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Cobacho SP, van de Leemput IA, Holmgren M, Christianen MJA. Impact of human disturbance on biogeochemical fluxes in tropical seascapes. Mar Environ Res 2024; 197:106479. [PMID: 38583357 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Tropical seascapes rely on the feedback relationships among mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs, as they mutually facilitate and enhance each other's functionality. Biogeochemical fluxes link tropical coastal habitats by exchanging material flows and energy through various natural processes that determine the conditions for life and ecosystem functioning. However, little is known about the seascape-scale implications of anthropogenic disruptions to these linkages. Despite the limited number of integrated empirical studies available (with only 11 out of 81 selected studies focusing on the integrated dynamics of mangroves, seagrass, and corals), this review emphasizes the importance of biogeochemical fluxes for ecosystem connectivity in tropical seascapes. It identifies four primary anthropogenic influences that can disturb these fluxes-nutrient enrichment, chemical pollution, microbial pollution, and solid waste accumulation-resulting in eutrophication, increased disease incidence, toxicity, and disruptions to water carbonate chemistry. This review also highlights significant knowledge gaps in our understanding of biogeochemical fluxes and ecosystem responses to perturbations in tropical seascapes. Addressing these knowledge gaps is crucial for developing practical strategies to conserve and manage connected seascapes effectively. Integrated research is needed to shed light on the complex interactions and feedback mechanisms within these ecosystems, providing valuable insights for conservation and management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara P Cobacho
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, 6708, PB Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Ingrid A van de Leemput
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, 6708, PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Milena Holmgren
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, 6708, PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, 6708, PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
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2
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Cobacho SP, Leemans LH, Weideveld STJ, Fu X, van Katwijk MM, Lamers LPM, Smolders AJP, Christianen MJA. Addition of iron does not ameliorate sulfide toxicity by sargassum influx to mangroves but dampens methane and nitrous oxide emissions. Mar Pollut Bull 2024; 202:116303. [PMID: 38569305 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Sargassum spp. strandings in the tropical Atlantic harm local ecosystems due to toxic sulfide levels. We conducted a mesocosm experiment to test the efficacy of iron(III) (hydr)oxides in (a) mitigating sulfide toxicity in mangroves resulting from Sargassum and (b) reducing potentially enhanced greenhouse gas emissions. Our results show that iron addition failed to prevent mangrove mortality caused by highly toxic sulfide concentrations, which reached up to 15,000 μmol l-1 in 14 days; timely removal may potentially prevent mangrove death. Sargassum-impacted mesocosms significantly increased methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide emissions, producing approximately 1 g CO2-equivalents m-2 h-1 during daylight hours, thereby shifting mangroves from sinks to sources of greenhouse gasses. However, iron addition decreased methane emissions by 62 % and nitrous oxide emissions by 57 %. This research reveals that Sargassum strandings have multiple adverse effects related to chemical and ecological dynamics in mangrove ecosystems, including greenhouse gas emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara P Cobacho
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Luuk H Leemans
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Stefan T J Weideveld
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands; B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Xitong Fu
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke M van Katwijk
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Leon P M Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands; B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
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3
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Campbell JE, Kennedy Rhoades O, Munson CJ, Altieri AH, Douglass JG, Heck KL, Paul VJ, Armitage AR, Barry SC, Bethel E, Christ L, Christianen MJA, Dodillet G, Dutton K, Fourqurean JW, Frazer TK, Gaffey BM, Glazner R, Goeke JA, Grana-Valdes R, Jenkins VJ, Kramer OAA, Linhardt ST, Martin CW, Martinez Lopez IG, McDonald AM, Main VA, Manuel SA, Marco-Méndez C, O'Brien DA, O'Shea OR, Patrick CJ, Peabody C, Reynolds LK, Rodriguez A, Rodriguez Bravo LM, Sang A, Sawall Y, Smith K, Smulders FOH, Sun U, Thompson JE, van Tussenbroek B, Wied WL. Herbivore effects increase with latitude across the extent of a foundational seagrass. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:663-675. [PMID: 38366132 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02336-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is altering the functioning of foundational ecosystems. While the direct effects of warming are expected to influence individual species, the indirect effects of warming on species interactions remain poorly understood. In marine systems, as tropical herbivores undergo poleward range expansion, they may change food web structure and alter the functioning of key habitats. While this process ('tropicalization') has been documented within declining kelp forests, we have a limited understanding of how this process might unfold across other systems. Here we use a network of sites spanning 23° of latitude to explore the effects of increased herbivory (simulated via leaf clipping) on the structure of a foundational marine plant (turtlegrass). By working across its geographic range, we also show how gradients in light, temperature and nutrients modified plant responses. We found that turtlegrass near its northern boundary was increasingly affected (reduced productivity) by herbivory and that this response was driven by latitudinal gradients in light (low insolation at high latitudes). By contrast, low-latitude meadows tolerated herbivory due to high insolation which enhanced plant carbohydrates. We show that as herbivores undergo range expansion, turtlegrass meadows at their northern limit display reduced resilience and may be under threat of ecological collapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin E Campbell
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA.
