and south-eastern Australia. The presence of Undaria for at least three decades in these locations makes Australasia one of the longest-invaded bioregions globally, and a valuable case study for considering Undaria's invasion success and associated impacts. In Australasia, Undaria has primarily invaded open spaces, turf communities, and gaps in native canopies within a relatively narrow elevation band on rocky shores. Despite its high biomass, Undaria has relatively few direct impacts on native species, and can increase community-wide attributes such as primary productivity and the provision of biogenic habitat. Therefore, Australasian Undaria research provides an example of a decoupling between the success and impact of an invasive species. Undaria will most likely continue to spread along thousands of kilometres of rocky coastline in temperate Australasia, due to its tolerance to large variations in temperature, ability to exploit disturbances to local communities, and the continued transfer among regions via vessel movements and aquaculture activities. However, the spread of Undaria remains difficult to manage as eradication is challenging and seldom successful. Therefore, understanding potential invasion pathways, maintaining native canopy-forming species that limit Undaria success, and effectively managing anthropogenic vectors of Undaria spread, should be key management priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M South
- Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street East, Nelson 7010, New Zealand; Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Private bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Oliver Floerl
- Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street East, Nelson 7010, New Zealand
| | - Barrie M Forrest
- Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street East, Nelson 7010, New Zealand
| | - Mads S Thomsen
- Marine Ecology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand; UWA Oceans Institute & School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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13
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Voerman SE, Glasby TM, Gladstone W, Gribben PE. Habitat associations of an expanding native alga. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 131:205-214. [PMID: 29021082 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
There are many examples of native macrophytes becoming locally dominant and spreading outside their traditional distributions, but the causes and impacts are often not understood. In New South Wales, Australia, the green alga Caulerpa filiformis is undergoing a range expansion and has transitioned from a subdominant to a dominant alga on several rocky shores around the Sydney coastline. Here we investigated relationships between established patches of C. filiformis, the habitat it occupies and associated algal communities at multiple subtidal sites over the green alga's 700 km range. We tested the following predictions: 1) C. filiformis cover differs among substrata, being greatest on turf-forming algae; 2) C. filiformis cover is positively related to environmental variables linked to increased sedimentation (e.g. reduced reef width, surface slope, increased rugosity and distance from shore); 3) occurrence of C. filiformis is associated with a change in macrophyte community structure and a reduction of macrophyte richness; 4) intact native algal canopies inhibit C. filiformis spread, but turf-forming algae and bare sand are susceptible to invasion. Substratum associations were highly consistent among sites, but contrary to our prediction, C. filiformis was most commonly associated with rock or rock + sand substratum and less frequently associated with turf-forming algae substratum. C. filiformis cover was negatively correlated with reef width, which explained most of the variation observed, although local scale variables distance from shore, reef slope, and water depth were also correlated with C. filiformis cover. Algal diversity and community composition typically differed in the presence of C. filiformis, often with a reduction of algal abundances, in particular Sargassum spp., although results varied among substrata and sites. However, monitoring of borders suggested that C. filiformis does not invade and outcompete undisturbed adjacent canopy-forming algae over a 12 month period. Our results suggest that disturbance processes (possibly linked to sedimentation) acting at the site and quadrat scale are likely important determinants of C. filiformis cover and spread, and hence its potential ecological impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie E Voerman
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia; Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia(1).
| | - Tim M Glasby
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Locked Bag 1, Nelson Bay, NSW 2315, Australia
| | - William Gladstone
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Paul E Gribben
- Centre for Marine BioInnovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Australia; Sydney Institute of Marine Science, 19 Chowder Bay Road, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia
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