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Olin AB, Bergström U, Bodin Ö, Sundblad G, Eriksson BK, Erlandsson M, Fredriksson R, Eklöf JS. Predation and spatial connectivity interact to shape ecosystem resilience to an ongoing regime shift. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1304. [PMID: 38347008 PMCID: PMC10861472 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45713-1] [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: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Ecosystem regime shifts can have severe ecological and economic consequences, making it a top priority to understand how to make systems more resilient. Theory predicts that spatial connectivity and the local environment interact to shape resilience, but empirical studies are scarce. Here, we use >7000 fish samplings from the Baltic Sea coast to test this prediction in an ongoing, spatially propagating shift in dominance from predatory fish to an opportunistic mesopredator, with cascading effects throughout the food web. After controlling for the influence of other drivers (including increasing mesopredator densities), we find that predatory fish habitat connectivity increases resilience to the shift, but only when densities of fish-eating top predators (seals, cormorants) are low. Resilience also increases with temperature, likely through boosted predatory fish growth and recruitment. These findings confirm theoretical predictions that spatial connectivity and the local environment can together shape resilience to regime shifts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes B Olin
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Ulf Bergström
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Örjan Bodin
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Göran Sundblad
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Britas Klemens Eriksson
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Mårten Erlandsson
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ronny Fredriksson
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan S Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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2
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Eklöf JS. Ecosystem effects of sea otters limit coastal erosion. Nature 2024; 626:35-36. [PMID: 38297169 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-024-00073-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
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3
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Moreira-Saporiti A, Teichberg M, Garnier E, Cornelissen JHC, Alcoverro T, Björk M, Boström C, Dattolo E, Eklöf JS, Hasler-Sheetal H, Marbà N, Marín-Guirao L, Meysick L, Olivé I, Reusch TBH, Ruocco M, Silva J, Sousa AI, Procaccini G, Santos R. A trait-based framework for seagrass ecology: Trends and prospects. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1088643. [PMID: 37021321 PMCID: PMC10067889 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1088643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
In the last three decades, quantitative approaches that rely on organism traits instead of taxonomy have advanced different fields of ecological research through establishing the mechanistic links between environmental drivers, functional traits, and ecosystem functions. A research subfield where trait-based approaches have been frequently used but poorly synthesized is the ecology of seagrasses; marine angiosperms that colonized the ocean 100M YA and today make up productive yet threatened coastal ecosystems globally. Here, we compiled a comprehensive trait-based response-effect framework (TBF) which builds on previous concepts and ideas, including the use of traits for the study of community assembly processes, from dispersal and response to abiotic and biotic factors, to ecosystem function and service provision. We then apply this framework to the global seagrass literature, using a systematic review to identify the strengths, gaps, and opportunities of the field. Seagrass trait research has mostly focused on the effect of environmental drivers on traits, i.e., "environmental filtering" (72%), whereas links between traits and functions are less common (26.9%). Despite the richness of trait-based data available, concepts related to TBFs are rare in the seagrass literature (15% of studies), including the relative importance of neutral and niche assembly processes, or the influence of trait dominance or complementarity in ecosystem function provision. These knowledge gaps indicate ample potential for further research, highlighting the need to understand the links between the unique traits of seagrasses and the ecosystem services they provide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Moreira-Saporiti
- Faculty for Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Algae and Seagrass Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
| | - Mirta Teichberg
- Algae and Seagrass Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
| | - Eric Garnier
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Mats Björk
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Emanuela Dattolo
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Johan S. Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Nuria Marbà
- Global Change Research Group, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB), Esporles Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Lázaro Marín-Guirao
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
- Oceanographic Center of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), Murcia, Spain
| | - Lukas Meysick
- Åbo Akademi University, Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo, Finland
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB) at the University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Irene Olivé
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Thorsten B. H. Reusch
- Marine Evolutionary Ecology, Division of Marine Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Miriam Ruocco
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - João Silva
- Centro de Ciências do Mar, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
| | - Ana I. Sousa
- CESAM – Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Gabriele Procaccini
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Rui Santos
- Centro de Ciências do Mar, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
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4
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Yanos CL, Haanstra EP, Colgan Carey F, Passmore SA, Eklöf JS, Bergström U, Hansen JP, Fontaine MC, Maan ME, Eriksson BK. Predator biomass and vegetation influence the coastal distribution of threespine stickleback morphotypes. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:12485-12496. [PMID: 34594514 PMCID: PMC8462182 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Intraspecific niche differentiation can contribute to population persistence in changing environments. Following declines in large predatory fish, eutrophication, and climate change, there has been a major increase in the abundance of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) in the Baltic Sea. Two morphotype groups with different levels of body armor-completely plated and incompletely plated-are common in coastal Baltic Sea habitats. The morphotypes are similar in shape, size, and other morphological characteristics and live as one apparently intermixed population. Variation in resource use between the groups could indicate a degree of niche segregation that could aid population persistence in the face of further environmental change. To assess whether morphotypes exhibit niche segregation associated with resource and/or habitat exploitation and predator avoidance, we conducted a field survey of stickleback morphotypes, and biotic and abiotic ecosystem structure, in two habitat types within shallow coastal bays in the Baltic Sea: deeper central waters and shallow near-shore waters. In the deeper waters, the proportion of completely plated stickleback was greater in habitats with greater biomass of two piscivorous fish: perch (Perca fluviatilis) and pike (Esox lucius). In the shallow waters, the proportion of completely plated stickleback was greater in habitats with greater coverage of habitat-forming vegetation. Our results suggest niche segregation between morphotypes, which may contribute to the continued success of stickleback in coastal Baltic Sea habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey L. Yanos