| | - O Kennedy Rhoades
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Calvin J Munson
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Andrew H Altieri
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama
| | - James G Douglass
- The Water School, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL, USA
| | - Kenneth L Heck
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, USA
| | | | - Anna R Armitage
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Savanna C Barry
- UF|IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL, USA
| | - Enrique Bethel
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- The Centre for Ocean Research and Education (CORE), Gregory Town, Bahamas
| | - Lindsey Christ
- International Field Studies, Inc., Forfar Field Station, Blanket Sound, Bahamas
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Grace Dodillet
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- CSA Ocean Sciences Inc., Stuart, FL, USA
| | | | - James W Fourqurean
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Thomas K Frazer
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Bethany M Gaffey
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Rachael Glazner
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Janelle A Goeke
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Rancel Grana-Valdes
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Victoria J Jenkins
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, USA
| | | | - Samantha T Linhardt
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, USA
| | - Charles W Martin
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, USA
| | - Isis G Martinez Lopez
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | - Ashley M McDonald
- UF|IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL, USA
- Soil and Water Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Vivienne A Main
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Sarah A Manuel
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Bermuda, 'Shorelands', Hamilton Parish, Bermuda
| | - Candela Marco-Méndez
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, USA
- CEAB (CSIC), Girona, Spain
| | - Duncan A O'Brien
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- The Centre for Ocean Research and Education (CORE), Gregory Town, Bahamas
| | - Owen R O'Shea
- The Centre for Ocean Research and Education (CORE), Gregory Town, Bahamas
| | - Christopher J Patrick
- Coastal and Ocean Processes Section, Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, USA
| | - Clare Peabody
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Laura K Reynolds
- Soil and Water Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Alex Rodriguez
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab and University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, AL, USA
| | | | - Amanda Sang
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- The Water School, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL, USA
| | - Yvonne Sawall
- Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), St. George's, Bermuda
| | - Khalil Smith
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Bermuda, 'Shorelands', Hamilton Parish, Bermuda
| | - Fee O H Smulders
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Uriah Sun
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
| | - Jamie E Thompson
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Brigitta van Tussenbroek
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | - William L Wied
- Institute of Environment, Coastlines and Oceans Division, and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
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4
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Cobacho SP, Janssen SAR, Brekelmans MACP, van de Leemput IA, Holmgren M, Christianen MJA. High temperature and eutrophication alter biomass allocation of black mangrove (Avicennia germinans L.) seedlings. Mar Environ Res 2024; 193:106291. [PMID: 38086136 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/02/2024]
Abstract
Mangrove restoration is underway along tropical coastlines to combat their rapid worldwide decline. However, restoration success is limited due to local drivers such as eutrophication, and global drivers such as climate change, yet their interactions remain unclear. We conducted a mesocosm experiment to assess the impact of increased nutrients and temperature on the photosynthetic efficiency and development of black mangrove seedlings. Seedlings exposed to high temperature and eutrophication showed reduced root growth and disproportionally long stems, with lower net assimilation rates. This architectonical imbalance between root and stem growth may increase susceptibility to physical disturbances and dislodgement. Notably, none of the experimental seedlings displayed signs of photophysiological stress, and those exposed to increased nutrients and temperature exhibited robust photosynthetic performance. The disbalance in biomass allocation highlights the importance of considering local nutrient status and hydrodynamic conditions in restoration projects, ensuring the effective anchorage of mangrove seedlings and restoration success under a warming climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara P Cobacho
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Sjoerd A R Janssen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Mabel A C P Brekelmans
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ingrid A van de Leemput
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Milena Holmgren
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
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5
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Nauta J, Lammers C, Lexmond R, Christianen MJA, Borst A, Lamers LPM, van Lavieren H, Naipal S, Govers LL. Habitat complexity drives food web structure along a dynamic mangrove coast. Mar Pollut Bull 2023; 196:115597. [PMID: 37832500 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Structurally complex habitats, such as mangrove forests, allow for rich assemblages of species that benefit from the provided space, volume and substrate. Changes in habitat complexity can affect species abundance, diversity and resilience. In this study, we explored the effects of habitat complexity on food web networks in four developmental stages of mangrove forests with differing structural complexities: climax > degrading > colonizing > bare, by analyzing food web structure, stable isotopes and habitat complexity. We found that food webs became gradually more biodiverse (species richness: +119 %), complex (link density: +39 %), and robust (connectance: -35 %) in climax versus bare stages with increasing complexity of the mangrove forest (i.e., number of trees, leaf cover, and pneumatophore densities). This study shows that habitat complexity drives food web network structure in dynamic mangrove forests. We recommend restoration practitioners to use this food web network approach to quantify habitat restoration successes complementary to traditional biodiversity metrics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janne Nauta
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 AA Groningen, the Netherlands; Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Carlijn Lammers
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 AA Groningen, the Netherlands; Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ), 1790 AB Den Burg, the Netherlands
| | - Robin Lexmond
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Plant Ecology and Physiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Annieke Borst
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Leon P M Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands; B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Sieuwnath Naipal
- Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Leysweg 86, P.O.B. 9212, Paramaribo, Suriname
| | - Laura L Govers
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 AA Groningen, the Netherlands; Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ), 1790 AB Den Burg, the Netherlands
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6
