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Salland N, Jensen A, Smale DA. The structure and diversity of macroinvertebrate assemblages associated with the understudied pseudo-kelp Saccorhiza polyschides in the Western English Channel (UK). Mar Environ Res 2024; 198:106519. [PMID: 38678754 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
We examined spatiotemporal variability in the structure of faunal assemblages associated with the warm-temperate pseudo-kelp Saccorhiza polyschides towards its range centre (Western English Channel, southwest UK), to better understand its role as a habitat-former in the northeast Atlantic. A total of 180 sporophytes and their associated fauna were sampled across three months, three sites, and two depths. Assemblage abundance and biomass varied markedly between three morpho-functional sporophyte components (i.e., holdfast, stipe, blade). We recorded rich and abundant macroinvertebrate assemblages, comprising nine phyla, 28 coarse taxonomic groups, and 57 species of molluscs, which consistently dominated assemblages. We observed pronounced seasonality in faunal assemblage structure, marked variability between sites and depths, and strong positive relationships between biogenic habitat availability and faunal abundance/biomass. S. polyschides sporophytes are short-lived and offer temporary, less-stable habitat compared with dominant perennial Laminaria species, so shifts in the relative abundances of habitat-formers will likely alter local biodiversity patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Salland
- The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, PL1 2PB, Plymouth, UK; School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, European Way, SO14 3ZH, Southampton, UK.
| | - Antony Jensen
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, European Way, SO14 3ZH, Southampton, UK.
| | - Dan A Smale
- The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, PL1 2PB, Plymouth, UK.
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Gouraguine A, Smale DA, Edwards A, King NG, Jackson-Bué M, Kelly S, Earp HS, Moore PJ. Temporal and spatial drivers of the structure of macroinvertebrate assemblages associated with Laminaria hyperborea detritus in the northeast Atlantic. Mar Environ Res 2024; 198:106518. [PMID: 38648698 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Kelp forests occur on more than a quarter of the world's coastlines, serving as foundation species supporting high levels of biodiversity. They are also a major source of organic matter in coastal ecosystems, with the majority of primary production released and exported as detritus. Kelp detritus also provides food and shelter for macroinvertebrates, which comprise important components of inshore food-webs. Hitherto, research on kelp detritus-associated macroinvertebrate assemblages remains relatively limited. We quantified spatiotemporal variability in the structure of detritus-associated macroinvertebrate assemblages within Laminaria hyperborea forests and evaluated the influence of putative drivers of the observed variability in assemblages across eight study sites within four regions of the United Kingdom in May and September 2015. We documented 5167 individuals from 106 taxa with Malacostraca, Gastropoda, Isopoda and Bivalvia the most abundant groups sampled. Assemblage structure varied across months, sites, and regions, with highest richness in September compared to May. Many taxa were unique to individual regions, with few documented in all regions. Finally, key drivers of assemblage structure included detritus tissue nitrogen content, depth, sea surface temperature, light intensity, as well as L. hyperborea canopy density and canopy biomass. Despite their dynamic composition and transient existence, accumulations of L. hyperborea detritus represent valuable repositories of biodiversity and represent an additional kelp forest component which influences secondary productivity, and potentially kelp forest food-web dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Gouraguine
- Dove Marine Laboratory, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the UK, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL2 1PB, UK
| | - Arwyn Edwards
- Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Nathan G King
- Marine Biological Association of the UK, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL2 1PB, UK
| | | | - Sean Kelly
- Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Hannah S Earp
- Dove Marine Laboratory, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Pippa J Moore
- Dove Marine Laboratory, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.
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Leathers T, King NG, Foggo A, Smale DA. Marine heatwave duration and intensity interact to reduce physiological tipping points of kelp species with contrasting thermal affinities. Ann Bot 2024; 133:51-60. [PMID: 37946547 PMCID: PMC10921831 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are widely recognized as pervasive drivers of ecosystem change, yet our understanding of how different MHW properties mediate ecological responses remains largely unexplored. Understanding MHW impacts on foundation species is particularly important, given their structural role in communities and ecosystems. METHODS We simulated a series of realistic MHWs with different levels of intensity (Control: 14 °C, Moderate: 18 °C, Extreme: 22 °C) and duration (14 or 28 d) and examined responses of two habitat-forming kelp species in the southwest UK. Here, Laminaria digitata reaches its trailing edge and is undergoing a range contraction, whereas Laminaria ochroleuca reaches its leading edge and is undergoing a range expansion. KEY RESULTS For both species, sub-lethal stress responses induced by moderate-intensity MHWs were exacerbated by longer duration. Extreme-intensity MHWs caused dramatic declines in growth and photosynthetic performance, and elevated bleaching, which were again exacerbated by longer MHW duration. Stress responses were most pronounced in L. ochroleuca, where almost complete tissue necrosis was observed by the end of the long-duration MHW. This was unexpected given the greater thermal safety margins assumed with leading edge populations. It is likely that prolonged exposure to sub-lethal thermal stress exceeded a physiological tipping point for L. ochroleuca, presumably due to depletion of internal reserves. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our study showed that exposure to MHW profiles projected to occur in the region in the coming decades can have significant deleterious effects on foundation kelp species, regardless of their thermal affinities and location within respective latitudinal ranges, which would probably have consequences for entire communities and ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayla Leathers
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Nathan G King
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Andy Foggo
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
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Salland N, Wilding C, Jensen A, Smale DA. Spatiotemporal variability in population demography and morphology of the habitat-forming macroalga Saccorhiza polyschides in the Western English Channel. Ann Bot 2024; 133:117-130. [PMID: 37962600 PMCID: PMC10921834 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Large brown macroalgae serve as foundation organisms along temperate and polar coastlines, providing a range of ecosystem services. Saccorhiza polyschides is a warm-temperate kelp-like species found in the northeast Atlantic, which is suggested to have proliferated in recent decades across the southern UK, possibly in response to increasing temperatures, physical disturbance and reduced competition. However, little is known about S. polyschides with regard to ecological functioning and population dynamics across its geographical range. Here we examined the population demography of S. polyschides populations in southwest UK, located within the species' range centre, to address a regional knowledge gap and to provide a baseline against which to detect future changes. METHODS Intertidal surveys were conducted during spring low tides at three sites along a gradient of wave exposure in Plymouth Sound (Western English Channel) over a period of 15 months. Density, cover, age, biomass and morphology of S. polyschides were quantified. Additionally, less frequent sampling of shallow subtidal reefs was conducted to compare intertidal and subtidal populations. KEY RESULTS We recorded pronounced seasonality, with fairly consistent demographic patterns across sites and depths. By late summer, S. polyschides was a dominant habitat-former on both intertidal and subtidal reefs, with maximum standing stock exceeding 13 000 g wet weight m-2. CONCLUSIONS Saccorhiza polyschides is a conspicuous and abundant member of rocky reef assemblages in the region, providing complex and abundant biogenic habitat for associated organisms and high rates of primary productivity. However, its short-lived pseudo-annual life strategy is in stark contrast to dominant long-lived perennial laminarian kelps. As such, any replacement or reconfiguration of habitat-forming macroalgae due to ocean warming will probably have implications for local biodiversity and community composition. More broadly, our study demonstrates the importance of high-resolution cross-habitat surveys to generate robust baselines of kelp population demography, against which the ecological impacts of climate change and other stressors can be reliably detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Salland
- The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Catherine Wilding
- The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Antony Jensen
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
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Wernberg T, Thomsen MS, Baum JK, Bishop MJ, Bruno JF, Coleman MA, Filbee-Dexter K, Gagnon K, He Q, Murdiyarso D, Rogers K, Silliman BR, Smale DA, Starko S, Vanderklift MA. Impacts of Climate Change on Marine Foundation Species. Ann Rev Mar Sci 2024; 16:247-282. [PMID: 37683273 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-042023-093037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Marine foundation species are the biotic basis for many of the world's coastal ecosystems, providing structural habitat, food, and protection for myriad plants and animals as well as many ecosystem services. However, climate change poses a significant threat to foundation species and the ecosystems they support. We review the impacts of climate change on common marine foundation species, including corals, kelps, seagrasses, salt marsh plants, mangroves, and bivalves. It is evident that marine foundation species have already been severely impacted by several climate change drivers, often through interactive effects with other human stressors, such as pollution, overfishing, and coastal development. Despite considerable variation in geographical, environmental, and ecological contexts, direct and indirect effects of gradual warming and subsequent heatwaves have emerged as the most pervasive drivers of observed impact and potent threat across all marine foundation species, but effects from sea level rise, ocean acidification, and increased storminess are expected to increase. Documented impacts include changes in the genetic structures, physiology, abundance, and distribution of the foundation species themselves and changes to their interactions with other species, with flow-on effects to associated communities, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning. We discuss strategies to support marine foundation species into the Anthropocene, in order to increase their resilience and ensure the persistence of the ecosystem services they provide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Wernberg
- Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia;
- Flødevigen Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | - Mads S Thomsen
- Marine Ecology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Julia K Baum
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Melanie J Bishop
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John F Bruno
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Melinda A Coleman
- National Marine Science Centre, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Karen Filbee-Dexter
- Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia;
- Flødevigen Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | - Karine Gagnon
- Flødevigen Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | - Qiang He
- Coastal Ecology Lab, MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Daniel Murdiyarso
- Center for International Forestry Research-World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), Bogor, Indonesia
- Department of Geophysics and Meteorology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Kerrylee Rogers
- School of Earth, Atmospheric, and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Starko
- Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia;
| | - Mathew A Vanderklift
- Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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King NG, Uribe R, Moore PJ, Earp HS, Gouraguine A, Hinostroza D, Perez-Matus A, Smith K, Smale DA. Multiscale Spatial Variability and Stability in the Structure and Diversity of Bacterial Communities Associated with the Kelp Eisenia cokeri in Peru. Microb Ecol 2023; 86:2574-2582. [PMID: 37415044 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02262-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Ecological communities are structured by a range of processes that operate over a range of spatial scales. While our understanding of such biodiversity patterns in macro-communities is well studied, our understanding at the microbial level is still lacking. Bacteria can be free living or associated with host eukaryotes, forming part of a wider "microbiome," which is fundamental for host performance and health. For habitat forming foundation-species, host-bacteria relationships likely play disproportionate roles in mediating processes for the wider ecosystem. Here, we describe host-bacteria communities across multiple spatial scales (i.e., from 10s of m to 100s of km) in the understudied kelp, Eisenia cokeri, in Peru. We found that E. cokeri supports a distinct bacterial community compared to the surrounding seawater, but the structure of these communities varied markedly at the regional (~480 km), site (1-10 km), and individual (10s of m) scale. The marked regional-scale differences we observed may be driven by a range of processes, including temperature, upwelling intensity, or regional connectivity patterns. However, despite this variability, we observed consistency in the form of a persistent core community at the genus level. Here, the genera Arenicella, Blastopirellula, Granulosicoccus, and Litorimonas were found in >80% of samples and comprised ~53% of total sample abundance. These genera have been documented within bacterial communities associated with kelps and other seaweed species from around the world and may be important for host function and wider ecosystem health in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan G King
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK.