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life‐SciencesGELIFESUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Eeke P. Haanstra
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life‐SciencesGELIFESUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Fiona Colgan Carey
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life‐SciencesGELIFESUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Sorsha A. Passmore
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life‐SciencesGELIFESUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Johan S. Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant SciencesStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
| | - Ulf Bergström
- Department of Aquatic ResourcesSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | | | - Michael C. Fontaine
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life‐SciencesGELIFESUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- Unité Mixe de Recherche MIVEGEC et Centre de Recherche en Ecologie et Evolution de la SantéCentre IRD de MontpellierCNRSIRD 229Université de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Martine E. Maan
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life‐SciencesGELIFESUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Britas Klemens Eriksson
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life‐SciencesGELIFESUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
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Moksnes P, Röhr ME, Holmer M, Eklöf JS, Eriander L, Infantes E, Boström C. Major impacts and societal costs of seagrass loss on sediment carbon and nitrogen stocks. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Per‐Olav Moksnes
- Department of Marine Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg S‐40530 Sweden
| | - Maria Emilia Röhr
- Environmental and Marine Biology Åbo Akademi University Tykistökatu 6 Turku 20520 Finland
| | - Marianne Holmer
- Department of Biology University of Southern Denmark Campusvej 55 Odense M DK 5230 Denmark
| | - Johan S. Eklöf
- Department of Ecology Environment and Plant Sciences Stockholm University Svante Arrhenius väg 20A, S‐106 91 Stockholm Sweden
| | - Louise Eriander
- Department of Marine Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg S‐40530 Sweden
| | - Eduardo Infantes
- Department of Marine Sciences University of Gothenburg Kristineberg S‐45178 Sweden
| | - Christoffer Boström
- Environmental and Marine Biology Åbo Akademi University Tykistökatu 6 Turku 20520 Finland
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6
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Eriksson BK, Yanos C, Bourlat SJ, Donadi S, Fontaine MC, Hansen JP, Jakubavičiūtė E, Kiragosyan K, Maan ME, Merilä J, Austin ÅN, Olsson J, Reiss K, Sundblad G, Bergström U, Eklöf JS. Habitat segregation of plate phenotypes in a rapidly expanding population of three‐spined stickleback. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Britas Klemens Eriksson
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life‐Sciences, GELIFES University of Groningen Nijenborgh 7 Groningen9747 AGThe Netherlands
| | - Casey Yanos
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life‐Sciences, GELIFES University of Groningen Nijenborgh 7 Groningen9747 AGThe Netherlands
| | - Sarah J. Bourlat
- Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig Adenauerallee 160 Bonn53113Germany
| | - Serena Donadi
- Department of Aquatic Resources Swedish University of Agricultural Science Drottningholm Sweden
| | - Michael C. Fontaine
- MIVEGEC CNRS IRD Univ. Montpellier Montpellier France
- Centre de Recherche en Ecologie et Evolution de la Santé (CREES) Montpellier France
| | | | | | - Karine Kiragosyan
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life‐Sciences, GELIFES University of Groningen Nijenborgh 7 Groningen9747 AGThe Netherlands
| | - Martine E. Maan
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life‐Sciences, GELIFES University of Groningen Nijenborgh 7 Groningen9747 AGThe Netherlands
| | - Juha Merilä
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme Faculty Biological & Environmental Sciences University of Helsinki PO Box 65 HelsinkiFI‐00014Finland
- Research Division of Ecology & Biodiversity University of Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Åsa N. Austin
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences Stockholm University Sweden
| | - Jens Olsson
- Department of Aquatic Resources Swedish University of Agricultural Science Drottningholm Sweden
| | - Katrin Reiss
- Faculty for Biosciences and Aquaculture Nord University Bodø8049Norway
| | - Göran Sundblad
- Department of Aquatic Resources Swedish University of Agricultural Science Drottningholm Sweden
| | - Ulf Bergström
- Department of Aquatic Resources Swedish University of Agricultural Science Drottningholm Sweden
| | - Johan S. Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences Stockholm University Sweden
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7
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van der Heide T, Angelini C, de Fouw J, Eklöf JS. Facultative mutualisms: A double-edged sword for foundation species in the face of anthropogenic global change. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:29-44. [PMID: 33437413 PMCID: PMC7790659 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecosystems worldwide depend on habitat-forming foundation species that often facilitate themselves with increasing density and patch size, while also engaging in facultative mutualisms. Anthropogenic global change (e.g., climate change, eutrophication, overharvest, land-use change), however, is causing rapid declines of foundation species-structured ecosystems, often typified by sudden collapse. Although disruption of obligate mutualisms involving foundation species is known to precipitate collapse (e.g., coral bleaching), how facultative mutualisms (i.e., context-dependent, nonbinding reciprocal interactions) affect ecosystem resilience is uncertain. Here, we synthesize recent advancements and combine these with model analyses supported by real-world examples, to propose that facultative mutualisms may pose a double-edged sword for foundation species. We suggest that by amplifying self-facilitative feedbacks by foundation species, facultative mutualisms can increase foundation species' resistance to stress from anthropogenic impact. Simultaneously, however, mutualism dependency can generate or exacerbate bistability, implying a potential for sudden collapse when the mutualism's buffering capacity is exceeded, while recovery requires conditions to improve beyond the initial collapse point (hysteresis). Thus, our work emphasizes the importance of acknowledging facultative mutualisms for conservation and restoration of foundation species-structured ecosystems, but highlights the potential risk of relying on mutualisms in the face of global change. We argue that significant caveats remain regarding the determination of these feedbacks, and suggest empirical manipulation across stress gradients as a way forward to identify related nonlinear responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tjisse van der Heide