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Smulders FOH, Bakker ES, O'Shea OR, Campbell JE, Rhoades OK, Christianen MJA. Green turtles shape the seascape through grazing patch formation around habitat features: Experimental evidence. Ecology 2023; 104:e3902. [PMID: 36310424 PMCID: PMC10078154 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3902] [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] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how megaherbivores incorporate habitat features into their foraging behavior is key toward understanding how herbivores shape the surrounding landscape. While the role of habitat structure has been studied within the context of predator-prey dynamics and grazing behavior in terrestrial systems, there is a limited understanding of how structure influences megaherbivore grazing in marine ecosystems. To investigate the response of megaherbivores (green turtles) to habitat features, we experimentally introduced structure at two spatial scales in a shallow seagrass meadow in The Bahamas. Turtle density increased 50-fold (to 311 turtles ha-1 ) in response to the structures, and turtles were mainly grazing and resting (low vigilance behavior). This resulted in a grazing patch exceeding the size of the experimental setup (242 m2 ), with reduced seagrass shoot density and aboveground biomass. After structure removal, turtle density decreased and vigilance increased (more browsing and shorter surfacing times), while seagrass within the patch partly recovered. Even at a small scale (9 m2 ), artificial structures altered turtle grazing behavior, resulting in grazing patches in 60% of the plots. Our results demonstrate that marine megaherbivores select habitat features as foraging sites, likely to be a predator refuge, resulting in heterogeneity in seagrass bed structure at the landscape scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- F O H Smulders
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - E S Bakker
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - O R O'Shea
- The Centre for Ocean Research and Education (CORE), Gregory Town, The Bahamas
| | - J E Campbell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - O K Rhoades
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - M J A Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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7
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Smulders FOH, Slikboer N, Christianen MJA, Vonk JA. Battle for the mounds: Niche competition between upside-down jellyfish and invasive seagrass. Ecology 2023; 104:e3980. [PMID: 36695025 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fee O H Smulders
- Wageningen University & Research Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Naomi Slikboer
- Wageningen University & Research Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Wageningen University & Research Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Arie Vonk
- Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology (FAME), Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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8
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Christianen MJA, Smulders FOH, Vonk JA, Becking LE, Bouma TJ, Engel SM, James RK, Nava MI, de Smit JC, van der Zee JP, Palsbøll PJ, Bakker ES. Seagrass ecosystem multifunctionality under the rise of a flagship marine megaherbivore. Glob Chang Biol 2023; 29:215-230. [PMID: 36330798 PMCID: PMC10099877 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16464] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Large grazers (megaherbivores) have a profound impact on ecosystem functioning. However, how ecosystem multifunctionality is affected by changes in megaherbivore populations remains poorly understood. Understanding the total impact on ecosystem multifunctionality requires an integrative ecosystem approach, which is especially challenging to obtain in marine systems. We assessed the effects of experimentally simulated grazing intensity scenarios on ecosystem functions and multifunctionality in a tropical Caribbean seagrass ecosystem. As a model, we selected a key marine megaherbivore, the green turtle, whose ecological role is rapidly unfolding in numerous foraging areas where populations are recovering through conservation after centuries of decline, with an increase in recorded overgrazing episodes. To quantify the effects, we employed a novel integrated index of seagrass ecosystem multifunctionality based upon multiple, well-recognized measures of seagrass ecosystem functions that reflect ecosystem services. Experiments revealed that intermediate turtle grazing resulted in the highest rates of nutrient cycling and carbon storage, while sediment stabilization, decomposition rates, epifauna richness, and fish biomass are highest in the absence of turtle grazing. In contrast, intense grazing resulted in disproportionally large effects on ecosystem functions and a collapse of multifunctionality. These results imply that (i) the return of a megaherbivore can exert strong effects on coastal ecosystem functions and multifunctionality, (ii) conservation efforts that are skewed toward megaherbivores, but ignore their key drivers like predators or habitat, will likely result in overgrazing-induced loss of multifunctionality, and (iii) the multifunctionality index shows great potential as a quantitative tool to assess ecosystem performance. Considerable and rapid alterations in megaherbivore abundance (both through extinction and conservation) cause an imbalance in ecosystem functioning and substantially alter or even compromise ecosystem services that help to negate global change effects. An integrative ecosystem approach in environmental management is urgently required to protect and enhance ecosystem multifunctionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolijn J. A. Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management GroupWageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
- Marine Evolution and Conservation GroupGroningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Fee O. H. Smulders
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management GroupWageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Jan Arie Vonk
- Department of Freshwater and Marine EcologyInstitute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Leontine E. Becking
- Aquaculture and Fisheries groupWageningen University & Research CentreWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Tjeerd J. Bouma
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ)YersekeThe Netherlands
- Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of GeosciencesUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Sabine M. Engel
- STINAPA, Bonaire National Parks FoundationBonaireCaribbean Netherlands
| | - Rebecca K. James
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ)YersekeThe Netherlands
- Biogeochemistry and Modeling of the Earth System GroupUniversité libre de BruxellesBruxellesBelgium
| | - Mabel I. Nava
- Sea Turtle Conservation BonaireBonaireCaribbean Netherlands
| | - Jaco C. de Smit
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ)YersekeThe Netherlands
- Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of GeosciencesUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Jurjan P. van der Zee
- Marine Evolution and Conservation GroupGroningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Per J. Palsbøll
- Marine Evolution and Conservation GroupGroningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- Center for Coastal StudiesProvincetownMassachusettsUSA
| | - Elisabeth S. Bakker
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW)WageningenThe Netherlands
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
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9
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Nauta J, Christianen MJA, Temmink RJM, Fivash GS, Marin‐Diaz B, Reijers VC, Didderen K, Penning E, Borst ACW, Heusinkveld JHT, Zwarts M, Cruijsen PMJM, Hijner N, Lengkeek W, Lamers LPM, van der Heide T, Bouma TJ, van der Wal D, Olff H, Govers LL. Biodegradable artificial reefs enhance food web complexity and biodiversity in an intertidal soft‐sediment ecosystem. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14348] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Janne Nauta
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen CC Groningen the Netherlands
| | - Marjolijn J. A. Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135 AJ Nijmegen the Netherlands
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group Wageningen University & Research AA Wageningen the Netherlands
| | - Ralph J. M. Temmink
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135 AJ Nijmegen the Netherlands
- Department of Coastal Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ) AB Den Burg the Netherlands
- Environmental Sciences Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a CB Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Gregory S. Fivash
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen CC Groningen the Netherlands
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ) NT Yerseke the Netherlands
| | - Beatriz Marin‐Diaz
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen CC Groningen the Netherlands