| | - Roberto Uribe
- Área de Macroalgas y Biodiversidad, Instituto del Mar del Perú - IMARPE, av. La Ribera # 805, Huanchaco, La Libertad, Perú
| | - Pippa J Moore
- Dove Marine Laboratory, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Hannah S Earp
- Dove Marine Laboratory, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
- Department of Life Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Adam Gouraguine
- Dove Marine Laboratory, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Diego Hinostroza
- Programa de Maestría en Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Alejandro Perez-Matus
- Subtidal Ecology Laboratory (Subelab), Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas (ECIM), Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114, -D, Santiago, Chile
| | - Kathryn Smith
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
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Hobday AJ, Burrows MT, Filbee-Dexter K, Holbrook NJ, Sen Gupta A, Smale DA, Smith KE, Thomsen MS, Wernberg T. With the arrival of El Niño, prepare for stronger marine heatwaves. Nature 2023; 621:38-41. [PMID: 37673984 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-02730-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
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8
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King NG, Wilmes SB, Browett SS, Healey A, McDevitt AD, McKeown NJ, Roche R, Skujina I, Smale DA, Thorpe JM, Malham S. Seasonal development of a tidal mixing front drives shifts in community structure and diversity of bacterioplankton. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:5201-5210. [PMID: 37555658 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Bacterioplankton underpin biogeochemical cycles and an improved understanding of the patterns and drivers of variability in their distribution is needed to determine their wider functioning and importance. Sharp environmental gradients and dispersal barriers associated with ocean fronts are emerging as key determinants of bacterioplankton biodiversity patterns. We examined how the development of the Celtic Sea Front (CF), a tidal mixing front on the Northwest European Shelf affects bacterioplankton communities. We performed 16S-rRNA metabarcoding on 60 seawater samples collected from three depths (surface, 20 m and seafloor), across two research cruises (May and September 2018), encompassing the intra-annual range of the CF intensity. Communities above the thermocline of stratified frontal waters were clearly differentiated and less diverse than those below the thermocline and communities in the well-mixed waters of the Irish Sea. This effect was much more pronounced in September, when the CF was at its peak intensity. The stratified zone likely represents a stressful environment for bacterioplankton due to a combination of high temperatures and low nutrients, which fewer taxa can tolerate. Much of the observed variation was driven by Synechococcus spp. (cyanobacteria), which were more abundant within the stratified zone and are known to thrive in warm oligotrophic waters. Synechococcus spp. are key contributors to global primary productivity and carbon cycling and, as such, variability driven by the CF is likely to influence regional biogeochemical processes. However, further studies are required to explicitly link shifts in community structure to function and quantify their wider importance to pelagic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan G King
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth, UK
- Centre of Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, UK
| | - Sophie-B Wilmes
- Centre of Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, UK
| | - Samuel S Browett
- Environment and Ecosystem Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
- Molecular Ecology Research Group, Eco-Innovation Research Centre, School of Science and Computing, South East Technological University, Waterford, Ireland
| | - Amy Healey
- Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - Allan D McDevitt
- Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Atlantic Technological University, Galway, Ireland
| | - Niall J McKeown
- Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - Ronan Roche
- Centre of Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, UK
| | - Ilze Skujina
- Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth, UK
| | - Jamie M Thorpe
- Centre of Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, UK
| | - Shelagh Malham
- Centre of Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, UK
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9
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Bass AV, Smith KE, Smale DA. Marine heatwaves and decreased light availability interact to erode the ecophysiological performance of habitat-forming kelp species. J Phycol 2023; 59:481-495. [PMID: 36964952 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Coastal marine ecosystems are threatened by a range of anthropogenic stressors, operating at global, local, and temporal scales. We investigated the impact of marine heatwaves (MHWs) combined with decreased light availability over two seasons on the ecophysiological responses of three kelp species (Laminaria digitata, L. hyperborea, and L. ochroleuca). These species function as important habitat-forming foundation organisms in the northeast Atlantic and have distinct but overlapping latitudinal distributions and thermal niches. Under low-light conditions, summertime MHWs induced significant declines in biomass, blade surface area, and Fv/Fm values (a measure of photosynthetic efficiency) in the cool-water kelps L. digitata and L. hyperborea, albeit to varying degrees. Under high-light conditions, all species were largely resistant to simulated MHW activity. In springtime, MHWs had minimal impacts and in some cases promoted kelp performance, while reduced light availability resulted in lower growth rates. While some species were negatively affected by summer MHWs under low-light conditions (particularly L. digitata), they were generally resilient to MHWs under high-light conditions. As such, maintaining good environmental quality and water clarity may increase resilience of populations to summertime MHWs. Our study informs predictions of how habitat-forming foundation kelp species will be affected by interacting, concurrent stressors, typical of compound events that are intensifying under anthropogenic climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alissa V Bass
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, UK
| | - Kathryn E Smith
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, UK
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10
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Gilson AR, White LJ, Burrows MT, Smale DA, O'Connor NE. Seasonal and spatial variability in rates of primary production and detritus release by intertidal stands of Laminaria digitata and Saccharina latissima on wave-exposed shores in the northeast Atlantic. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10146. [PMID: 37351476 PMCID: PMC10282169 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Coastal habitats are increasingly recognized as fundamentally important components of global carbon cycles, but the rates of carbon flow associated with marine macrophytes are not well resolved for many species in many regions. We quantified density, rates of primary productivity, and detritus production of intertidal stands of two common intertidal kelp species-Laminaria digitata (oarweed) and Saccharina latissima (sugar kelp)-on four NE Atlantic rocky shores over 22 months. The density of L. digitata was greater at exposed compared to moderately exposed shores but remained consistently low for S. latissima throughout the survey period. Individual productivity and erosion rates of L. digitata did not differ between exposed and moderately exposed shores but differed across exposure levels throughout the year at moderately exposed sites only. Productivity and erosion of S. latissima remained low on moderately exposed shores and showed no clear seasonal pattern. Patterns of productivity and total detrital production (erosion and dislodgement) per m2 of both L. digitata and S. latissima followed closely that of densities per m2, peaking in May during both survey years. Temperature and light were key factors affecting the productivity rates of L. digitata and S. latissima. Erosion rates of L. digitata were affected by wave exposure, temperature, light, grazing, and epiphyte cover, but only temperature-affected erosion of S. latissima. Production of biomass and detritus was greater in L. digitata than in S. latissima and exceeded previous estimates for subtidal and warmer-water affinity kelp populations (e.g., Laminaria ochroleuca). These biogenic habitats are clearly important contributors to the coastal carbon cycle that have been overlooked previously and should be included in future ecosystem models. Further work is required to determine the areal extent of kelp stands in intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats, which is needed to scale up local production estimates to entire coastlines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby R. Gilson
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Global Food SecurityQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
- Present address:
Trinity College Dublin, School of Natural SciencesTrinity College DublinDublin 2Ireland
| | - Lydia J. White
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Global Food SecurityQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
- Tvärminne Zoological StationUniversity of HelsinkiHankoFinland
| | | | - Dan A. Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the UKPlymouthUK
| | - Nessa E. O'Connor
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Global Food SecurityQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
- Present address:
Trinity College Dublin, School of Natural SciencesTrinity College DublinDublin 2Ireland
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11
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King NG, Moore PJ, Thorpe JM, Smale DA. Consistency and Variation in the Kelp Microbiota: Patterns of Bacterial Community Structure Across Spatial Scales. Microb Ecol 2023; 85:1265-1275. [PMID: 35589992 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-02038-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Kelp species are distributed along ~ 25% of the world's coastlines and the forests they form represent some of the world's most productive and diverse ecosystems. Like other marine habitat-formers, the associated microbial community is fundamental for host and, in turn, wider ecosystem functioning. Given there are thousands of bacteria-host associations, determining which relationships are important remains a major challenge. We characterised the associated bacteria of two habitat-forming kelp species, Laminaria hyperborea and Saccharina latissima, from eight sites across a range of spatial scales (10 s of metres to 100 s of km) in the northeast Atlantic. We found no difference in diversity or community structure between the two kelps, but there was evidence of regional structuring (across 100 s km) and considerable variation between individuals (10 s of metres). Within sites, individuals shared few amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and supported a very small proportion of diversity found across the wider study area. However, consistent characteristics between individuals were observed with individual host communities containing a small conserved "core" (8-11 ASVs comprising 25 and 32% of sample abundances for L. hyperborea and S. latissima, respectively). At a coarser taxonomic resolution, communities were dominated by four classes (Planctomycetes, Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Bacteroidia) that made up ~ 84% of sample abundances. Remaining taxa (47 classes) made up very little contribution to overall abundance but the majority of taxonomic diversity. Overall, our study demonstrates the consistent features of kelp bacterial communities across large spatial scales and environmental gradients and provides an ecologically meaningful baseline to track environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan G King
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK.
| | - Pippa J Moore
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Jamie M Thorpe
- Centre of Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
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12
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Queirós AM, Tait K, Clark JR, Bedington M, Pascoe C, Torres R, Somerfield PJ, Smale DA. Identifying and protecting macroalgae detritus sinks toward climate change mitigation. Ecol Appl 2023; 33:e2798. [PMID: 36504412 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Harnessing natural solutions to mitigate climate change requires an understanding of carbon fixation, flux, and sequestration across ocean habitats. Recent studies have suggested that exported seaweed particulate organic carbon is stored within soft-sediment systems. However, very little is known about how seaweed detritus disperses from coastlines, or where it may enter seabed carbon stores, where it could become the target of conservation efforts. Here, focusing on regionally dominant seaweed species, we surveyed environmental DNA (eDNA) from natural coastal sediments, and studied their connectivity to seaweed habitats using a particle tracking model parameterized to reproduce seaweed detritus dispersal behavior based on laboratory observations of seaweed fragment degradation and sinking. Experiments showed that seaweed detritus density changed over time, differently across species. This, in turn, modified distances traveled by released fragments until they reached the seabed for the first time, during model simulations. Dispersal pathways connected detritus from the shore to the open ocean but, importantly, also to coastal sediments, and this was reflected by field eDNA evidence. Dispersion pathways were also affected by hydrodynamic conditions, varying in space and time. Both the properties and timing of released detritus, individual to each macroalgal population, and short-term near-seabed and medium-term water-column transport pathways, are thus seemingly important in determining the connectivity between seaweed habitats and potential sedimentary sinks. Studies such as this one, supported by further field verification of sedimentary carbon sequestration rates and source partitioning, are still needed to help quantify the role of seaweed in the ocean carbon cycle. Such studies will provide vital evidence to inform on the potential need to develop blue carbon conservation mechanisms, beyond wetlands.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karen Tait
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Plymouth, UK
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13
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Abstract
Climatic extremes are becoming increasingly common against a background trend of global warming. In the oceans, marine heatwaves (MHWs)-discrete periods of anomalously warm water-have intensified and become more frequent over the past century, impacting the integrity of marine ecosystems globally. We review and synthesize current understanding of MHW impacts at the individual, population, and community levels. We then examine how these impacts affect broader ecosystem services and discuss the current state of research on biological impacts of MHWs. Finally, we explore current and emergent approaches to predicting the occurrence andimpacts of future events, along with adaptation and management approaches. With further increases in intensity and frequency projected for coming decades, MHWs are emerging as pervasive stressors to marine ecosystems globally. A deeper mechanistic understanding of their biological impacts is needed to better predict and adapt to increased MHW activity in the Anthropocene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E Smith
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Plymouth, United Kingdom; , ,
| | | | | | - Nathan G King
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Plymouth, United Kingdom; , ,
| | - Pippa J Moore
- Dove Marine Laboratory, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, United Kingdom;
| | - Alex Sen Gupta
- Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia;
| | - Mads S Thomsen
- Marine Ecology Research Group, Centre of Integrative Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand;
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia;
- Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Plymouth, United Kingdom; , ,
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14
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Corrigan S, Brown AR, Tyler CR, Wilding C, Daniels C, Ashton IGC, Smale DA. Development and Diversity of Epibiont Assemblages on Cultivated Sugar Kelp ( Saccharina latissima) in Relation to Farming Schedules and Harvesting Techniques. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13010209. [PMID: 36676158 PMCID: PMC9865293 DOI: 10.3390/life13010209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Seaweed farming in Europe is growing and may provide environmental benefits, including habitat provisioning, coastal protection, and bioremediation. Habitat provisioning by seaweed farms remains largely unquantified, with previous research focused primarily on the detrimental effects of epibionts, rather than their roles in ecological functioning and ecosystem service provision. We monitored the development and diversity of epibiont assemblages on cultivated sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) at a farm in Cornwall, southwest UK, and compared the effects of different harvesting techniques on epibiont assemblage structure. Increases in epibiont abundance (PERMANOVA, F4,25 = 100.56, p < 0.001) and diversity (PERMANOVA, F4,25 = 27.25, p < 0.001) were found on cultivated kelps over and beyond the growing season, reaching an average abundance of >6000 individuals per kelp plant with a taxonomic richness of ~9 phyla per kelp by late summer (August). Assemblages were dominated by crustaceans (mainly amphipods), molluscs (principally bivalves) and bryozoans, which provide important ecological roles, despite reducing crop quality. Partial harvesting techniques maintained, or increased, epibiont abundance and diversity beyond the farming season; however, these kelp plants were significantly fouled and would not be commercially viable in most markets. This paper improves understanding of epibiont assemblage development at European kelp farms, which can inform sustainable, ecosystem-based approaches to aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Corrigan
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
- Sustainable Aquaculture Futures, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
- Correspondence: (S.C.); (D.A.S.)