- Department of Coastal SystemsRoyal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht UniversityDen BurgThe Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology GroupGroningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Christine Angelini
- Department of Environmental Engineering SciencesEngineering School for Sustainable Infrastructure and the EnvironmentUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
| | - Jimmy de Fouw
- Department of Aquatic Ecology & Environmental BiologyInstitute for Water and Wetland ResearchRadboud UniversityNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Johan S. Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant SciencesStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
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8
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Alonso Aller E, Eklöf JS, Gullström M, Kloiber U, Linderholm HW, Nordlund LM. Temporal variability of a protected multispecific tropical seagrass meadow in response to environmental change. Environ Monit Assess 2019; 191:774. [PMID: 31773384 PMCID: PMC6879446 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7977-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In a changing environment, there is an increasing interest to monitor ecosystems to understand their responses to environmental change. Seagrass meadows are highly important ecosystems that are under constant pressure from human activities and climate impacts, with marked declines observed worldwide. Despite increasing efforts, monitoring of multispecific tropical seagrass meadows is scarce, particularly in low-income regions. Based on data from a monitoring programme in a marine protected area in Zanzibar (Tanzania), we assessed temporal changes in seagrass cover and species composition during a 10-year period in relation to local variability in environmental variables. We observed a strong, gradual decline in seagrass cover and changes in species composition, followed by a period of recovery. However, the timing and length of these temporal patterns varied in space (between transects). Multiple environmental variables-cloud cover, temperature, storm occurrence, sunspot activity, and tidal amplitude and height-influenced seagrass cover, although only to a minor extent, suggesting that the monitored seagrass meadow may be influenced by other unmeasured factors (e.g. water currents and sediment movement). Our results show that seagrass meadows can be highly dynamic at small (10-50 m) spatial scales, even in the absence of major local anthropogenic impacts. Our findings suggest that high-resolution monitoring programmes can be highly valuable for the detection of temporal changes in multispecific seagrass meadows; however, to understand the causes of change, there is a need of long-term (> 10 years) data series that include direct measurements of environmental variables and extreme events.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Alonso Aller
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - J S Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Gullström
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Kristineberg, Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
| | - U Kloiber
- Chumbe Island Coral Park (CHICOP), Zanzibar, Tanzania
| | - H W Linderholm
- Regional Climate Group, Department of Earth Sciences, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - L M Nordlund
- Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, Department of Earth Sciences, Campus Gotland, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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9
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Reynolds PL, Stachowicz JJ, Hovel K, Boström C, Boyer K, Cusson M, Eklöf JS, Engel FG, Engelen AH, Eriksson BK, Fodrie FJ, Griffin JN, Hereu CM, Hori M, Hanley TC, Ivanov M, Jorgensen P, Kruschel C, Lee KS, McGlathery K, Moksnes PO, Nakaoka M, O'Connor MI, O'Connor NE, Orth RJ, Rossi F, Ruesink J, Sotka EE, Thormar J, Tomas F, Unsworth RKF, Whalen MA, Duffy JE. Latitude, temperature, and habitat complexity predict predation pressure in eelgrass beds across the Northern Hemisphere. Ecology 2019; 99:29-35. [PMID: 29083472 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Latitudinal gradients in species interactions are widely cited as potential causes or consequences of global patterns of biodiversity. However, mechanistic studies documenting changes in interactions across broad geographic ranges are limited. We surveyed predation intensity on common prey (live amphipods and gastropods) in communities of eelgrass (Zostera marina) at 48 sites across its Northern Hemisphere range, encompassing over 37° of latitude and four continental coastlines. Predation on amphipods declined with latitude on all coasts but declined more strongly along western ocean margins where temperature gradients are steeper. Whereas in situ water temperature at the time of the experiments was uncorrelated with predation, mean annual temperature strongly positively predicted predation, suggesting a more complex mechanism than simply increased metabolic activity at the time of predation. This large-scale biogeographic pattern was modified by local habitat characteristics; predation declined with higher shoot density both among and within sites. Predation rates on gastropods, by contrast, were uniformly low and varied little among sites. The high replication and geographic extent of our study not only provides additional evidence to support biogeographic variation in predation intensity, but also insight into the mechanisms that relate temperature and biogeographic gradients in species interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela L Reynolds
- Data Science Initiative, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA.,Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA.,Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia, 23062, USA
| | - John J Stachowicz
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Kevin Hovel
- Department of Biology, Coastal & Marine Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, 92182, USA
| | | | - Katharyn Boyer
- San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, 94132, USA
| | - Mathieu Cusson
- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, Québec, G7H 2B1, Canada
| | | | - Friederike G Engel
- University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel, Germany
| | | | | | - F Joel Fodrie
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, North Carolina, 28557, USA
| | - John N Griffin
- College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Clara M Hereu
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Masakazu Hori
- National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea (FEIS) Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA) Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, 739-0452, Japan
| | - Torrance C Hanley
- Northeastern University Marine Science Center, Nahant, Massachusetts, 01908, USA
| | | | - Pablo Jorgensen
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.,Geomare, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
| | | | | | | | - Per-Olav Moksnes
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Masahiro Nakaoka
- Akkeshi Marine Station, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Akkeshi, Hokkaido, 088-1113, Japan
| | - Mary I O'Connor
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | | | - Robert J Orth
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia, 23062, USA
| | - Francesca Rossi
- CNRS, UMR 9190 MARBEC, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Erik E Sotka
- College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina, 29412, USA
| | | | - Fiona Tomas
- Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA.,Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados, Illes Balears UIB-CSIC, Spain
| | | | - Matthew A Whalen