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ) NT Yerseke the Netherlands
| | - Valérie C. Reijers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135 AJ Nijmegen the Netherlands
- Department of Coastal Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ) AB Den Burg the Netherlands
- Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Physical Geography Utrecht University TC Utrecht the Netherlands
| | - Karin Didderen
- Waardenburg Ecology, Varkensmarkt 9, 4101 CK Culemborg the Netherlands
| | - Emma Penning
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen CC Groningen the Netherlands
- Department of Coastal Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ) AB Den Burg the Netherlands
| | - Annieke C. W. Borst
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135 AJ Nijmegen the Netherlands
| | | | - Maarten Zwarts
- The Fieldwork Company, Stockholmstraat 2b, 9723 BC Groningen the Netherlands
| | - Peter M. J. M. Cruijsen
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135 AJ Nijmegen the Netherlands
| | - Nadia Hijner
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen CC Groningen the Netherlands
| | - Wouter Lengkeek
- Waardenburg Ecology, Varkensmarkt 9, 4101 CK Culemborg the Netherlands
| | - Leon P. M. Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135 AJ Nijmegen the Netherlands
- B‐WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen the Netherlands
| | - Tjisse van der Heide
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen CC Groningen the Netherlands
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135 AJ Nijmegen the Netherlands
- Department of Coastal Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ) AB Den Burg the Netherlands
| | - Tjeerd J. Bouma
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen CC Groningen the Netherlands
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ) NT Yerseke the Netherlands
- Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Physical Geography Utrecht University TC Utrecht the Netherlands
- Delta Academy Applied Research Centre HZ University of Applied Sciences AJ Vlissingen the Netherlands
| | - Daphne van der Wal
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ) NT Yerseke the Netherlands
- Faculty of Geo‐Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) University of Twente, PO AE Enschede the Netherlands
| | - Han Olff
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen CC Groningen the Netherlands
| | - Laura L. Govers
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen CC Groningen the Netherlands
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135 AJ Nijmegen the Netherlands
- Department of Coastal Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ) AB Den Burg the Netherlands
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10
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van der Zee JP, Christianen MJA, Bérubé M, Nava M, van der Wal S, Berkel J, Bervoets T, Meijer Zu Schlochtern M, Becking LE, Palsbøll PJ. Demographic changes in Pleistocene sea turtles were driven by past sea level fluctuations affecting feeding habitat availability. Mol Ecol 2021; 31:1044-1056. [PMID: 34861074 PMCID: PMC9299637 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16302] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Pleistocene environmental changes are generally assumed to have dramatically affected species’ demography via changes in habitat availability, but this is challenging to investigate due to our limited knowledge of how Pleistocene ecosystems changed through time. Here, we tracked changes in shallow marine habitat availability resulting from Pleistocene sea level fluctuations throughout the last glacial cycle (120–14 thousand years ago; kya) and assessed correlations with past changes in genetic diversity inferred from genome‐wide SNPs, obtained via ddRAD sequencing, in Caribbean hawksbill turtles, which feed in coral reefs commonly found in shallow tropical waters. We found sea level regression resulted in an average 75% reduction in shallow marine habitat availability during the last glacial cycle. Changes in shallow marine habitat availability correlated strongly with past changes in hawksbill turtle genetic diversity, which gradually declined to ~1/4th of present‐day levels during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 26–19 kya). Shallow marine habitat availability and genetic diversity rapidly increased after the LGM, signifying a population expansion in response to warming environmental conditions. Our results suggest a positive correlation between Pleistocene environmental changes, habitat availability and species’ demography, and that demographic changes in hawksbill turtles were potentially driven by feeding habitat availability. However, we also identified challenges associated with disentangling the potential environmental drivers of past demographic changes, which highlights the need for integrative approaches. Our conclusions underline the role of habitat availability on species’ demography and biodiversity, and that the consequences of ongoing habitat loss should not be underestimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jurjan P van der Zee
- Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, AG Groningen, the Netherlands.,Wageningen Marine Research, Den Helder, the Netherlands
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, AG Groningen, the Netherlands.,Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Martine Bérubé
- Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, AG Groningen, the Netherlands.,Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mabel Nava
- Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire, Kralendijk, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands
| | | | - Jessica Berkel
- Sint Eustatius National Parks Foundation, Sint Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands
| | - Tadzio Bervoets
- Sint Maarten Nature Foundation, Cole Bay, Sint Maarten.,Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance, Kralendijk, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands
| | | | - Leontine E Becking
- Wageningen Marine Research, Den Helder, the Netherlands.,Marine Animal Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Per J Palsbøll
- Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, AG Groningen, the Netherlands.,Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, Massachusetts, USA
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11
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Christianen MJA, van Katwijk MM, van Tussenbroek BI, Pagès JF, Ballorain K, Kelkar N, Arthur R, Alcoverro T. A dynamic view of seagrass meadows in the wake of successful green turtle conservation. Nat Ecol Evol 2021; 5:553-555. [PMID: 33790427 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01433-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Wageningen University & Research, Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Marieke M van Katwijk
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Brigitta I van Tussenbroek
- Reef Systems Unit, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | - Jordi F Pagès
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Blanes, Spain
| | - Katia Ballorain
- Centre d'Etude et de Découverte des Tortues Marines, Saint Leu, La Réunion, France
| | - Nachiket Kelkar
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India
| | - Rohan Arthur
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Blanes, Spain.,Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore, India
| | - Teresa Alcoverro
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Blanes, Spain.,Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore, India
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12
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Temmink RJM, Christianen MJA, Fivash GS, Angelini C, Boström C, Didderen K, Engel SM, Esteban N, Gaeckle JL, Gagnon K, Govers LL, Infantes E, van Katwijk MM, Kipson S, Lamers LPM, Lengkeek W, Silliman BR, van Tussenbroek BI, Unsworth RKF, Yaakub SM, Bouma TJ, van der Heide T. Mimicry of emergent traits amplifies coastal restoration success. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3668. [PMID: 32699271 PMCID: PMC7376209 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17438-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [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: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Restoration is becoming a vital tool to counteract coastal ecosystem degradation. Modifying transplant designs of habitat-forming organisms from dispersed to clumped can amplify coastal restoration yields as it generates self-facilitation from emergent traits, i.e. traits not expressed by individuals or small clones, but that emerge in clumped individuals or large clones. Here, we advance restoration science by mimicking key emergent traits that locally suppress physical stress using biodegradable establishment structures. Experiments across (sub)tropical and temperate seagrass and salt marsh systems demonstrate greatly enhanced yields when individuals are transplanted within structures mimicking emergent traits that suppress waves or sediment mobility. Specifically, belowground mimics of dense root mats most facilitate seagrasses via sediment stabilization, while mimics of aboveground plant structures most facilitate marsh grasses by reducing stem movement. Mimicking key emergent traits may allow upscaling of restoration in many ecosystems that depend on self-facilitation for persistence, by constraining biological material requirements and implementation costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph J M Temmink