| | - A. Ross Brown
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
- Sustainable Aquaculture Futures, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Charles R. Tyler
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
- Sustainable Aquaculture Futures, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Catherine Wilding
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Carly Daniels
- College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Ian G. C. Ashton
- College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Dan A. Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
- Correspondence: (S.C.); (D.A.S.)
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15
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Pessarrodona A, Assis J, Filbee-Dexter K, Burrows MT, Gattuso JP, Duarte CM, Krause-Jensen D, Moore PJ, Smale DA, Wernberg T. Global seaweed productivity. Sci Adv 2022; 8:eabn2465. [PMID: 36103524 PMCID: PMC9473579 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn2465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The magnitude and distribution of net primary production (NPP) in the coastal ocean remains poorly constrained, particularly for shallow marine vegetation. Here, using a compilation of in situ annual NPP measurements across >400 sites in 72 geographic ecoregions, we provide global predictions of the productivity of seaweed habitats, which form the largest vegetated coastal biome on the planet. We find that seaweed NPP is strongly coupled to climatic variables, peaks at temperate latitudes, and is dominated by forests of large brown seaweeds. Seaweed forests exhibit exceptionally high per-area production rates (a global average of 656 and 1711 gC m-2 year-1 in the subtidal and intertidal, respectively), being up to 10 times higher than coastal phytoplankton in temperate and polar seas. Our results show that seaweed NPP is a strong driver of production in the coastal ocean and call for its integration in the oceanic carbon cycle, where it has traditionally been overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Pessarrodona
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
- Corresponding author: ,
| | - Jorge Assis
- CCMAR, CIMAR, Universidade do Algarve, Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
| | - Karen Filbee-Dexter
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | | | - Jean-Pierre Gattuso
- CNRS, Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, 181 chemin du Lazaret, F-06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France
- Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, Sciences Po, 27 rue Saint Guillaume, F-75007 Paris, France
| | - Carlos M. Duarte
- Red Sea Research Centre (RSRC) and Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
- Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Dorte Krause-Jensen
- Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Pippa J. Moore
- The Dove Marine Laboratory, School of Natural and Environmental Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Dan A. Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
- Roskilde University, Box 260, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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16
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Filbee-Dexter K, Feehan CJ, Smale DA, Krumhansl KA, Augustine S, de Bettignies F, Burrows MT, Byrnes JEK, Campbell J, Davoult D, Dunton KH, Franco JN, Garrido I, Grace SP, Hancke K, Johnson LE, Konar B, Moore PJ, Norderhaug KM, O’Dell A, Pedersen MF, Salomon AK, Sousa-Pinto I, Tiegs S, Yiu D, Wernberg T. Kelp carbon sink potential decreases with warming due to accelerating decomposition. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001702. [PMID: 35925899 PMCID: PMC9352061 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cycling of organic carbon in the ocean has the potential to mitigate or exacerbate global climate change, but major questions remain about the environmental controls on organic carbon flux in the coastal zone. Here, we used a field experiment distributed across 28° of latitude, and the entire range of 2 dominant kelp species in the northern hemisphere, to measure decomposition rates of kelp detritus on the seafloor in relation to local environmental factors. Detritus decomposition in both species were strongly related to ocean temperature and initial carbon content, with higher rates of biomass loss at lower latitudes with warmer temperatures. Our experiment showed slow overall decomposition and turnover of kelp detritus and modeling of coastal residence times at our study sites revealed that a significant portion of this production can remain intact long enough to reach deep marine sinks. The results suggest that decomposition of these kelp species could accelerate with ocean warming and that low-latitude kelp forests could experience the greatest increase in remineralization with a 9% to 42% reduced potential for transport to long-term ocean sinks under short-term (RCP4.5) and long-term (RCP8.5) warming scenarios. However, slow decomposition at high latitudes, where kelp abundance is predicted to expand, indicates potential for increasing kelp-carbon sinks in cooler (northern) regions. Our findings reveal an important latitudinal gradient in coastal ecosystem function that provides an improved capacity to predict the implications of ocean warming on carbon cycling. Broad-scale patterns in organic carbon decomposition revealed here can be used to identify hotspots of carbon sequestration potential and resolve relationships between carbon cycling processes and ocean climate at a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Filbee-Dexter
- Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
- UWA Oceans Institute & School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Colette J. Feehan
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Dan A. Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Kira A. Krumhansl
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Skye Augustine
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Florian de Bettignies
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, Roscoff, France
| | | | - Jarrett E. K. Byrnes
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jillian Campbell
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dominique Davoult
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, Roscoff, France
| | - Kenneth H. Dunton
- Marine Science Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, Texas, United States of America
| | - João N. Franco
- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Politécnico de Leiria, Peniche, Portugal
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, and Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ignacio Garrido
- Department of Biology and Québec-Océan, Laval University, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Centro FONDAP de Investigación en Dinámica de Ecosistemas Marinos de Altas Latitudes (IDEAL), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh), Valdivia, Chile
| | - Sean P. Grace
- Department of Biology, Werth Center for Coastal and Marine Studies, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Kasper Hancke
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Section for Marine Biology, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ladd E. Johnson
- Department of Biology and Québec-Océan, Laval University, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Brenda Konar
- College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Pippa J. Moore
- The Dove Marine Laboratory, School of Natural and Environmental Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | | | - Alasdair O’Dell
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, Argyll, Scotland
| | - Morten F. Pedersen
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Anne K. Salomon
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Isabel Sousa-Pinto
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, and Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Scott Tiegs
- Oakland University, Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Dara Yiu
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey, United States of America
- University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
- UWA Oceans Institute & School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- The Dove Marine Laboratory, School of Natural and Environmental Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
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17
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King NG, Smale DA, Thorpe JM, McKeown NJ, Andrews AJ, Browne R, Malham SK. Core Community Persistence Despite Dynamic Spatiotemporal Responses in the Associated Bacterial Communities of Farmed Pacific Oysters. Microb Ecol 2022:10.1007/s00248-022-02083-9. [PMID: 35881247 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-02083-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A breakdown in host-bacteria relationships has been associated with the progression of a number of marine diseases and subsequent mortality events. For the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, summer mortality syndrome (SMS) is one of the biggest constraints to the growth of the sector and is set to expand into temperate systems as ocean temperatures rise. Currently, a lack of understanding of natural spatiotemporal dynamics of the host-bacteria relationship limits our ability to develop microbially based monitoring approaches. Here, we characterised the associated bacterial community of C. gigas, at two Irish oyster farms, unaffected by SMS, over the course of a year. We found C. gigas harboured spatiotemporally variable bacterial communities that were distinct from bacterioplankton in surrounding seawater. Whilst the majority of bacteria-oyster associations were transient and highly variable, we observed clear patterns of stability in the form of a small core consisting of six persistent amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). This core made up a disproportionately large contribution to sample abundance (34 ± 0.14%), despite representing only 0.034% of species richness across the study, and has been associated with healthy oysters in other systems. Overall, our study demonstrates the consistent features of oyster bacterial communities across spatial and temporal scales and provides an ecologically meaningful baseline to track environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan G King
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK.
- Centre of Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, LL59 5AB, UK.
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Jamie M Thorpe
- Centre of Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Niall J McKeown
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Adam J Andrews
- Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ronan Browne
- Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland
| | - Shelagh K Malham
- Centre of Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, LL59 5AB, UK
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18
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Thomsen MS, Altieri AH, Angelini C, Bishop MJ, Bulleri F, Farhan R, Frühling VMM, Gribben PE, Harrison SB, He Q, Klinghardt M, Langeneck J, Lanham BS, Mondardini L, Mulders Y, Oleksyn S, Ramus AP, Schiel DR, Schneider T, Siciliano A, Silliman BR, Smale DA, South PM, Wernberg T, Zhang S, Zotz G. Publisher Correction: Heterogeneity within and among co-occurring foundation species increases biodiversity. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1763. [PMID: 35347158 PMCID: PMC8960769 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29347-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mads S Thomsen
- Marine Ecology Research Group and Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.,Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Andrew H Altieri
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado, 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Republic of Panama.,Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Christine Angelini
- Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Melanie J Bishop
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Fabio Bulleri
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Viktoria M M Frühling
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado, 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Republic of Panama
| | - Paul E Gribben
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Chowder Bay Road, Mosman, 2088, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Seamus B Harrison
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado, 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Republic of Panama
| | - Qiang He
- Coastal Ecology Lab, MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, 2005 Songhu Road, 200438, Shanghai, China.