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - J Emmett Duffy
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia, 23062, USA.,Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network, Smithsonian Institution, Edgewater, Maryland, 21037, USA
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10
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Unsworth RKF, McKenzie LJ, Collier CJ, Cullen-Unsworth LC, Duarte CM, Eklöf JS, Jarvis JC, Jones BL, Nordlund LM. Global challenges for seagrass conservation. Ambio 2019; 48:801-815. [PMID: 30456457 PMCID: PMC6541581 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-018-1115-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Seagrasses, flowering marine plants that form underwater meadows, play a significant global role in supporting food security, mitigating climate change and supporting biodiversity. Although progress is being made to conserve seagrass meadows in select areas, most meadows remain under significant pressure resulting in a decline in meadow condition and loss of function. Effective management strategies need to be implemented to reverse seagrass loss and enhance their fundamental role in coastal ocean habitats. Here we propose that seagrass meadows globally face a series of significant common challenges that must be addressed from a multifaceted and interdisciplinary perspective in order to achieve global conservation of seagrass meadows. The six main global challenges to seagrass conservation are (1) a lack of awareness of what seagrasses are and a limited societal recognition of the importance of seagrasses in coastal systems; (2) the status of many seagrass meadows are unknown, and up-to-date information on status and condition is essential; (3) understanding threatening activities at local scales is required to target management actions accordingly; (4) expanding our understanding of interactions between the socio-economic and ecological elements of seagrass systems is essential to balance the needs of people and the planet; (5) seagrass research should be expanded to generate scientific inquiries that support conservation actions; (6) increased understanding of the linkages between seagrass and climate change is required to adapt conservation accordingly. We also explicitly outline a series of proposed policy actions that will enable the scientific and conservation community to rise to these challenges. We urge the seagrass conservation community to engage stakeholders from local resource users to international policy-makers to address the challenges outlined here, in order to secure the future of the world's seagrass ecosystems and maintain the vital services which they supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard K. F. Unsworth
- Seagrass Ecosystem Research Group, College of Science, Swansea University, Wallace Building, Swansea, SA2 8PP UK
- Project Seagrass, 33 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3BA UK
| | - Len J. McKenzie
- Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
| | - Catherine J. Collier
- Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
| | - Leanne C. Cullen-Unsworth
- Project Seagrass, 33 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3BA UK
- Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University, 33 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3BA UK
| | - Carlos M. Duarte
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900 Saudi Arabia
| | - Johan S. Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jessie C. Jarvis
- Department of Biology & Marine Biology, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 South College Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403 USA
| | - Benjamin L. Jones
- Project Seagrass, 33 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3BA UK
- Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University, 33 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3BA UK
| | - Lina M. Nordlund
- Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, NRHU Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Campus Gotland, Sweden
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11
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Hansen JP, Sundblad G, Bergström U, Austin ÅN, Donadi S, Eriksson BK, Eklöf JS. Recreational boating degrades vegetation important for fish recruitment. Ambio 2019; 48:539-551. [PMID: 30167979 PMCID: PMC6486933 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-018-1088-x] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Recreational boating increases globally and associated moorings are often placed in vegetated habitats important for fish recruitment. Meanwhile, assessments of the effects of boating on vegetation, and potential effects on associated fish assemblages are rare. Here, we analysed (i) the effect of small-boat marinas on vegetation structure, and (ii) juvenile fish abundance in relation to vegetation cover in shallow wave-sheltered coastal inlets. We found marinas to have lower vegetation cover and height, and a different species composition, compared to control inlets. This effect became stronger with increasing berth density. Moreover, there was a clear positive relationship between vegetation cover and fish abundance. We conclude that recreational boating and related moorings are associated with reduced cover of aquatic vegetation constituting important habitats for juvenile fish. We therefore recommend that coastal constructions and associated boating should be allocated to more disturbance tolerant environments (e.g. naturally wave-exposed shores), thereby minimizing negative environmental impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joakim P. Hansen
- Baltic Sea Centre, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Göran Sundblad
- AquaBiota Water Research, Löjtnantsgatan 25, 115 50 Stockholm, Sweden
- Present Address: Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Freshwater Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Stångholmsvägen 2, 178 93 Drottningholm, Sweden
| | - Ulf Bergström
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Coastal Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Skolgatan 6, 742 42 Öregrund, Sweden
| | - Åsa N. Austin
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP), Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Serena Donadi
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP), Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
- Present Address: Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Freshwater Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Stångholmsvägen 2, 178 93 Drottningholm, Sweden
| | - Britas Klemens Eriksson
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life-Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Johan S. Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP), Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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12
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Donadi S, Austin ÅN, Bergström U, Eriksson BK, Hansen JP, Jacobson P, Sundblad G, van Regteren M, Eklöf JS. A cross-scale trophic cascade from large predatory fish to algae in coastal ecosystems. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.0045. [PMID: 28724727 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [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: 01/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Trophic cascades occur in many ecosystems, but the factors regulating them are still elusive. We suggest that an overlooked factor is that trophic interactions (TIs) are often scale-dependent and possibly interact across spatial scales. To explore the role of spatial scale for trophic cascades, and particularly the occurrence of cross-scale interactions (CSIs), we collected and analysed food-web data from 139 stations across 32 bays in the Baltic Sea. We found evidence of a four-level trophic cascade linking TIs across two spatial scales: at bay scale, piscivores (perch and pike) controlled mesopredators (three-spined stickleback), which in turn negatively affected epifaunal grazers. At station scale (within bays), grazers on average suppressed epiphytic algae, and indirectly benefitted habitat-forming vegetation. Moreover, the direction and strength of the grazer-algae relationship at station scale depended on the piscivore biomass at bay scale, indicating a cross-scale interaction effect, potentially caused by a shift in grazer assemblage composition. In summary, the trophic cascade from piscivores to algae appears to involve TIs that occur at, but also interact across, different spatial scales. Considering scale-dependence in general, and CSIs in particular, could therefore enhance our understanding of trophic cascades.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Donadi