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Wageningen University & Research, Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gregory S Fivash
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University, 4401 NT, Yerseke, The Netherlands
| | - Christine Angelini
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Engineering School for Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, University of Florida, PO Box 116580, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Christoffer Boström
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Karin Didderen
- Bureau Waardenburg, Varkensmarkt 9, 4101 CK, 4100 AJ, Culemborg, The Netherlands
| | | | - Nicole Esteban
- Bioscience Department, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Jeffrey L Gaeckle
- Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA, 98504, USA
| | - Karine Gagnon
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Laura L Govers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University, 1790 AB, Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | - Eduardo Infantes
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Kristineberg Marine Research Station, Kristineberg 566, 45178, Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
| | - Marieke M van Katwijk
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Silvija Kipson
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Leon P M Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter Lengkeek
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Bureau Waardenburg, Varkensmarkt 9, 4101 CK, 4100 AJ, Culemborg, The Netherlands
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - Brigitta I van Tussenbroek
- Reef Systems Unit, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 77580, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Richard K F Unsworth
- Project Seagrass, 33 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3BA, UK
- Seagrass Ecosystem Research Group, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Siti Maryam Yaakub
- Department Ecological Habitats and Processes, DHI Water & Environment, 2 Venture Drive, 18-18 Vision Exchange, Singapore, 608526, Singapore
| | - Tjeerd J Bouma
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University, 4401 NT, Yerseke, The Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Building with Nature group, HZ University of Applied Sciences, Postbus 364, 4380 AJ, Vlissingen, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, 3508 TC, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tjisse van der Heide
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands.
- Department Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University, 1790 AB, Den Burg, The Netherlands.
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13
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Gagnon K, Rinde E, Bengil EGT, Carugati L, Christianen MJA, Danovaro R, Gambi C, Govers LL, Kipson S, Meysick L, Pajusalu L, Tüney Kızılkaya İ, Koppel J, Heide T, Katwijk MM, Boström C. Facilitating foundation species: The potential for plant–bivalve interactions to improve habitat restoration success. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karine Gagnon
- Environmental and Marine Biology Åbo Akademi University Turku Finland
| | - Eli Rinde
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research Oslo Norway
| | - Elizabeth G. T. Bengil
- Mediterranean Conservation Society Izmir Turkey
- Girne American UniversityMarine School Girne TRNC via Turkey
| | - Laura Carugati
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences Polytechnic University of Marche Ancona Italy
| | - Marjolijn J. A. Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group Wageningen University Wageningen The Netherlands
- Department of Environmental Science Institute for Wetland and Water Research Radboud University Nijmegen Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Roberto Danovaro
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences Polytechnic University of Marche Ancona Italy
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Naples Italy
| | - Cristina Gambi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences Polytechnic University of Marche Ancona Italy
| | - Laura L. Govers
- Department of Environmental Science Institute for Wetland and Water Research Radboud University Nijmegen Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Silvija Kipson
- Faculty of Science Department of Biology University of Zagreb Zagreb Croatia
| | - Lukas Meysick
- Environmental and Marine Biology Åbo Akademi University Turku Finland
| | - Liina Pajusalu
- Estonian Marine Institute University of Tartu Tallinn Estonia
| | - İnci Tüney Kızılkaya
- Mediterranean Conservation Society Izmir Turkey
- Faculty of Science Ege University Izmir Turkey
| | - Johan Koppel
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
- Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University Yerseke The Netherlands
| | - Tjisse Heide
- Department of Environmental Science Institute for Wetland and Water Research Radboud University Nijmegen Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
- Department of Coastal Systems Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht University Den Burg The Netherlands
| | - Marieke M. Katwijk
- Department of Environmental Science Institute for Wetland and Water Research Radboud University Nijmegen Nijmegen The Netherlands
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14
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van der Zee JP, Christianen MJA, Nava M, Velez-Zuazo X, Hao W, Bérubé M, van Lavieren H, Hiwat M, Berzins R, Chevalier J, Chevallier D, Lankester MC, Bjorndal KA, Bolten AB, Becking LE, Palsbøll PJ. Population recovery changes population composition at a major southern Caribbean juvenile developmental habitat for the green turtle, Chelonia mydas. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14392. [PMID: 31591419 PMCID: PMC6779738 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50753-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the population composition and dynamics of migratory megafauna at key developmental habitats is critical for conservation and management. The present study investigated whether differential recovery of Caribbean green turtle (Chelonia mydas) rookeries influenced population composition at a major juvenile feeding ground in the southern Caribbean (Lac Bay, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands) using genetic and demographic analyses. Genetic divergence indicated a strong temporal shift in population composition between 2006-2007 and 2015-2016 (ϕST = 0.101, P < 0.001). Juvenile recruitment (<75.0 cm straight carapace length; SCL) from the north-western Caribbean increased from 12% to 38% while recruitment from the eastern Caribbean region decreased from 46% to 20% between 2006-2007 and 2015-2016. Furthermore, the product of the population growth rate and adult female abundance was a significant predictor for population composition in 2015-2016. Our results may reflect early warning signals of declining reproductive output at eastern Caribbean rookeries, potential displacement effects of smaller rookeries by larger rookeries, and advocate for genetic monitoring as a useful method for monitoring trends in juvenile megafauna. Furthermore, these findings underline the need for adequate conservation of juvenile developmental habitats and a deeper understanding of the interactions between megafaunal population dynamics in different habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jurjan P van der Zee
- Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborg 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands. .,Wageningen Marine Research, Ankerpark 27, 1781 AG, Den Helder, The Netherlands.