| | - Moritz Klinghardt
- Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Joachim Langeneck
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Brendan S Lanham
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Chowder Bay Road, Mosman, 2088, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Luca Mondardini
- Marine Ecology Research Group and Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Yannick Mulders
- School of Biological Sciences and UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Semonn Oleksyn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Aaron P Ramus
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA
| | - David R Schiel
- Marine Ecology Research Group and Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Tristan Schneider
- Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Alfonso Siciliano
- Marine Ecology Research Group and Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | | | - Thomas Wernberg
- School of Biological Sciences and UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Stacy Zhang
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - Gerhard Zotz
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado, 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Republic of Panama.,Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
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19
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Thomsen MS, Altieri AH, Angelini C, Bishop MJ, Bulleri F, Farhan R, Frühling VMM, Gribben PE, Harrison SB, He Q, Klinghardt M, Langeneck J, Lanham BS, Mondardini L, Mulders Y, Oleksyn S, Ramus AP, Schiel DR, Schneider T, Siciliano A, Silliman BR, Smale DA, South PM, Wernberg T, Zhang S, Zotz G. Heterogeneity within and among co-occurring foundation species increases biodiversity. Nat Commun 2022; 13:581. [PMID: 35102155 PMCID: PMC8803935 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28194-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Habitat heterogeneity is considered a primary causal driver underpinning patterns of diversity, yet the universal role of heterogeneity in structuring biodiversity is unclear due to a lack of coordinated experiments testing its effects across geographic scales and habitat types. Furthermore, key species interactions that can enhance heterogeneity, such as facilitation cascades of foundation species, have been largely overlooked in general biodiversity models. Here, we performed 22 geographically distributed experiments in different ecosystems and biogeographical regions to assess the extent to which variation in biodiversity is explained by three axes of habitat heterogeneity: the amount of habitat, its morphological complexity, and capacity to provide ecological resources (e.g. food) within and between co-occurring foundation species. We show that positive and additive effects across the three axes of heterogeneity are common, providing a compelling mechanistic insight into the universal importance of habitat heterogeneity in promoting biodiversity via cascades of facilitative interactions. Because many aspects of habitat heterogeneity can be controlled through restoration and management interventions, our findings are directly relevant to biodiversity conservation. Species interactions that can enhance habitat heterogeneity such as facilitation cascades of foundation species have been overlooked in biodiversity models. This study conducted 22 geographically distributed experiments in different ecosystems and biogeographical regions to assess the extent to which biodiversity is explained by three axes of habitat heterogeneity in facilitation cascades.
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20
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Frontier N, Mulas M, Foggo A, Smale DA. The influence of light and temperature on detritus degradation rates for kelp species with contrasting thermal affinities. Mar Environ Res 2022; 173:105529. [PMID: 34800869 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Kelp detritus fuels coastal food webs and may play an important role as a source of organic matter for natural carbon sequestration. Here, we conducted ex situ and in situ manipulations to evaluate the role of temperature and light availability in the breakdown of detrital material. We examined degradation rates of two North Atlantic species with contrasting thermal affinities: the 'warm water' kelp Laminaria ochroleuca and the 'cool water' Laminaria hyperborea. Detrital fragments were exposed to different temperatures in controlled conditions and across an in situ gradient of depth, corresponding to light availability. Overall, degradation rates (i.e. changes in Fv/Fm and biomass) were faster under lower light conditions and at higher temperatures, although responses were highly variable between plants and fragments. Crucially, as L. ochroleuca degraded faster than L. hyperborea under some conditions, a climate-driven substitution of the 'cool' for the 'warm' kelp, which has been observed at some locations, will likely increase detritus turnover rates and alter detrital pathways in certain environments. More importantly, ocean warming combined with decreased coastal water quality will likely accelerate kelp detritus decomposition, with potential implications for coastal food webs and carbon cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Frontier
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK; Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Martina Mulas
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK; Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research, The National Institute of Oceanography, P.O.BOX 8030, 31080, Haifa, Israel; The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa, Israel
| | - Andrew Foggo
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK.
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21
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Smith KE, Burrows MT, Hobday AJ, Sen Gupta A, Moore PJ, Thomsen M, Wernberg T, Smale DA. Socioeconomic impacts of marine heatwaves: Global issues and opportunities. Science 2021; 374:eabj3593. [PMID: 34672757 DOI: 10.1126/science.abj3593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E Smith
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | | | | | - Alex Sen Gupta
- Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Pippa J Moore
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Mads Thomsen
- The Marine Ecology Research Group, Centre of Integrative Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, 8041 Christchurch, New Zealand.,Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- University of Western Australia, Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,Institute of Marine Research, Floedevigen, 4817 His, Norway
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
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22
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Gilson AR, Smale DA, O'Connor N. Ocean warming and species range shifts affect rates of ecosystem functioning by altering consumer-resource interactions. Ecology 2021; 102:e03341. [PMID: 33709407 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Recent warming trends have driven widespread changes in the performance and distribution of species in many regions, with consequent shifts in assemblage structure and ecosystem functioning. However, as responses to warming vary across species and regions, novel communities are emerging, particularly where warm-affinity range-expanding species have rapidly colonized communities still dominated by cold-affinity species. Such community reconfiguration may alter core ecosystem processes, such as productivity or nutrient cycling, yet it remains unclear whether novel communities function similarly to those they have replaced, and how continued warming will alter functioning in the near future. Using simplified kelp forest communities as a model system, we compared rates of respiration, consumption and secondary productivity between current cold-affinity and future warm-affinity kelp assemblages under both present-day temperatures and near-future warming in a series of mesocosm experiments. Overall, respiration rates of gastropods and amphipods increased with warming but did not differ between cold and warm affinity kelp assemblages. Consumption rates of three consumers (urchin, gastropod and amphipod) differed between kelp assemblages but only amphipod consumption rates increased with warming. A diet derived from warm-affinity kelp assemblages led to a decrease in growth and biomass of urchins, whereas the response of other consumers was variable depending on temperature treatment. These results suggest that climate-driven changes in assemblage structure of primary producers will alter per capita rates of ecosystem functioning, and that specific responses may vary in complex and unpredictable ways, with some mediated by warming more than others. Understanding how differences in life history and functional traits of dominant species will affect ecological interactions and, in turn, important ecosystem processes is crucial to understanding the wider implications of climate-driven community reconfiguration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby R Gilson
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, 1-33 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AJ, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the UK, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Nessa O'Connor
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, 1-33 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AJ, UK
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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23
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Bué M, Smale DA, Natanni G, Marshall H, Moore PJ. Multiple‐scale interactions structure macroinvertebrate assemblages associated with kelp understory algae. DIVERS DISTRIB 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Bué
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth UK
| | - Dan A. Smale
- The Laboratory Marine Biological Association Plymouth UK
| | - Giulia Natanni
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth UK
| | - Helen Marshall
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth UK
| | - Pippa J. Moore
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth UK
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne UK
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24
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Smale DA, Pessarrodona A, King N, Burrows MT, Yunnie A, Vance T, Moore P. Environmental factors influencing primary productivity of the forest-forming kelp Laminaria hyperborea in the northeast Atlantic. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12161. [PMID: 32699214 PMCID: PMC7376248 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69238-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Rates and drivers of primary productivity are well understood for many terrestrial ecosystems, but remain poorly resolved for many marine ecosystems, particularly those within in coastal benthic environments. We quantified net primary productivity (NPP) using two methods as well as carbon standing stock within kelp forests (Laminaria hyperborea) at multiple subtidal habitats in the United Kingdom (UK). Study sites spanned 9° in latitude and encompassed a gradient in average temperature of ~ 2.5 °C. In addition to temperature, we measured other factors (e.g. light intensity, water motion, nutrients, sea urchin density) that may influence productivity. Although estimates of NPP were highly variable between sites, ranging from 166 to 738 g C m-2 yr-1, our study-wide average of 340 g C m-2 yr-1 indicated that L. hyperborea forests are highly productive. We observed clear differences between NPP and carbon standing stock between our cold northernmost sites and our warm southernmost sites, with NPP and standing stock being around 1.5 and 2.5 times greater in the northern sites, respectively. Ocean temperature was identified as a likely driver of productivity, with reduced NPP and standing stock observed in warmer waters. Light availability was also strongly linked with carbon accumulation and storage, with increased light levels positively correlated with NPP and standing stock. Across its geographical range, total NPP from L. hyperborea is estimated at ~ 7.61 Tg C yr-1. This biomass production is likely to be important for local food webs, as a trophic subsidy to distant habitats and for inshore carbon cycling and (potentially) carbon sequestration. However, given the strong links with temperature, continued ocean warming in the northeast Atlantic may reduce primary productivity of this foundation species, as optimal temperatures for growth and performance are surpassed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK.
| | - Albert Pessarrodona
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Nathan King
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Michael T Burrows
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunbeg, Oban, PA37 1QA, Argyll, UK
| | - Anna Yunnie
- PML Applications Ltd, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK
| | - Thomas Vance
- PML Applications Ltd, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK
| | - Pippa Moore
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK
- Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
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25
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Hereward HFR, King NG, Smale DA. Intra-Annual Variability in Responses of a Canopy Forming Kelp to Cumulative Low Tide Heat Stress: Implications for Populations at the Trailing Range Edge. J Phycol 2020; 56:146-158. [PMID: 31571218 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change is driving the redistribution of species at a global scale. For marine species, populations at trailing edges often live very close to their upper thermal limits and, as such, poleward range contractions are one of the most pervasive effects of ongoing and predicted warming. However, the mechanics of processes driving such contractions are poorly understood. Here, we examined the response of the habitat forming kelp, Laminaria digitata, to realistic terrestrial heatwave simulations akin to those experienced by intertidal populations persisting at the trailing range edge in the northeast Atlantic (SW England). We conducted experiments in both spring and autumn to determine temporal variability in the effects of heatwaves. In spring, heatwave scenarios caused minimal stress to L. digitata but in autumn all scenarios tested resulted in tissue being nonviable by the end of each assay. The effects of heatwave scenarios were only apparent after consecutive exposures, indicating erosion of resilience over time. Monthly field surveys corroborated experimental evidence as the prevalence of bleaching (an indication of physiological stress and tissue damage) in natural populations was greatest in autumn and early winter. Overall, our data showed that L. digitata populations in SW England persist close to their upper physiological limits for emersion stress in autumn. As the intensity of extreme warming events is likely to increase with anthropogenic climate change, thermal conditions experienced during periods of emersion will soon exceed physiological thresholds and will likely induce widespread mortality and consequent changes at the population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah F R Hereward
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Nathan G King
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
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26
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Abstract
Kelp forests represent some of the most diverse and productive habitats on Earth, and provide a range of ecosystem goods and services on which human populations depend. As the distribution and ecophysiology of kelp species is strongly influenced by temperature, recent warming trends in many regions have been linked with concurrent changes in kelp populations, communities and ecosystems. Over the past decade, the number of reports of ocean warming impacts on kelp forests has risen sharply. Here, I synthesise recent studies to highlight general patterns and trends. While kelp responses to climate change vary greatly between ocean basins, regions and species, there is compelling evidence to show that ocean warming poses an unequivocal threat to the persistence and integrity of kelp forest ecosystems in coming decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan A Smale
- The Laboratory, Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
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27
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Macreadie PI, Anton A, Raven JA, Beaumont N, Connolly RM, Friess DA, Kelleway JJ, Kennedy H, Kuwae T, Lavery PS, Lovelock CE, Smale DA, Apostolaki ET, Atwood TB, Baldock J, Bianchi TS, Chmura GL, Eyre BD, Fourqurean JW, Hall-Spencer JM, Huxham M, Hendriks IE, Krause-Jensen D, Laffoley D, Luisetti T, Marbà N, Masque P, McGlathery KJ, Megonigal JP, Murdiyarso D, Russell BD, Santos R, Serrano O, Silliman BR, Watanabe K, Duarte CM. The future of Blue Carbon science. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3998. [PMID: 31488846 PMCID: PMC6728345 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11693-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The term Blue Carbon (BC) was first coined a decade ago to describe the disproportionately large contribution of coastal vegetated ecosystems to global carbon sequestration. The role of BC in climate change mitigation and adaptation has now reached international prominence. To help prioritise future research, we assembled leading experts in the field to agree upon the top-ten pending questions in BC science. Understanding how climate change affects carbon accumulation in mature BC ecosystems and during their restoration was a high priority. Controversial questions included the role of carbonate and macroalgae in BC cycling, and the degree to which greenhouse gases are released following disturbance of BC ecosystems. Scientists seek improved precision of the extent of BC ecosystems; techniques to determine BC provenance; understanding of the factors that influence sequestration in BC ecosystems, with the corresponding value of BC; and the management actions that are effective in enhancing this value. Overall this overview provides a comprehensive road map for the coming decades on future research in BC science. The role of Blue Carbon in climate change mitigation and adaptation has now reached international prominence. Here the authors identified the top-ten unresolved questions in the field and find that most questions relate to the precise role blue carbon can play in mitigating climate change and the most effective management actions in maximising this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter I Macreadie
- Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Center for Integrative Ecology, Geelong, VIC, 3125, Australia.