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden .,Baltic Sea Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Å N Austin
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - U Bergström
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Öregrund, Sweden
| | - B K Eriksson
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life-Sciences GELIFES, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - J P Hansen
- Baltic Sea Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - P Jacobson
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Öregrund, Sweden
| | - G Sundblad
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Stockholm, Sweden.,AquaBiota Water Research, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M van Regteren
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life-Sciences GELIFES, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - J S Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden
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13
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Kollars NM, Henry AK, Whalen MA, Boyer KE, Cusson M, Eklöf JS, Hereu CM, Jorgensen P, Kiriakopolos SL, Reynolds PL, Tomas F, Turner MS, Ruesink JL. Meta-Analysis of Reciprocal Linkages between Temperate Seagrasses and Waterfowl with Implications for Conservation. Front Plant Sci 2017; 8:2119. [PMID: 29312384 PMCID: PMC5744074 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.02119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [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] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Multi-trophic conservation and management strategies may be necessary if reciprocal linkages between primary producers and their consumers are strong. While herbivory on aquatic plants is well-studied, direct top-down control of seagrass populations has received comparatively little attention, particularly in temperate regions. Herein, we used qualitative and meta-analytic approaches to assess the scope and consequences of avian (primarily waterfowl) herbivory on temperate seagrasses of the genus Zostera. Meta-analyses revealed widespread evidence of spatio-temporal correlations between Zostera and waterfowl abundances as well as strong top-down effects of grazing on Zostera. We also documented the identity and diversity of avian species reported to consume Zostera and qualitatively assessed their potential to exert top-down control. Our results demonstrate that Zostera and their avian herbivores are ecologically linked and we suggest that bird herbivory may influence the spatial structure, composition, and functioning of the seagrass ecosystem. Therefore, the consequences of avian herbivory should be considered in the management of seagrass populations. Of particular concern are instances of seagrass overgrazing by waterfowl which result in long-term reductions in seagrass biomass or coverage, with subsequent impacts on local populations of waterfowl and other seagrass-affiliated species. While our results showed that bird density and type may affect the magnitude of the top-down effects of avian herbivory, empirical research on the strength, context-dependency, and indirect effects of waterfowl-Zostera interactions remains limited. For example, increased efforts that explicitly measure the effects of different functional groups of birds on seagrass abundance and/or document how climate change-driven shifts in waterfowl migratory patterns impact seagrass phenology and population structure will advance research programs for both ecologists and managers concerned with the joint conservation of both seagrasses and their avian herbivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M. Kollars
- Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Amy K. Henry
- Committee on Evolutionary Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Matthew A. Whalen
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Hakai Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Katharyn E. Boyer
- Romberg Tiburon Center and Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, Tiburon, CA, United States
| | - Mathieu Cusson
- Département des Sciences Fondamentales & Québec-Océan, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, QC, Canada
| | - Johan S. Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Clara M. Hereu
- Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, Mexico
| | | | - Stephanie L. Kiriakopolos
- Romberg Tiburon Center and Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, Tiburon, CA, United States
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Pamela L. Reynolds
- Data Science Initiative, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Fiona Tomas
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
- Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados, Universitat de les Illes Balears – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Esporles, Spain
| | - Mo S. Turner
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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14
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Alonso Aller E, Jiddawi NS, Eklöf JS. Marine protected areas increase temporal stability of community structure, but not density or diversity, of tropical seagrass fish communities. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183999. [PMID: 28854231 PMCID: PMC5576671 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been shown to increase long-term temporal stability of fish communities and enhance ecosystem resilience to anthropogenic disturbance. Yet, the potential ability of MPAs to buffer effects of environmental variability at shorter time scales remains widely unknown. In the tropics, the yearly monsoon cycle is a major natural force affecting marine organisms in tropical regions, and its timing and severity are predicted to change over the coming century, with potentially severe effects on marine organisms, ecosystems and ecosystem services. Here, we assessed the ability of MPAs to buffer effects of monsoon seasonality on seagrass-associated fish communities, using a field survey in two MPAs (no-take zones) and two unprotected (open-access) sites around Zanzibar (Tanzania). We assessed the temporal stability of fish density and community structure within and outside MPAs during three monsoon seasons in 2014–2015, and investigated several possible mechanisms that could regulate temporal stability. Our results show that MPAs did not affect fish density and diversity, but that juvenile fish densities were temporally more stable within MPAs. Second, fish community structure was more stable within MPAs for juvenile and adult fish, but not for subadult fish or the total fish community. Third, the observed effects may be due to a combination of direct and indirect (seagrass-mediated) effects of seasonality and, potentially, fluctuating fishing pressure outside MPAs. In summary, these MPAs may not have the ability to enhance fish density and diversity and to buffer effects of monsoon seasonality on the whole fish community. However, they may increase the temporal stability of certain groups, such as juvenile fish. Consequently, our results question whether MPAs play a general role in the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning under changing environmental conditions in tropical seagrass fish communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Alonso Aller