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborg 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mabel Nava
- Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire, P.O. Box 492, Kaya Korona 53, Kralendijk, Bonaire, The Netherlands
| | - Ximena Velez-Zuazo
- Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire, P.O. Box 492, Kaya Korona 53, Kralendijk, Bonaire, The Netherlands.,Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Wensi Hao
- Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborg 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martine Bérubé
- Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborg 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Center for Coastal Studies, 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown, MA, 02657, USA
| | | | - Michael Hiwat
- WWF Guianas, Henck Arronstraat 63, Paramaribo, Suriname
| | - Rachel Berzins
- ONCFS Guyane, Campus Agronomique, BP316, 97379, Kourou, French Guiana
| | - Johan Chevalier
- RNN Amana, Réserve Naturelle de l'Amana, Maison de la Réserve, 270 Avenue 31 Décembre, 97319, Awala-Yalimapo, French Guiana
| | - Damien Chevallier
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC, 23 Rue Becquerel, UMR, 7178, Strasbourg, France
| | - Marie-Clélia Lankester
- RNN Amana, Réserve Naturelle de l'Amana, Maison de la Réserve, 270 Avenue 31 Décembre, 97319, Awala-Yalimapo, French Guiana
| | - Karen A Bjorndal
- Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Biology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 118525, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Alan B Bolten
- Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Biology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 118525, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Leontine E Becking
- Wageningen Marine Research, Ankerpark 27, 1781 AG, Den Helder, The Netherlands.,Marine Animal Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Per J Palsbøll
- Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborg 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Center for Coastal Studies, 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown, MA, 02657, USA
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15
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O'Brien KR, Waycott M, Maxwell P, Kendrick GA, Udy JW, Ferguson AJP, Kilminster K, Scanes P, McKenzie LJ, McMahon K, Adams MP, Samper-Villarreal J, Collier C, Lyons M, Mumby PJ, Radke L, Christianen MJA, Dennison WC. Seagrass ecosystem trajectory depends on the relative timescales of resistance, recovery and disturbance. Mar Pollut Bull 2018; 134:166-176. [PMID: 28935363 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [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: 03/31/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Seagrass ecosystems are inherently dynamic, responding to environmental change across a range of scales. Habitat requirements of seagrass are well defined, but less is known about their ability to resist disturbance. Specific means of recovery after loss are particularly difficult to quantify. Here we assess the resistance and recovery capacity of 12 seagrass genera. We document four classic trajectories of degradation and recovery for seagrass ecosystems, illustrated with examples from around the world. Recovery can be rapid once conditions improve, but seagrass absence at landscape scales may persist for many decades, perpetuated by feedbacks and/or lack of seed or plant propagules to initiate recovery. It can be difficult to distinguish between slow recovery, recalcitrant degradation, and the need for a window of opportunity to trigger recovery. We propose a framework synthesizing how the spatial and temporal scales of both disturbance and seagrass response affect ecosystem trajectory and hence resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R O'Brien
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Michelle Waycott
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; State Herbarium of South Australia, Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, GPO Box 1047, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Paul Maxwell
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia; Healthy Land and Water, PO Box 13204, George St, Brisbane 4003, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gary A Kendrick
- The Oceans Institute (M470), The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - James W Udy
- Healthy Land and Water, PO Box 13204, George St, Brisbane 4003, Queensland, Australia; School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, P.O. Box 2434, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Angus J P Ferguson
- NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, PO Box A290, Sydney South, NSW 1232, Australia
| | - Kieryn Kilminster
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Locked Bag 33, Cloisters Square, Perth, WA 6842, Australia
| | - Peter Scanes
- NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, PO Box A290, Sydney South, NSW 1232, Australia
| | - Len J McKenzie
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia
| | - Kathryn McMahon
- School of Sciences, Edith Cowan University, WA, 6027, Australia; Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Matthew P Adams
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jimena Samper-Villarreal
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia; Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Catherine Collier
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia
| | - Mitchell Lyons
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, 2052 NSW, Australia
| | - Peter J Mumby
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Lynda Radke
- Coastal, Marine and Climate Change Group, Geoscience Australia, GPO Box 378, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700, CC, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - William C Dennison
- University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD 21613, USA
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Vonk JA, Smulders FOH, Christianen MJA, Govers LL. Seagrass leaf element content: A global overview. Mar Pollut Bull 2018; 134:123-133. [PMID: 28986112 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.09.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge on the role of seagrass leaf elements and in particular micronutrients and their ranges is limited. We present a global database, consisting of 1126 unique leaf values for ten elements, obtained from literature and unpublished data, spanning 25 different seagrass species from 28 countries. The overall order of average element values in seagrass leaves was Na>K>Ca>Mg>S>Fe>Al>Si>Mn>Zn. Although we observed differences in leaf element content between seagrass families, high intraspecific variation indicated that leaf element content was more strongly determined by environmental factors than by evolutionary history. Early successional species had high leaf Al and Fe content. In addition, seagrass leaf element content also showed correlations with macronutrients (N and P), indicating that productivity also depends on other elements. Expected genomes of additional seagrass species in combination with experiments manipulating (micro)nutrients and environmental drivers might enable us to unravel the importance of various elements to sustain productive and flourishing meadows.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Arie Vonk
- Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Fee O H Smulders
- Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Laura L Govers
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research (IWWR), Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Rees AF, Avens L, Ballorain K, Bevan E, Broderick AC, Carthy RR, Christianen MJA, Duclos G, Heithaus MR, Johnston DW, Mangel JC, Paladino F, Pendoley K, Reina RD, Robinson NJ, Ryan R, Sykora-Bodie ST, Tilley D, Varela MR, Whitman ER, Whittock PA, Wibbels T, Godley BJ. The potential of unmanned aerial systems for sea turtle research and conservation: a review and future directions. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2018. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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18