| | - Andrea Anton
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - John A Raven
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DQ, UK.,Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.,School of Biological Science, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Nicola Beaumont
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK
| | - Rod M Connolly
- Australian Rivers Institute-Coast & Estuaries, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Daniel A Friess
- Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, 1 Arts Link, Singapore, 117570, Singapore
| | - Jeffrey J Kelleway
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Hilary Kennedy
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai bridge, Bangor, LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Tomohiro Kuwae
- Coastal and Estuarine Environment Research Group, Port and Airport Research Institute, 3-1-1 Nagase, Yokosuka, 239-0826, Japan
| | - Paul S Lavery
- School of Science, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Catherine E Lovelock
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Eugenia T Apostolaki
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, PO Box 2214, 71003, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Trisha B Atwood
- Department of Watershed Sciences and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322-5210, USA
| | - Jeff Baldock
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Private Mail Bag, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia
| | - Thomas S Bianchi
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611-2120, USA
| | - Gail L Chmura
- Department of Geography, McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, QC, H3A 0B9, Canada
| | - Bradley D Eyre
- Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
| | - James W Fourqurean
- School of Biological Science, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.,Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Coastal Oceans Research, Florida International University, 11200 SW8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Jason M Hall-Spencer
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.,Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Mark Huxham
- School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, EH11 4BN, UK
| | - Iris E Hendriks
- Global Change Research Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Miquel Marquès 21, Esporles, 07190, Spain
| | - Dorte Krause-Jensen
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, Silkeborg, 8600, Denmark.,Arctic Research Centre, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, bldg. 1540, Århus C, 8000, Denmark
| | - Dan Laffoley
- World Commission on Protected Areas, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Tiziana Luisetti
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, UK
| | - Núria Marbà
- Global Change Research Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Miquel Marquès 21, Esporles, 07190, Spain
| | - Pere Masque
- School of Science, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia.,The Oceans Institute and Department of Physics, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, Australia.,Departament de Física & Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
| | - Karen J McGlathery
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlotttesville, VA, 22903, USA
| | - J Patrick Megonigal
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD, 21037, USA
| | - Daniel Murdiyarso
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Jl. CIFOR, Situgede, Bogor, 16115, Indonesia.,Department of Geophysics and Meteorology, Bogor Agricultural University, Kampus Darmaga, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia
| | - Bayden D Russell
- Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Rui Santos
- Center of Marine Sciences, CCMAR, University of Algarve, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal
| | - Oscar Serrano
- School of Science, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC, 28516, USA
| | - Kenta Watanabe
- Coastal and Estuarine Environment Research Group, Port and Airport Research Institute, 3-1-1 Nagase, Yokosuka, 239-0826, Japan
| | - Carlos M Duarte
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Red Sea Research Center and Computational Bioscience Research Center, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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28
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Epstein G, Foggo A, Smale DA. Inconspicuous impacts: Widespread marine invader causes subtle but significant changes in native macroalgal assemblages. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Graham Epstein
- The Laboratory Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom Citadel Hill Plymouth PL1 2PB UK
- Ocean and Earth Science National Oceanography Centre Southampton University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus European Way Southampton SO14 3ZH UK
| | - Andrew Foggo
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre University of Plymouth Drake Circus Plymouth PL4 8AA UK
| | - Dan A. Smale
- The Laboratory Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom Citadel Hill Plymouth PL1 2PB UK
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29
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Epstein G, Hawkins SJ, Smale DA. Identifying niche and fitness dissimilarities in invaded marine macroalgal canopies within the context of contemporary coexistence theory. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8816. [PMID: 31217462 PMCID: PMC6584561 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45388-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Contemporary coexistence theory provides a framework for predicting invasiveness and impact of Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) by incorporating differences in niche and fitness between INNS and co-occurring native species. The widespread invasive kelp Undaria pinnatifida is considered a high-risk INNS, although a robust evidence base regarding its invasiveness and impact is lacking in many regions. Invaded macroalgal canopies at nine coastal sites in the southwest UK were studied over three years to discern whether Undaria is coexisting or competing with native canopy-forming species across different habitat types. Spatial, temporal and depth-related trends in species distributions and abundance were recorded within intertidal and subtidal rocky reef as well as on marina pontoons. A primary succession experiment also examined competitive interactions between species. In rocky reef habitats, Undaria had lower fitness compared to long-lived native perennials, but was able to coexist due to niche dissimilarity between species. In contrast, Undaria was likely to be competing with short-lived native annuals on rocky reef due to large niche overlap and similar fitness. In marina habitats, Undaria dominated over all other canopy formers due to low niche diversification and higher fitness. Generalisations on INNS impact cannot be made across habitats or species, without considering many abiotic factors and biotic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham Epstein
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK.
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK.
| | - Stephen J Hawkins
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
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30
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Smale DA, Epstein G, Parry M, Attrill MJ. Spatiotemporal variability in the structure of seagrass meadows and associated macrofaunal assemblages in southwest England (UK): Using citizen science to benchmark ecological pattern. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:3958-3972. [PMID: 31015980 PMCID: PMC6467847 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Seagrass meadows underpin a variety of ecosystem services and are recognized as globally important habitats and a conservation priority. However, seagrass populations are currently impacted by a range of biotic and abiotic stressors, and many are in decline globally. As such, improved understanding of seagrass populations and their associated faunal assemblages is needed to better detect and predict changes in the structure and functioning of these key habitats. Here, we analyzed a large dataset-collected by recreational scuba divers volunteering on a citizen science project-to examine spatiotemporal patterns in ecological structure and to provide a robust and reliable baseline against which to detect future change. Seagrass (Zostera marina) shoot density and the abundance of associated faunal groups were quantified across 2 years at 19 sites nested within three locations in southwest UK, by collecting in situ quadrat samples (2,518 in total) during 328 dives. Seagrass shoot density and meadow fragmentation was comparable across locations but was highly variable among sites. Faunal abundance and assemblage structure varied between areas with or without seagrass shoots; this pattern was largely consistent between locations and years. Overall, increased seagrass density was related to increased faunal abundance and explained shifts in faunal assemblage structure, although individual faunal groups were affected differently. More broadly, our study shows that well-funded and orchestrated citizen science projects can, to some extent, gather fundamental information needed to benchmark ecological structure in poorly studied nearshore marine habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan A. Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The LaboratoryPlymouthUK
| | - Graham Epstein
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The LaboratoryPlymouthUK
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre SouthamptonUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
| | | | - Martin J. Attrill
- School of Biological and Marine SciencesUniversity of PlymouthPlymouthUK
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31
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Epstein G, Smale DA. Between-habitat variability in the population dynamics of a global marine invader may drive management uncertainty. Mar Pollut Bull 2018; 137:488-500. [PMID: 30503460 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.10.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Understanding population dynamics of established invasive species is important for designing effective management measures and predicting factors such as invasiveness and ecological impact. The kelp Undaria pinnatifida has spread to most temperate regions of the world, however a basic understanding of population dynamics is lacking for many regions. Here, Undaria was monitored for 2 years, at 9 sites, across 3 habitats to investigate habitat-related variation in population structure, reproductive capacity and morphology. Populations on marina pontoons were distinct from those in reef habitats, with extended recruitment periods and higher abundance, biomass, maturation rates and fecundity; potentially driven by lower inter-specific and higher intra-specific competition within marinas. This suggests that artificial habitats are likely to facilitate the spread, proliferation and reproductive fitness of Undaria across its non-native range. More broadly, generalising population dynamics of invasive species across habitat types is problematic, thus adding high complexity to management options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham Epstein
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK; Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK.
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
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Teagle H, Smale DA. Front Cover. DIVERS DISTRIB 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Pessarrodona A, Moore PJ, Sayer MDJ, Smale DA. Carbon assimilation and transfer through kelp forests in the NE Atlantic is diminished under a warmer ocean climate. Glob Chang Biol 2018; 24:4386-4398. [PMID: 29862600 PMCID: PMC6120504 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Global climate change is affecting carbon cycling by driving changes in primary productivity and rates of carbon fixation, release and storage within Earth's vegetated systems. There is, however, limited understanding of how carbon flow between donor and recipient habitats will respond to climatic changes. Macroalgal-dominated habitats, such as kelp forests, are gaining recognition as important carbon donors within coastal carbon cycles, yet rates of carbon assimilation and transfer through these habitats are poorly resolved. Here, we investigated the likely impacts of ocean warming on coastal carbon cycling by quantifying rates of carbon assimilation and transfer in Laminaria hyperborea kelp forests-one of the most extensive coastal vegetated habitat types in the NE Atlantic-along a latitudinal temperature gradient. Kelp forests within warm climatic regimes assimilated, on average, more than three times less carbon and donated less than half the amount of particulate carbon compared to those from cold regimes. These patterns were not related to variability in other environmental parameters. Across their wider geographical distribution, plants exhibited reduced sizes toward their warm-water equatorward range edge, further suggesting that carbon flow is reduced under warmer climates. Overall, we estimated that Laminaria hyperborea forests stored ~11.49 Tg C in living biomass and released particulate carbon at a rate of ~5.71 Tg C year-1 . This estimated flow of carbon was markedly higher than reported values for most other marine and terrestrial vegetated habitat types in Europe. Together, our observations suggest that continued warming will diminish the amount of carbon that is assimilated and transported through temperate kelp forests in NE Atlantic, with potential consequences for the coastal carbon cycle. Our findings underline the need to consider climate-driven changes in the capacity of ecosystems to fix and donate carbon when assessing the impacts of climate change on carbon cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Pessarrodona
- The Citadel Hill LaboratoryMarine Biological Association of the United KingdomPlymouthUK
- Present address:
UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Western AustraliaCrawleyWAAustralia
| | - Pippa J. Moore
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
- Centre for Marine Ecosystems ResearchSchool of Natural SciencesEdith Cowan UniversityJoondalupWAAustralia
| | - Martin D. J. Sayer
- NERC National Facility for Scientific DivingScottish Association for Marine ScienceObanUK
| | - Dan A. Smale
- The Citadel Hill LaboratoryMarine Biological Association of the United KingdomPlymouthUK
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Epstein G, Hawkins SJ, Smale DA. Removal treatments alter the recruitment dynamics of a global marine invader - Implications for management feasibility. Mar Environ Res 2018; 140:322-331. [PMID: 29983191 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Frameworks designed to prioritise the management of invasive non-native species (INNS) must consider many factors, including their impacts on native biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human health. Management feasibility should also be foremost in any prioritisation process, but is often overlooked, particularly in the marine environment. The Asian kelp, Undaria pinnatifida, is one of the most cosmopolitan marine INNS worldwide and recognised as a priority species for monitoring in the UK and elsewhere. Here, experimental monthly removals of Undaria (from 0.2 m2 patches of floating pontoon) were conducted at two marinas to investigate their influence on recruitment dynamics and the potential implications for management feasibility. Over the 18-month experiment there was no consistent reduction in Undaria recruitment following removals. Cleaning of pontoon surfaces (i.e. removal of all biota) led to significant short-term reductions in recruitment but caused a temporal shift in normal recruitment patterns. Non-selective removal (i.e. all macroalgae) generally promoted recruitment, while selective removal (i.e. Undaria only) had some limited success in reducing overall recruitment. The varied results indicate that the feasibility of limiting Undaria is likely to be very low at sites with established populations and high propagule pressure. However, where there are new incursions, a mixture of cleaning of invaded surfaces prior to normal periods of peak recruitment followed by selective removal may have some potential in limiting Undaria populations within these sites. Multi-factorial experimental manipulations such as this are useful tools for gathering quantitative evidence to support the prioritisation of management measures for marine INNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham Epstein
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK; Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK.