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Narriman S Jiddawi
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Dar es Salaam University, Zanzibar, Tanzania
| | - Johan S Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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15
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Austin ÅN, Hansen JP, Donadi S, Eklöf JS. Relationships between aquatic vegetation and water turbidity: A field survey across seasons and spatial scales. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0181419. [PMID: 28854185 PMCID: PMC5576641 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [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: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Field surveys often show that high water turbidity limits cover of aquatic vegetation, while many small-scale experiments show that vegetation can reduce turbidity by decreasing water flow, stabilizing sediments, and competing with phytoplankton for nutrients. Here we bridged these two views by exploring the direction and strength of causal relationships between aquatic vegetation and turbidity across seasons (spring and late summer) and spatial scales (local and regional), using causal modeling based on data from a field survey along the central Swedish Baltic Sea coast. The two best-fitting regional-scale models both suggested that in spring, high cover of vegetation reduces water turbidity. In summer, the relationships differed between the two models; in the first model high vegetation cover reduced turbidity; while in the second model reduction of summer turbidity by high vegetation cover in spring had a positive effect on summer vegetation which suggests a positive feedback of vegetation on itself. Nitrogen load had a positive effect on turbidity in both seasons, which was comparable in strength to the effect of vegetation on turbidity. To assess whether the effect of vegetation was primarily caused by sediment stabilization or a reduction of phytoplankton, we also tested models where turbidity was replaced by phytoplankton fluorescence or sediment-driven turbidity. The best-fitting regional-scale models suggested that high sediment-driven turbidity in spring reduces vegetation cover in summer, which in turn has a negative effect on sediment-driven turbidity in summer, indicating a potential positive feedback of sediment-driven turbidity on itself. Using data at the local scale, few relationships were significant, likely due to the influence of unmeasured variables and/or spatial heterogeneity. In summary, causal modeling based on data from a large-scale field survey suggested that aquatic vegetation can reduce turbidity at regional scales, and that high vegetation cover vs. high sediment-driven turbidity may represent two self-enhancing, alternative states of shallow bay ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Åsa N. Austin
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Serena Donadi
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan S. Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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16
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Svensson F, Karlsson E, Gårdmark A, Olsson J, Adill A, Zie J, Snoeijs P, Eklöf JS. In situ warming strengthens trophic cascades in a coastal food web. OIKOS 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.03773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Filip Svensson
- Dept of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences; Stockholm Univ., Svante Arrhenius v g 20A; SE-114 18 Stockholm Sweden
- Dept of Aquatic Resources; Inst. of Marine Research, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences; Lysekil Sweden
| | - Erik Karlsson
- Dept of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences; Stockholm Univ., Svante Arrhenius v g 20A; SE-114 18 Stockholm Sweden
- Dept of Aquatic Resources; Inst. of Coastal Research; Öregrund Sweden
| | - Anna Gårdmark
- Dept of Aquatic Resources; Inst. of Coastal Research; Öregrund Sweden
| | - Jens Olsson
- Dept of Aquatic Resources; Inst. of Coastal Research; Öregrund Sweden
| | - Anders Adill
- Dept of Aquatic Resources; Inst. of Coastal Research; Öregrund Sweden
| | - Jenny Zie
- Dept of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences; Stockholm Univ., Svante Arrhenius v g 20A; SE-114 18 Stockholm Sweden
| | - Pauline Snoeijs
- Dept of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences; Stockholm Univ., Svante Arrhenius v g 20A; SE-114 18 Stockholm Sweden
| | - Johan S. Eklöf
- Dept of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences; Stockholm Univ., Svante Arrhenius v g 20A; SE-114 18 Stockholm Sweden
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17
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Maxwell PS, Eklöf JS, van Katwijk MM, O'Brien KR, de la Torre-Castro M, Boström C, Bouma TJ, Krause-Jensen D, Unsworth RKF, van Tussenbroek BI, van der Heide T. The fundamental role of ecological feedback mechanisms for the adaptive management of seagrass ecosystems - a review. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2016; 92:1521-1538. [PMID: 27581168 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [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: 07/13/2015] [Revised: 07/03/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Seagrass meadows are vital ecosystems in coastal zones worldwide, but are also under global threat. One of the major hurdles restricting the success of seagrass conservation and restoration is our limited understanding of ecological feedback mechanisms. In these ecosystems, multiple, self-reinforcing feedbacks can undermine conservation efforts by masking environmental impacts until the decline is precipitous, or alternatively they can inhibit seagrass recovery in spite of restoration efforts. However, no clear framework yet exists for identifying or dealing with feedbacks to improve the management of seagrass ecosystems. Here we review the causes and consequences of multiple feedbacks between seagrass and biotic and/or abiotic processes. We demonstrate how feedbacks have the potential to impose or reinforce regimes of either seagrass dominance or unvegetated substrate, and how the strength and importance of these feedbacks vary across environmental gradients. Although a myriad of feedbacks have now been identified, the co-occurrence and likely interaction among feedbacks has largely been overlooked to date due to difficulties in analysis and detection. Here we take a fundamental step forward by modelling the interactions among two distinct above- and belowground feedbacks to demonstrate that interacting feedbacks are likely to be important for ecosystem resilience. On this basis, we propose a five-step adaptive management plan to address feedback dynamics for effective conservation and restoration strategies. The management plan provides guidance to aid in the identification and prioritisation of likely feedbacks in different seagrass ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul S Maxwell
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, Australia
| | - Johan S Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marieke M van Katwijk
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Katherine R O'Brien
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, Australia
| | | | - Christoffer Boström
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Artillerigatan 6, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Tjeerd J Bouma