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van der Zee EM, Angelini C, Govers LL, Christianen MJA, Altieri AH, van der Reijden KJ, Silliman BR, van de Koppel J, van der Geest M, van Gils JA, van der Veer HW, Piersma T, de Ruiter PC, Olff H, van der Heide T. How habitat-modifying organisms structure the food web of two coastal ecosystems. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 283:20152326. [PMID: 26962135 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.2326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [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: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The diversity and structure of ecosystems has been found to depend both on trophic interactions in food webs and on other species interactions such as habitat modification and mutualism that form non-trophic interaction networks. However, quantification of the dependencies between these two main interaction networks has remained elusive. In this study, we assessed how habitat-modifying organisms affect basic food web properties by conducting in-depth empirical investigations of two ecosystems: North American temperate fringing marshes and West African tropical seagrass meadows. Results reveal that habitat-modifying species, through non-trophic facilitation rather than their trophic role, enhance species richness across multiple trophic levels, increase the number of interactions per species (link density), but decrease the realized fraction of all possible links within the food web (connectance). Compared to the trophic role of the most highly connected species, we found this non-trophic effects to be more important for species richness and of more or similar importance for link density and connectance. Our findings demonstrate that food webs can be fundamentally shaped by interactions outside the trophic network, yet intrinsic to the species participating in it. Better integration of non-trophic interactions in food web analyses may therefore strongly contribute to their explanatory and predictive capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Els M van der Zee
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands Department of Marine Ecology, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands Altenburg and Wymenga Ecological Consultants, Suderwei 2, 9269 TZ Veenwouden, The Netherlands
| | - Christine Angelini
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Laura L Govers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Group, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew H Altieri
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Republic of Panama
| | - Karin J van der Reijden
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystems, Haringkade 1, 1976 CP IJmuiden, The Netherlands
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Duke University, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - Johan van de Koppel
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands
| | - Matthijs van der Geest
- Department of Marine Ecology, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Jan A van Gils
- Department of Marine Ecology, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Henk W van der Veer
- Department of Marine Ecology, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Theunis Piersma
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands Department of Marine Ecology, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Peter C de Ruiter
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94248, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Han Olff
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tjisse van der Heide
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Group, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Becking LE, Christianen MJA, Nava MI, Miller N, Willis S, van Dam RP. Post-breeding migration routes of marine turtles from Bonaire and Klein Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2016. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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de Fouw J, Govers LL, van de Koppel J, van Belzen J, Dorigo W, Sidi Cheikh MA, Christianen MJA, van der Reijden KJ, van der Geest M, Piersma T, Smolders AJP, Olff H, Lamers LPM, van Gils JA, van der Heide T. Drought, Mutualism Breakdown, and Landscape-Scale Degradation of Seagrass Beds. Curr Biol 2016; 26:1051-6. [PMID: 26972316 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Revised: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In many marine ecosystems, biodiversity critically depends on foundation species such as corals and seagrasses that engage in mutualistic interactions [1-3]. Concerns grow that environmental disruption of marine mutualisms exacerbates ecosystem degradation, with breakdown of the obligate coral mutualism ("coral bleaching") being an iconic example [2, 4, 5]. However, as these mutualisms are mostly facultative rather than obligate, it remains unclear whether mutualism breakdown is a common risk in marine ecosystems, and thus a potential accelerator of ecosystem degradation. Here, we provide evidence that drought triggered landscape-scale seagrass degradation and show the consequent failure of a facultative mutualistic feedback between seagrass and sulfide-consuming lucinid bivalves that in turn appeared to exacerbate the observed collapse. Local climate and remote sensing analyses revealed seagrass collapse after a summer with intense low-tide drought stress. Potential analysis-a novel approach to detect feedback-mediated state shifts-revealed two attractors (healthy and degraded states) during the collapse, suggesting that the drought disrupted internal feedbacks to cause abrupt, patch-wise degradation. Field measurements comparing degraded patches that were healthy before the collapse with patches that remained healthy demonstrated that bivalves declined dramatically in degrading patches with associated high sediment sulfide concentrations, confirming the breakdown of the mutualistic seagrass-lucinid feedback. Our findings indicate that drought triggered mutualism breakdown, resulting in toxic sulfide concentrations that aggravated seagrass degradation. We conclude that external disturbances can cause sudden breakdown of facultative marine mutualistic feedbacks. As this may amplify ecosystem degradation, we suggest including mutualisms in marine conservation and restoration approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy de Fouw
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, the Netherlands
| | - Laura L Govers
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Group, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Johan van de Koppel
- Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 140, 4400 CA Yerseke, the Netherlands
| | - Jim van Belzen
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 140, 4400 CA Yerseke, the Netherlands
| | - Wouter Dorigo
- Department of Geodesy and Geo-Information, Vienna University of Technology, Gusshausstrasse 27-29, 1040 Vienna, Austria; Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Management, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mohammed A Sidi Cheikh
- Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Karin J van der Reijden
- Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Matthijs van der Geest
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, the Netherlands; Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Theunis Piersma
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, the Netherlands; Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Group, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands; B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University, Mercator 3, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Han Olff
- Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Leon P M Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Group, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jan A van Gils
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, the Netherlands
| | - Tjisse van der Heide
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology Group, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Conservation Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands.