| | - Stephen J Hawkins
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
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35
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Teagle H, Moore PJ, Jenkins H, Smale DA. Spatial variability in the diversity and structure of faunal assemblages associated with kelp holdfasts (Laminaria hyperborea) in the northeast Atlantic. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200411. [PMID: 30001372 PMCID: PMC6042752 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Kelp species are ecologically-important habitat-formers in coastal marine ecosystems, where they alter environmental conditions and promote local biodiversity by providing complex biogenic habitat for an array of associated organisms. While it is widely accepted that kelps harbour significant biodiversity, our current understanding of spatiotemporal variability in kelp-associated assemblages and the key environmental drivers of variability patterns remains limited. Here we examined the influence of ocean temperature and wave exposure on the structure of faunal assemblages associated with the holdfasts of Laminaria hyperborea, the dominant habitat-forming kelp in the northeast Atlantic. We sampled holdfasts from 12 kelp-dominated open-coast sites nested within four regions across the UK, spanning ~9° in latitude and ~2.7° C in mean sea surface temperature. Overall, holdfast assemblages were highly diverse, with 261 taxa representing 11 phyla recorded across the study. We examined patterns of spatial variability for sessile and mobile taxa separately, and documented high variability between regions, between sites within regions, and between replicate holdfasts for both assemblage types. Mobile assemblage structure was more strongly linked to temperature variability than sessile assemblage structure, which was principally structured by site-level variability in factors such as wave exposure. Patterns in the structure of both biogenic habitat and associated assemblages did not vary predictably along a latitudinal gradient in temperature, indicating that other processes acting across multiple spatial and temporal scales are important drivers of assemblage structure. Overall, kelp holdfasts in the UK supported high levels of diversity, that were similar to other kelp-dominated systems globally and comparable to those recorded for other vegetated marine habitats (i.e. seagrass beds), which are perhaps more widely recognised for their high biodiversity value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Teagle
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, United Kingdom
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Pippa J. Moore
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
- Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Helen Jenkins
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Dan A. Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, United Kingdom
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36
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Teagle H, Smale DA. Climate-driven substitution of habitat-forming species leads to reduced biodiversity within a temperate marine community. DIVERS DISTRIB 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Harry Teagle
- The Laboratory; Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom; Plymouth UK
- University of Southampton; Southampton UK
| | - Dan A. Smale
- The Laboratory; Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom; Plymouth UK
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Oliver ECJ, Donat MG, Burrows MT, Moore PJ, Smale DA, Alexander LV, Benthuysen JA, Feng M, Sen Gupta A, Hobday AJ, Holbrook NJ, Perkins-Kirkpatrick SE, Scannell HA, Straub SC, Wernberg T. Longer and more frequent marine heatwaves over the past century. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1324. [PMID: 29636482 PMCID: PMC5893591 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03732-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 387] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Heatwaves are important climatic extremes in atmospheric and oceanic systems that can have devastating and long-term impacts on ecosystems, with subsequent socioeconomic consequences. Recent prominent marine heatwaves have attracted considerable scientific and public interest. Despite this, a comprehensive assessment of how these ocean temperature extremes have been changing globally is missing. Using a range of ocean temperature data including global records of daily satellite observations, daily in situ measurements and gridded monthly in situ-based data sets, we identify significant increases in marine heatwaves over the past century. We find that from 1925 to 2016, global average marine heatwave frequency and duration increased by 34% and 17%, respectively, resulting in a 54% increase in annual marine heatwave days globally. Importantly, these trends can largely be explained by increases in mean ocean temperatures, suggesting that we can expect further increases in marine heatwave days under continued global warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric C J Oliver
- Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada. .,Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, 20 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia. .,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia.
| | - Markus G Donat
- Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Gate 11 Botany Street, Library Walk, Level 4, Matthews Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science, University of New South Wales, Gate 11 Botany Street, Library Walk, Level 4, Matthews Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Michael T Burrows
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, Argyll, PA37 1QA, Scotland, UK
| | - Pippa J Moore
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK.,UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Lisa V Alexander
- Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Gate 11 Botany Street, Library Walk, Level 4, Matthews Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science, University of New South Wales, Gate 11 Botany Street, Library Walk, Level 4, Matthews Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Jessica A Benthuysen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Ming Feng
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia
| | - Alex Sen Gupta
- Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Gate 11 Botany Street, Library Walk, Level 4, Matthews Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science, University of New South Wales, Gate 11 Botany Street, Library Walk, Level 4, Matthews Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | | | - Neil J Holbrook
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, 20 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Sarah E Perkins-Kirkpatrick
- Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Gate 11 Botany Street, Library Walk, Level 4, Matthews Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science, University of New South Wales, Gate 11 Botany Street, Library Walk, Level 4, Matthews Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Hillary A Scannell
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, 98105, WA, USA.,NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle, 98115, WA, USA
| | - Sandra C Straub
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
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Smale DA, Taylor JD, Coombs SH, Moore G, Cunliffe M. Community responses to seawater warming are conserved across diverse biological groupings and taxonomic resolutions. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.0534. [PMID: 28878056 PMCID: PMC5597821 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Temperature variability is a major driver of ecological pattern, with recent changes in average and extreme temperatures having significant impacts on populations, communities and ecosystems. In the marine realm, very few experiments have manipulated temperature in situ, and current understanding of temperature effects on community dynamics is limited. We developed new technology for precise seawater temperature control to examine warming effects on communities of bacteria, microbial eukaryotes (protists) and metazoans. Despite highly contrasting phylogenies, size spectra and diversity levels, the three community types responded similarly to seawater warming treatments of +3°C and +5°C, highlighting the critical and overarching importance of temperature in structuring communities. Temperature effects were detectable at coarse taxonomic resolutions and many taxa responded positively to warming, leading to increased abundances at the community-level. Novel field-based experimental approaches are essential to improve mechanistic understanding of how ocean warming will alter the structure and functioning of diverse marine communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Joe D Taylor
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK.,Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Steve H Coombs
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
| | | | - Michael Cunliffe
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK.,Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
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King NG, Wilcockson DC, Webster R, Smale DA, Hoelters LS, Moore PJ. Cumulative stress restricts niche filling potential of habitat-forming kelps in a future climate. Funct Ecol 2017; 32:288-299. [PMID: 29576672 PMCID: PMC5856065 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Climate change is driving range contractions and local population extinctions across the globe. When this affects ecosystem engineers the vacant niches left behind are likely to alter the wider ecosystem unless a similar species can fulfil them. Here, we explore the stress physiology of two coexisting kelps undergoing opposing range shifts in the Northeast Atlantic and discuss what differences in stress physiology may mean for future niche filling. We used chlorophyll florescence (Fv/Fm) and differentiation of the heat shock response (HSR) to determine the capacity of the expanding kelp, Laminaria ochroleuca, to move into the higher shore position of the retreating kelp, Laminaria digitata. We applied both single and consecutive exposures to immersed and emersed high and low temperature treatments, replicating low tide exposures experienced in summer and winter. No interspecific differences in HSR were observed which was surprising given the species’ different biogeographic distributions. However, chlorophyll florescence revealed clear differences between species with L. ochroleuca better equipped to tolerate high immersed temperatures but showed little capacity to tolerate frosts or high emersion temperatures. Many patterns observed were only apparent after consecutive exposures. Such cumulative effects have largely been overlooked in tolerance experiments on intertidal organisms despite being more representative of the stress experienced in natural habitats. We therefore suggest future experiments incorporate consecutive stress into their design. Climate change is predicted to result in fewer ground frosts and increased summer temperatures. Therefore, L. ochroleuca may be released from its summer cold limit in winter but still be prevented from moving up the shore due to desiccation in the summer. Laminaria ochroleuca will, however, likely be able to move into tidal pools. Therefore, only partial niche filling by L. ochroleuca will be possible in this system as climate change advances.