- Department of Yerseke Spatial Ecology, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, 4401 NT, Yerseke, The Netherlands
| | - Dorte Krause-Jensen
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600, Silkeborg, Denmark.,Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, C.F. Møllers Allé 8, 8000, Århus C, Denmark
| | - Richard K F Unsworth
- Seagrass Ecosystem Research Group, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, U.K
| | - Brigitta I van Tussenbroek
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Unidad Académica Sistemas Arrecifales/Puerto Morelos, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Postal 1152, Cancún 77500, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Tjisse van der Heide
- Department of Aquatic Ecology & Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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18
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Duffy JE, Reynolds PL, Boström C, Coyer JA, Cusson M, Donadi S, Douglass JG, Eklöf JS, Engelen AH, Eriksson BK, Fredriksen S, Gamfeldt L, Gustafsson C, Hoarau G, Hori M, Hovel K, Iken K, Lefcheck JS, Moksnes PO, Nakaoka M, O'Connor MI, Olsen JL, Richardson J, Ruesink JL, Sotka EE, Thormar J, Whalen MA, Stachowicz JJ. Biodiversity mediates top-down control in eelgrass ecosystems: a global comparative-experimental approach. Ecol Lett 2015; 18:696-705. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.12448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Revised: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Emmett Duffy
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science; Gloucester Point VA 23062-1346 USA
- Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network; Smithsonian Institution; Washington D.C. 20013-7012 USA
| | - Pamela L. Reynolds
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science; Gloucester Point VA 23062-1346 USA
| | - Christoffer Boström
- Department of Biosciences, Environmental and Marine Biology; Åbo Akademi University; 20520 Åbo Finland
| | - James A. Coyer
- Shoals Marine Laboratory; Cornell University; Portsmouth NH 03801 USA
| | - Mathieu Cusson
- Département des sciences fondamentales & Québec-Océan; Université du Québec à Chicoutimi; Chicoutimi QC G7H 2B1 Canada
| | - Serena Donadi
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies; University of Groningen; 9747 AG Groningen The Netherlands
| | | | - Johan S. Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences; Stockholm University; 106 91 Stockholm Sweden
| | - Aschwin H. Engelen
- Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve (CCMAR); University of Algarve; 8005 139 Faro Portugal
| | - Britas Klemens Eriksson
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies; University of Groningen; 9747 AG Groningen The Netherlands
| | | | - Lars Gamfeldt
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences; University of Gothenburg; SE-405 30 Göteborg Sweden
| | - Camilla Gustafsson
- Tvärminne Zoological Station; University of Helsinki; 10900 Hanko Finland
| | - Galice Hoarau
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture; University of Nordland; 8049 Bodø Norway
| | | | - Kevin Hovel
- Department of Biology; San Diego State University; San Diego CA 92182 USA
| | - Katrin Iken
- School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences; University of Alaska Fairbanks; AK 99775 USA
| | | | - Per-Olav Moksnes
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences; University of Gothenburg; SE-405 30 Göteborg Sweden
| | - Masahiro Nakaoka
- Akkeshi Marine Station; Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere; Hokkaido University; Aikappu Akkeshi Hokkaido 088-1113 Japan
| | - Mary I. O'Connor
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre; University of British Columbia; Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Jeanine L. Olsen
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies; University of Groningen; 9747 AG Groningen The Netherlands
| | - J. Paul Richardson
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science; Gloucester Point VA 23062-1346 USA
| | | | - Erik E. Sotka
- Grice Marine Laboratory; College of Charleston; Charleston SC 29412 USA
| | - Jonas Thormar
- Department of Biosciences; University of Oslo; 0316 Oslo Norway
| | - Matthew A. Whalen
- Department of Evolution and Ecology; University of California; Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - John J. Stachowicz
- Department of Evolution and Ecology; University of California; Davis CA 95616 USA
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19
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Eklöf JS, Havenhand JN, Alsterberg C, Gamfeldt L. Community-level effects of rapid experimental warming and consumer loss outweigh effects of rapid ocean acidification. OIKOS 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.01544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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]
Affiliation(s)
- Johan S. Eklöf
- Dept of Biological and Environmental Sciences - Kristineberg; Univ. of Gothenburg; SE-451 78 Fiskebäckskil Sweden
| | - Jonathan N. Havenhand
- Dept of Biological and Environmental Sciences - Tjärnö; Univ. of Gothenburg; SE-452 96 Strömstad Sweden
| | - Christian Alsterberg
- Dept of Biological and Environmental Sciences - Gothenburg; Univ. of Gothenburg; SE-405 30 Göteborg Sweden
| | - Lars Gamfeldt
- Dept of Biological and Environmental Sciences - Gothenburg; Univ. of Gothenburg; SE-405 30 Göteborg Sweden
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20
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Donadi S, van der Heide T, van der Zee EM, Eklöf JS, van de Koppel J, Weerman EJ, Piersma T, Olff H, Eriksson BK. Cross-habitat interactions among bivalve species control community structure on intertidal flats. Ecology 2013; 94:489-98. [PMID: 23691667 DOI: 10.1890/12-0048.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence shows that spatial interactions between sedentary organisms can structure communities and promote landscape complexity in many ecosystems. Here we tested the hypothesis that reef-forming mussels (Mytilus edulis L.), a dominant intertidal ecosystem engineer in the Wadden Sea, promote abundances of the burrowing bivalve Cerastoderma edule L. (cockle) in neighboring habitats at relatively long distances coastward from mussel beds. Field surveys within and around three mussel beds showed a peak in cockle densities at 50-100 m toward the coast from the mussel bed, while cockle abundances elsewhere in the study area were very low. Field transplantation of cockles showed higher survival of young cockles (2-3 years old) and increased spat fall coastward of the mussel bed compared to within the bed and to areas without mussels, whereas growth decreased within and coastward of the mussel bed. Our measurements suggest that the observed spatial patterns in cockle numbers resulted from (1) inhibition effects by the mussels close to the beds due to preemptive algal depletion and deteriorated sediment conditions and (2) facilitation effects by the mussels farther away from the beds due to reduction of wave energy. Our results imply that these spatial, scale-dependent interactions between reef-forming ecosystem engineers and surrounding communities of sedentary benthic organisms can be an important determinant of the large-scale community structure in intertidal ecosystems. Understanding this interplay between neighboring communities of sedentary species is therefore essential for effective conservation and restoration of soft-bottom intertidal communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Donadi
- Department of Marine Benthic Ecology and Evolution, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies (CEES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands.
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21
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van der Heide T, Eklöf JS, van Nes EH, van der Zee EM, Donadi S, Weerman EJ, Olff H, Eriksson BK. Ecosystem engineering by seagrasses interacts with grazing to shape an intertidal landscape. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42060. [PMID: 22905115 PMCID: PMC3414520 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2011] [Accepted: 07/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-facilitation through ecosystem engineering (i.e., organism modification of the abiotic environment) and consumer-resource interactions are both major determinants of spatial patchiness in ecosystems. However, interactive effects of these two mechanisms on spatial complexity have not been extensively studied. We investigated the mechanisms underlying a spatial mosaic of low-tide exposed hummocks and waterlogged hollows on an intertidal mudflat in the Wadden Sea dominated by the seagrass Zostera noltii. A combination of field measurements, an experiment and a spatially explicit model indicated that the mosaic resulted from localized sediment accretion by seagrass followed by selective waterfowl grazing. Hollows were bare in winter, but were rapidly colonized by seagrass during the growth season. Colonized hollows were heavily grazed by brent geese and widgeon in autumn, converting these patches to a bare state again and disrupting sediment accretion by seagrass. In contrast, hummocks were covered by seagrass throughout the year and were rarely grazed, most likely because the waterfowl were not able to employ their preferred but water requiring feeding strategy ('dabbling') here. Our study exemplifies that interactions between ecosystem engineering by a foundation species (seagrass) and consumption (waterfowl grazing) can increase spatial complexity at the landscape level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tjisse van der Heide
- Community and Conservation Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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22
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Eklöf JS, Alsterberg C, Havenhand JN, Sundbäck K, Wood HL, Gamfeldt L. Experimental climate change weakens the insurance effect of biodiversity. Ecol Lett 2012; 15:864-72. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01810.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2012] [Revised: 03/16/2012] [Accepted: 04/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian Alsterberg
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences - Gothenburg; University of Gothenburg; 405 30; Göteborg; Sweden
| | - Jonathan N. Havenhand
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences - Tjärnö; University of Gothenburg; 452 96; Strömstad; Sweden
| | - Kristina Sundbäck
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences - Gothenburg; University of Gothenburg; 405 30; Göteborg; Sweden
| | - Hannah L. Wood
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences - Kristineberg; University of Gothenburg; 451 78; Fiskebäckskil; Sweden
| | - Lars Gamfeldt
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences - Gothenburg; University of Gothenburg; 405 30; Göteborg; Sweden
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Nyström M, Norström AV, Blenckner T, de la Torre-Castro M, Eklöf JS, Folke C, Österblom H, Steneck RS, Thyresson M, Troell M. Confronting Feedbacks of Degraded Marine Ecosystems. Ecosystems 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-012-9530-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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van der Heide T, Eklöf JS, van Nes EH, van der Zee EM, Donadi S, Weerman EJ, Olff H, Eriksson BK. Ecosystem engineering by seagrasses interacts with grazing to shape an intertidal landscape. PLoS One 2012. [PMID: 22905115 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042060.s002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-facilitation through ecosystem engineering (i.e., organism modification of the abiotic environment) and consumer-resource interactions are both major determinants of spatial patchiness in ecosystems. However, interactive effects of these two mechanisms on spatial complexity have not been extensively studied. We investigated the mechanisms underlying a spatial mosaic of low-tide exposed hummocks and waterlogged hollows on an intertidal mudflat in the Wadden Sea dominated by the seagrass Zostera noltii. A combination of field measurements, an experiment and a spatially explicit model indicated that the mosaic resulted from localized sediment accretion by seagrass followed by selective waterfowl grazing. Hollows were bare in winter, but were rapidly colonized by seagrass during the growth season. Colonized hollows were heavily grazed by brent geese and widgeon in autumn, converting these patches to a bare state again and disrupting sediment accretion by seagrass. In contrast, hummocks were covered by seagrass throughout the year and were rarely grazed, most likely because the waterfowl were not able to employ their preferred but water requiring feeding strategy ('dabbling') here. Our study exemplifies that interactions between ecosystem engineering by a foundation species (seagrass) and consumption (waterfowl grazing) can increase spatial complexity at the landscape level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tjisse van der Heide
- Community and Conservation Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Eklöf JS, van der Heide T, Donadi S, van der Zee EM, O'Hara R, Eriksson BK. Habitat-mediated facilitation and counteracting ecosystem engineering interactively influence ecosystem responses to disturbance. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23229. [PMID: 21829719 PMCID: PMC3150396 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 03/28/2011] [Accepted: 07/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Recovery of an ecosystem following disturbance can be severely hampered or even shift altogether when a point disturbance exceeds a certain spatial threshold. Such scale-dependent dynamics may be caused by preemptive competition, but may also result from diminished self-facilitation due to weakened ecosystem engineering. Moreover, disturbance can facilitate colonization by engineering species that alter abiotic conditions in ways that exacerbate stress on the original species. Consequently, establishment of such counteracting engineers might reduce the spatial threshold for the disturbance, by effectively slowing recovery and increasing the risk for ecosystem shifts to alternative states. We tested these predictions in an intertidal mudflat characterized by a two-state mosaic of hummocks (humps exposed during low tide) dominated by the sediment-stabilizing seagrass Zostera noltii) and hollows (low-tide waterlogged depressions dominated by the bioturbating lugworm Arenicola marina). In contrast to expectations, seagrass recolonized both natural and experimental clearings via lateral expansion and seemed unaffected by both clearing size and lugworm addition. Near the end of the growth season, however, an additional disturbance (most likely waterfowl grazing and/or strong hydrodynamics) selectively impacted recolonizing seagrass in the largest (1 m2) clearings (regardless of lugworm addition), and in those medium (0.25 m2) clearings where lugworms had been added nearly five months earlier. Further analyses showed that the risk for the disturbance increased with hollow size, with a threshold of 0.24 m2. Hollows of that size were caused by seagrass removal alone in the largest clearings, and by a weaker seagrass removal effect exacerbated by lugworm bioturbation in the medium clearings. Consequently, a sufficiently large disturbance increased the vulnerability of recolonizing seagrass to additional disturbance by weakening seagrass engineering effects (sediment stabilization). Meanwhile, the counteracting ecosystem engineering (lugworm bioturbation) reduced that threshold size. Therefore, scale-dependent interactions between habitat-mediated facilitation, competition and disturbance seem to maintain the spatial two-state mosaic in this ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan S Eklöf
- Department of Marine Benthic Ecology and Evolution, Center for Ecology & Evolutionary Studies, Groningen University, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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