A plain language summary is available for this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan G King
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth UK
| | - David C Wilcockson
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth UK
| | - Richard Webster
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom The Laboratory Plymouth UK
| | - Laura S Hoelters
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth UK
| | - Pippa J Moore
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth UK.,Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research School of Natural Sciences Edith Cowan University Joondalup WA Australia
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40
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Epstein G, Smale DA. Undaria pinnatifida: A case study to highlight challenges in marine invasion ecology and management. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:8624-8642. [PMID: 29075477 PMCID: PMC5648660 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine invasion ecology and management have progressed significantly over the last 30 years although many knowledge gaps and challenges remain. The kelp Undaria pinnatifida, or “Wakame,” has a global non‐native range and is considered one of the world's “worst” invasive species. Since its first recorded introduction in 1971, numerous studies have been conducted on its ecology, invasive characteristics, and impacts, yet a general consensus on the best approach to its management has not yet been reached. Here, we synthesize current understanding of this highly invasive species and adopt Undaria as a case study to highlight challenges in wider marine invasion ecology and management. Invasive species such as Undaria are likely to continue to spread and become conspicuous, prominent components of coastal marine communities. While in many cases, marine invasive species have detectable deleterious impacts on recipient communities, in many others their influence is often limited and location specific. Although not yet conclusive, Undaria may cause some ecological impact, but it does not appear to drive ecosystem change in most invaded regions. Targeted management actions have also had minimal success. Further research is needed before well‐considered, evidence‐based management decisions can be made. However, if Undaria was to become officially unmanaged in parts of its non‐native range, the presence of a highly productive, habitat former with commercial value and a broad ecological niche, could have significant economic and even environmental benefit. How science and policy reacts to the continued invasion of Undaria may influence how similar marine invasive species are handled in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham Epstein
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom The Laboratory Citadel Hill Plymouth UK.,Ocean and Earth Science National Oceanography Centre Southampton University of Southampton European Way Southampton UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom The Laboratory Citadel Hill Plymouth UK
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41
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Hargrave MS, Foggo A, Pessarrodona A, Smale DA. The effects of warming on the ecophysiology of two co-existing kelp species with contrasting distributions. Oecologia 2017; 183:531-543. [PMID: 27878385 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3776-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2016] [Accepted: 11/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The northeast Atlantic has warmed significantly since the early 1980s, leading to shifts in species distributions and changes in the structure and functioning of communities and ecosystems. This study investigated the effects of increased temperature on two co-existing habitat-forming kelps: Laminaria digitata, a northern boreal species, and Laminaria ochroleuca, a southern Lusitanian species, to shed light on mechanisms underpinning responses of trailing and leading edge populations to warming. Kelp sporophytes collected from southwest United Kingdom were maintained under 3 treatments: ambient temperature (12 °C), +3 °C (15 °C) and +6 °C (18 °C) for 16 days. At higher temperatures, L. digitata showed a decline in growth rates and Fv/Fm, an increase in chemical defence production and a decrease in palatability. In contrast, L. ochroleuca demonstrated superior growth and photosynthesis at temperatures higher than current ambient levels, and was more heavily grazed. Whilst the observed decreased palatability of L. digitata held at higher temperatures could reduce top-down pressure on marginal populations, field observations of grazer densities suggest that this may be unimportant within the study system. Overall, our study suggests that shifts in trailing edge populations will be primarily driven by ecophysiological responses to high temperatures experienced during current and predicted thermal maxima, and although compensatory mechanisms may reduce top-down pressure on marginal populations, this is unlikely to be important within the current biogeographical context. Better understanding of the mechanisms underpinning climate-driven range shifts is important for habitat-forming species like kelps, which provide organic matter, create biogenic structure and alter environmental conditions for associated communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Hargrave
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Andrew Foggo
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Albert Pessarrodona
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK.
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42
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Joint I, Smale DA. Marine heatwaves and optimal temperatures for microbial assemblage activity. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2016; 93:fiw243. [PMID: 27940643 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiw243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The response of microbial assemblages to instantaneous temperature change was measured in a seasonal study of the coastal waters of the western English Channel. On 18 occasions between November 1999 and December 2000, bacterial abundance was assessed and temperature responses determined from the incorporation of 3H leucine, measured in a temperature gradient from 5°C to 38°C. Q10 values varied, being close to 2 in spring and summer but were >3 in autumn. There was a seasonal pattern in the assemblage optimum temperature (Topt), which was out of phase with sea surface temperature. In July, highest 3H-leucine incorporation rates were measured at temperatures that were only 2.8°C greater than ambient sea surface temperature but in winter, Topt was ∼20°C higher than the ambient sea surface temperature. Sea surface temperatures for the adjacent English Channel and Celtic Sea for 1982-2014 have periodically been >3°C higher than climatological mean temperatures. This suggests that discrete periods of anomalously high temperatures might be close to, or exceed, temperatures at which maximum microbial assemblage activity occurs. The frequency and magnitude of marine heatwaves are likely to increase as a consequence of anthropogenic climate change and extreme temperatures may influence the role of bacterial assemblages in biogeochemical processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Joint
- The Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- The Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
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43
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Wernberg T, Bennett S, Babcock RC, de Bettignies T, Cure K, Depczynski M, Dufois F, Fromont J, Fulton CJ, Hovey RK, Harvey ES, Holmes TH, Kendrick GA, Radford B, Santana-Garcon J, Saunders BJ, Smale DA, Thomsen MS, Tuckett CA, Tuya F, Vanderklift MA, Wilson S. Climate-driven regime shift of a temperate marine ecosystem. Science 2016; 353:169-72. [PMID: 27387951 DOI: 10.1126/science.aad8745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 435] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Ecosystem reconfigurations arising from climate-driven changes in species distributions are expected to have profound ecological, social, and economic implications. Here we reveal a rapid climate-driven regime shift of Australian temperate reef communities, which lost their defining kelp forests and became dominated by persistent seaweed turfs. After decades of ocean warming, extreme marine heat waves forced a 100-kilometer range contraction of extensive kelp forests and saw temperate species replaced by seaweeds, invertebrates, corals, and fishes characteristic of subtropical and tropical waters. This community-wide tropicalization fundamentally altered key ecological processes, suppressing the recovery of kelp forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Wernberg
- School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
| | - Scott Bennett
- School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia. Department of Environment and Agriculture, School of Science, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia. Department of Global Change Research, Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats (Universitat de les Illes Balears - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Esporles, Spain
| | - Russell C Babcock
- School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Oceans and Atmosphere, General Post Office Box 2583, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Thibaut de Bettignies
- School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia. Service du Patrimoine Naturel, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 36 Rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire CP41, Paris 75005, France
| | - Katherine Cure
- School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia. Australian Institute of Marine Science, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Martial Depczynski
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Francois Dufois
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Private Bag 5, Wembley, Western Australia 6913, Australia
| | - Jane Fromont
- Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Western Australia 6986, Australia
| | - Christopher J Fulton
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Renae K Hovey
- School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Euan S Harvey
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, School of Science, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
| | - Thomas H Holmes
- School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia. Marine Science Program, Science Division, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Kensington, Western Australia 6151, Australia
| | - Gary A Kendrick
- School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Ben Radford
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia. School of Geography and Environmental Science, The University of Western Australia, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Julia Santana-Garcon
- School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia. Department of Environment and Agriculture, School of Science, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia. Department of Global Change Research, Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats (Universitat de les Illes Balears - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Esporles, Spain
| | - Benjamin J Saunders
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, School of Science, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
| | - Dan A Smale
- School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia. School of Geography and Environmental Science, The University of Western Australia, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Mads S Thomsen
- School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia. Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Chenae A Tuckett
- School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Fernando Tuya
- Marine Ecology Group, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Mathew A Vanderklift
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Private Bag 5, Wembley, Western Australia 6913, Australia
| | - Shaun Wilson
- School of Plant Biology and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 39 Fairway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia. Marine Science Program, Science Division, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Kensington, Western Australia 6151, Australia
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Sunday JM, Pecl GT, Frusher S, Hobday AJ, Hill N, Holbrook NJ, Edgar GJ, Stuart-Smith R, Barrett N, Wernberg T, Watson RA, Smale DA, Fulton EA, Slawinski D, Feng M, Radford BT, Thompson PA, Bates AE. Species traits and climate velocity explain geographic range shifts in an ocean-warming hotspot. Ecol Lett 2015; 18:944-53. [PMID: 26189556 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Revised: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Species' ranges are shifting globally in response to climate warming, with substantial variability among taxa, even within regions. Relationships between range dynamics and intrinsic species traits may be particularly apparent in the ocean, where temperature more directly shapes species' distributions. Here, we test for a role of species traits and climate velocity in driving range extensions in the ocean-warming hotspot of southeast Australia. Climate velocity explained some variation in range shifts, however, including species traits more than doubled the variation explained. Swimming ability, omnivory and latitudinal range size all had positive relationships with range extension rate, supporting hypotheses that increased dispersal capacity and ecological generalism promote extensions. We find independent support for the hypothesis that species with narrow latitudinal ranges are limited by factors other than climate. Our findings suggest that small-ranging species are in double jeopardy, with limited ability to escape warming and greater intrinsic vulnerability to stochastic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Sunday
- Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 2212 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.,Earth to Ocean Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Gretta T Pecl
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, Australia
| | - Stewart Frusher
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, Australia
| | | | - Nicole Hill
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, Australia
| | - Neil J Holbrook
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, Australia
| | - Graham J Edgar
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, Australia
| | - Rick Stuart-Smith
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, Australia
| | - Neville Barrett
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, Australia
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- School of Plant Biology & UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, Australia.,Australian Institute of Marine Science, 39 Fairway, Crawley, 6009, Australia
| | - Reg A Watson
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, Australia
| | - Dan A Smale
- The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | | | - Dirk Slawinski
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Floreat, 6014, WA, Australia
| | - Ming Feng
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Floreat, 6014, WA, Australia
| | - Ben T Radford
- School of Plant Biology & UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, Australia.,Australian Institute of Marine Science, 39 Fairway, Crawley, 6009, Australia.,School of Earth and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, Australia
| | | | - Amanda E Bates
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, Australia.,Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
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45
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Vergés A, Steinberg PD, Hay ME, Poore AGB, Campbell AH, Ballesteros E, Heck KL, Booth DJ, Coleman MA, Feary DA, Figueira W, Langlois T, Marzinelli EM, Mizerek T, Mumby PJ, Nakamura Y, Roughan M, van Sebille E, Gupta AS, Smale DA, Tomas F, Wernberg T, Wilson SK. The tropicalization of temperate marine ecosystems: climate-mediated changes in herbivory and community phase shifts. Proc Biol Sci 2015; 281:20140846. [PMID: 25009065 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.0846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 298] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate-driven changes in biotic interactions can profoundly alter ecological communities, particularly when they impact foundation species. In marine systems, changes in herbivory and the consequent loss of dominant habitat forming species can result in dramatic community phase shifts, such as from coral to macroalgal dominance when tropical fish herbivory decreases, and from algal forests to 'barrens' when temperate urchin grazing increases. Here, we propose a novel phase-shift away from macroalgal dominance caused by tropical herbivores extending their range into temperate regions. We argue that this phase shift is facilitated by poleward-flowing boundary currents that are creating ocean warming hotspots around the globe, enabling the range expansion of tropical species and increasing their grazing rates in temperate areas. Overgrazing of temperate macroalgae by tropical herbivorous fishes has already occurred in Japan and the Mediterranean. Emerging evidence suggests similar phenomena are occurring in other temperate regions, with increasing occurrence of tropical fishes on temperate reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Vergés
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences, Chowder Bay Road, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia
| | - Peter D Steinberg
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences, Chowder Bay Road, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Technical University, Singapore 637551, Republic of Singapore
| | - Mark E Hay
- School of Biology and Aquatic Chemical Ecology Center, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Alistair G B Poore
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences, Chowder Bay Road, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia
| | - Alexandra H Campbell
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences, Chowder Bay Road, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia
| | - Enric Ballesteros
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes-CSIC, Blanes, Girona 17300, Spain
| | - Kenneth L Heck
- Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory and University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688-0002, USA
| | - David J Booth
- Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences, Chowder Bay Road, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia School of the Environment, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Melinda A Coleman
- Department of Primary Industries, NSW Fisheries, PO Box 4321, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 2450, Australia
| | - David A Feary
- Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences, Chowder Bay Road, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia School of the Environment, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Will Figueira
- Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences, Chowder Bay Road, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Tim Langlois
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Ezequiel M Marzinelli
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences, Chowder Bay Road, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia
| | - Toni Mizerek
- Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences, Chowder Bay Road, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Peter J Mumby
- Marine Spatial Ecology Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Yohei Nakamura
- Graduate School of Kuroshio Science, Kochi University, Kochi 783-8502, Japan
| | - Moninya Roughan
- School of Mathematics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences, Chowder Bay Road, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia
| | - Erik van Sebille
- Climate Change Research Centre and ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Alex Sen Gupta
- Climate Change Research Centre and ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Dan A Smale
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Fiona Tomas
- Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados (CSIC-UIB), Esporles, Illes Balears 07190, Spain Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-3803, USA
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Shaun K Wilson
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife, Kensington, Western Australia 6151, Australia
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46
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Smale DA, Yunnie ALE, Vance T, Widdicombe S. Disentangling the impacts of heat wave magnitude, duration and timing on the structure and diversity of sessile marine assemblages. PeerJ 2015; 3:e863. [PMID: 25834773 PMCID: PMC4380158 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 03/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Extreme climatic events, including heat waves (HWs) and severe storms, influence the structure of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Despite growing consensus that anthropogenic climate change will increase the frequency, duration and magnitude of extreme events, current understanding of their impact on communities and ecosystems is limited. Here, we used sessile invertebrates on settlement panels as model assemblages to examine the influence of HW magnitude, duration and timing on marine biodiversity patterns. Settlement panels were deployed in a marina in southwest UK for ≥5 weeks, to allow sufficient time for colonisation and development of sessile fauna, before being subjected to simulated HWs in a mesocosm facility. Replicate panel assemblages were held at ambient sea temperature (∼17 °C), or +3 °C or +5 °C for a period of 1 or 2 weeks, before being returned to the marina for a recovery phase of 2-3 weeks. The 10-week experiment was repeated 3 times, staggered throughout summer, to examine the influence of HW timing on community impacts. Contrary to our expectations, the warming events had no clear, consistent impacts on the abundance of species or the structure of sessile assemblages. With the exception of 1 high-magnitude long-duration HW event, warming did not alter not assemblage structure, favour non-native species, nor lead to changes in richness, abundance or biomass of sessile faunal assemblages. The observed lack of effect may have been caused by a combination of (1) the use of relatively low magnitude, realistic heat wave treatments compared to previous studies (2), the greater resilience of mature adult sessile fauna compared to recruits and juveniles, and (3) the high thermal tolerance of the model organisms (i.e., temperate fouling species, principally bryozoans and ascidians). Our study demonstrates the importance of using realistic treatments when manipulating climate change variables, and also suggests that biogeographical context may influence community-level responses to short-term warming events, which are predicted to increase in severity in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory , Citadel Hill, Plymouth , UK
| | - Anna L E Yunnie
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory , Citadel Hill, Plymouth , UK
| | - Thomas Vance
- PML Applications Ltd, Prospect Place , Plymouth , UK
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47
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Marzinelli EM, Williams SB, Babcock RC, Barrett NS, Johnson CR, Jordan A, Kendrick GA, Pizarro OR, Smale DA, Steinberg PD. Large-scale geographic variation in distribution and abundance of Australian deep-water kelp forests. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0118390. [PMID: 25693066 PMCID: PMC4334971 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the significance of marine habitat-forming organisms, little is known about their large-scale distribution and abundance in deeper waters, where they are difficult to access. Such information is necessary to develop sound conservation and management strategies. Kelps are main habitat-formers in temperate reefs worldwide; however, these habitats are highly sensitive to environmental change. The kelp Ecklonia radiate is the major habitat-forming organism on subtidal reefs in temperate Australia. Here, we provide large-scale ecological data encompassing the latitudinal distribution along the continent of these kelp forests, which is a necessary first step towards quantitative inferences about the effects of climatic change and other stressors on these valuable habitats. We used the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) facility of Australia's Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) to survey 157,000 m2 of seabed, of which ca 13,000 m2 were used to quantify kelp covers at multiple spatial scales (10-100 m to 100-1,000 km) and depths (15-60 m) across several regions ca 2-6° latitude apart along the East and West coast of Australia. We investigated the large-scale geographic variation in distribution and abundance of deep-water kelp (>15 m depth) and their relationships with physical variables. Kelp cover generally increased with latitude despite great variability at smaller spatial scales. Maximum depth of kelp occurrence was 40-50 m. Kelp latitudinal distribution along the continent was most strongly related to water temperature and substratum availability. This extensive survey data, coupled with ongoing AUV missions, will allow for the detection of long-term shifts in the distribution and abundance of habitat-forming kelp and the organisms they support on a continental scale, and provide information necessary for successful implementation and management of conservation reserves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezequiel M. Marzinelli
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stefan B. Williams
- Australian Centre for Field Robotics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Neville S. Barrett
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Craig R. Johnson
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Alan Jordan
- Department of Primary Industries, New South Wales Government, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Nelson Bay, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gary A. Kendrick
- Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Oscar R. Pizarro
- Australian Centre for Field Robotics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dan A. Smale
- Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Peter D. Steinberg
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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48
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Bates AE, Bird TJ, Stuart‐Smith RD, Wernberg T, Sunday JM, Barrett NS, Edgar GJ, Frusher S, Hobday AJ, Pecl GT, Smale DA, McCarthy M. Distinguishing geographical range shifts from artefacts of detectability and sampling effort. DIVERS DISTRIB 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E. Bates
- Ocean and Earth Sciences National Oceanography Centre Southampton University of Southampton Waterfront Campus Southampton SO14 3ZH UK
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Tomas J. Bird
- School of Botany The University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. 3010 Australia
- Geography and Environment University of Southampton Southampton SO17 1BJ UK
| | - Rick D. Stuart‐Smith
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology University of Western Australia Crawley WA 6009 Australia
| | - Jennifer M. Sunday
- Earth to Ocean Research Group Department of Biological Sciences Simon Fraser University Burnaby BC V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Neville S. Barrett
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Graham J. Edgar
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Stewart Frusher
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Alistair J. Hobday
- Climate Adaptation Flagship CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Hobart TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Gretta T. Pecl
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Dan A. Smale
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology University of Western Australia Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom Plymouth PL1 2PB UK
| | - Michael McCarthy
- School of Botany The University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. 3010 Australia
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49
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Brodie J, Williamson CJ, Smale DA, Kamenos NA, Mieszkowska N, Santos R, Cunliffe M, Steinke M, Yesson C, Anderson KM, Asnaghi V, Brownlee C, Burdett HL, Burrows MT, Collins S, Donohue PJC, Harvey B, Foggo A, Noisette F, Nunes J, Ragazzola F, Raven JA, Schmidt DN, Suggett D, Teichberg M, Hall-Spencer JM. The future of the northeast Atlantic benthic flora in a high CO2 world. Ecol Evol 2014; 4:2787-98. [PMID: 25077027 PMCID: PMC4113300 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Revised: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Seaweed and seagrass communities in the northeast Atlantic have been profoundly impacted by humans, and the rate of change is accelerating rapidly due to runaway CO2 emissions and mounting pressures on coastlines associated with human population growth and increased consumption of finite resources. Here, we predict how rapid warming and acidification are likely to affect benthic flora and coastal ecosystems of the northeast Atlantic in this century, based on global evidence from the literature as interpreted by the collective knowledge of the authorship. We predict that warming will kill off kelp forests in the south and that ocean acidification will remove maerl habitat in the north. Seagrasses will proliferate, and associated epiphytes switch from calcified algae to diatoms and filamentous species. Invasive species will thrive in niches liberated by loss of native species and spread via exponential development of artificial marine structures. Combined impacts of seawater warming, ocean acidification, and increased storminess may replace structurally diverse seaweed canopies, with associated calcified and noncalcified flora, with simple habitats dominated by noncalcified, turf-forming seaweeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliet Brodie
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History MuseumCromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Christopher J Williamson
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History MuseumCromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
- School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff UniversityMain Building, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3YE, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the UKCitadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of SouthamptonWaterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Nicholas A Kamenos
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of GlasgowGlasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Nova Mieszkowska
- Marine Biological Association of the UKCitadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Rui Santos
- Marine Plant Ecology Research Group (ALGAE), Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of AlgarveCampus of Gambelas, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal
| | - Michael Cunliffe
- Marine Biological Association of the UKCitadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Michael Steinke
- School of Biological Sciences, University of EssexColchester, CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Christopher Yesson
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History MuseumCromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of LondonRegent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Kathryn M Anderson
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia#4200-6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | | | - Colin Brownlee
- Marine Biological Association of the UKCitadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Heidi L Burdett
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of St AndrewsSt Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AL, UK
- Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St AndrewsSt Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, UK
| | | | - Sinead Collins
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of EdinburghThe King's Building, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK
| | - Penelope J C Donohue
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of GlasgowGlasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Ben Harvey
- Institute of Biology, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth UniversityAberystwyth, UK
| | - Andrew Foggo
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, School of Marine Sciences and Engineering, Plymouth UniversityPL4 8AA, UK
| | - Fanny Noisette
- CNRS, UMR7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, Roscoff Cedex, 29688, France
- UPMC Univ. Paris 6, UMR 7144Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, Roscoff Cedex, 29688, France
| | - Joana Nunes
- Plymouth Marine LaboratoryProspect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK
| | - Federica Ragazzola
- School of Earth Sciences, University of BristolWills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, UK
| | - John A Raven
- Division of Plant Science, University of Dundee at the James Hutton InstituteInvergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology SydneyUltimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Daniela N Schmidt
- School of Earth Sciences, University of BristolWills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, UK
| | - David Suggett
- School of Biological Sciences, University of EssexColchester, CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Mirta Teichberg
- Leibniz-Zentrum für Marine TropenökologieFahrenheitstraße 6, Bremen, D-28359, Germany
| | - Jason M Hall-Spencer
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, School of Marine Sciences and Engineering, Plymouth UniversityPL4 8AA, UK
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50
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Smale DA, Burrows MT, Moore P, O'Connor N, Hawkins SJ. Threats and knowledge gaps for ecosystem services provided by kelp forests: a northeast Atlantic perspective. Ecol Evol 2013; 3:4016-38. [PMID: 24198956 PMCID: PMC3810891 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2013] [Revised: 08/13/2013] [Accepted: 08/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Kelp forests along temperate and polar coastlines represent some of most diverse and productive habitats on the Earth. Here, we synthesize information from >60 years of research on the structure and functioning of kelp forest habitats in European waters, with particular emphasis on the coasts of UK and Ireland, which represents an important biogeographic transition zone that is subjected to multiple threats and stressors. We collated existing data on kelp distribution and abundance and reanalyzed these data to describe the structure of kelp forests along a spatial gradient spanning more than 10° of latitude. We then examined ecological goods and services provided by kelp forests, including elevated secondary production, nutrient cycling, energy capture and flow, coastal defense, direct applications, and biodiversity repositories, before discussing current and future threats posed to kelp forests and identifying key knowledge gaps. Recent evidence unequivocally demonstrates that the structure of kelp forests in the NE Atlantic is changing in response to climate- and non-climate-related stressors, which will have major implications for the structure and functioning of coastal ecosystems. However, kelp-dominated habitats along much of the NE Atlantic coastline have been chronically understudied over recent decades in comparison with other regions such as Australasia and North America. The paucity of field-based research currently impedes our ability to conserve and manage these important ecosystems. Targeted observational and experimental research conducted over large spatial and temporal scales is urgently needed to address these knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan A Smale
- The Laboratory, Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK ; Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
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