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21
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Christianen MJA, Herman PMJ, Bouma TJ, Lamers LPM, van Katwijk MM, van der Heide T, Mumby PJ, Silliman BR, Engelhard SL, van de Kerk M, Kiswara W, van de Koppel J. Habitat collapse due to overgrazing threatens turtle conservation in marine protected areas. Proc Biol Sci 2014; 281:20132890. [PMID: 24403341 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.2890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [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: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are key tools for combatting the global overexploitation of endangered species. The prevailing paradigm is that MPAs are beneficial in helping to restore ecosystems to more 'natural' conditions. However, MPAs may have unintended negative effects when increasing densities of protected species exert destructive effects on their habitat. Here, we report on severe seagrass degradation in a decade-old MPA where hyper-abundant green turtles adopted a previously undescribed below-ground foraging strategy. By digging for and consuming rhizomes and roots, turtles create abundant bare gaps, thereby enhancing erosion and reducing seagrass regrowth. A fully parametrized model reveals that the ecosystem is approaching a tipping point, where consumption overwhelms regrowth, which could potentially lead to complete collapse of the seagrass habitat. Seagrass recovery will not ensue unless turtle density is reduced to nearly zero, eliminating the MPA's value as a turtle reserve. Our results reveal an unrecognized, yet imminent threat to MPAs, as sea turtle densities are increasing at major nesting sites and the decline of seagrass habitat forces turtles to concentrate on the remaining meadows inside reserves. This emphasizes the need for policy and management approaches that consider the interactions of protected species with their habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, , Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands, Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, , Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands, Spatial Ecology Department, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), , PO Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands, Community and Conservation Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies (CEES), University of Groningen, , PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands, Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, , St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia, Division of Marine Sciences and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, , 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516-9721, USA, Research Centre for Oceanography, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, , Jl. Pasir Putih No. 1, Ancol Timur Jakarta Utara, Indonesia
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Christianen MJA, van Belzen J, Herman PMJ, van Katwijk MM, Lamers LPM, van Leent PJM, Bouma TJ. Low-canopy seagrass beds still provide important coastal protection services. PLoS One 2013; 8:e62413. [PMID: 23723969 PMCID: PMC3665780 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [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: 12/28/2012] [Accepted: 03/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most frequently quoted ecosystem services of seagrass meadows is their value for coastal protection. Many studies emphasize the role of above-ground shoots in attenuating waves, enhancing sedimentation and preventing erosion. This raises the question if short-leaved, low density (grazed) seagrass meadows with most of their biomass in belowground tissues can also stabilize sediments. We examined this by combining manipulative field experiments and wave measurements along a typical tropical reef flat where green turtles intensively graze upon the seagrass canopy. We experimentally manipulated wave energy and grazing intensity along a transect perpendicular to the beach, and compared sediment bed level change between vegetated and experimentally created bare plots at three distances from the beach. Our experiments showed that i) even the short-leaved, low-biomass and heavily-grazed seagrass vegetation reduced wave-induced sediment erosion up to threefold, and ii) that erosion was a function of location along the vegetated reef flat. Where other studies stress the importance of the seagrass canopy for shoreline protection, our study on open, low-biomass and heavily grazed seagrass beds strongly suggests that belowground biomass also has a major effect on the immobilization of sediment. These results imply that, compared to shallow unvegetated nearshore reef flats, the presence of a short, low-biomass seagrass meadow maintains a higher bed level, attenuating waves before reaching the beach and hence lowering beach erosion rates. We propose that the sole use of aboveground biomass as a proxy for valuing coastal protection services should be reconsidered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Kneer D, Monniot F, Stach T, Christianen MJA. Ascidia subterranea sp. nov. (Phlebobranchia: Ascidiidae), a new tunicate belonging to the A. sydneiensis Stimpson, 1855 group, found as burrow associate of Axiopsis serratifrons A. Milne-Edwards, 1873 (Decapoda: Axiidae) on Derawan Island, Indonesia. Zootaxa 2013; 3616:485-94. [PMID: 24758824 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3616.5.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
A new tunicate, Ascidia subterranea sp. nov., was found in burrows of the axiid crustacean Axiopsis serratifrons on Derawan Island, Indonesia. It differs from other ascidians in its habitat as well as numerous morphological peculiarities which are described in detail. The shrimp Rostronia stylirostris Holthuis, 1952 was found inside A. subterranea sp. nov., and 4 species of bivalves, 3 species of polychaetes, 1 gastropod, 1 polyplacophoran and 1 sponge species were found as burrow associates besides the ascidian.
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van Katwijk MM, van der Welle MEW, Lucassen ECHET, Vonk JA, Christianen MJA, Kiswara W, al Hakim II, Arifin A, Bouma TJ, Roelofs JGM, Lamers LPM. Early warning indicators for river nutrient and sediment loads in tropical seagrass beds: a benchmark from a near-pristine archipelago in Indonesia. Mar Pollut Bull 2011; 62:1512-1520. [PMID: 21596394 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.04.007] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2011] [Revised: 04/06/2011] [Accepted: 04/09/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
In remote, tropical areas human influences increase, potentially threatening pristine seagrass systems. We aim (i) to provide a bench-mark for a near-pristine seagrass system in an archipelago in East Kalimantan, by quantifying a large spectrum of abiotic and biotic properties in seagrass meadows and (ii) to identify early warning indicators for river sediment and nutrient loading, by comparing the seagrass meadow properties over a gradient with varying river influence. Abiotic properties of water column, pore water and sediment were less suitable indicators for increased sediment and nutrient loading than seagrass properties. Seagrass meadows strongly responded to higher sediment and nutrient loads and proximity to the coast by decreasing seagrass cover, standing stock, number of seagrass species, changing species composition and shifts in tissue contents. Our study confirms that nutrient loads are more important than water nutrient concentrations. We identify seagrass system variables that are suitable indicators for sediment and nutrient loading, also in rapid survey scenarios with once-only measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M van Katwijk
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Faculty of Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Christianen MJA, van der Heide T, Bouma TJ, Roelofs JGM, van Katwijk MM, Lamers LPM. Limited toxicity of NH(x) pulses on an early and late successional tropical seagrass species: interactions with pH and light level. Aquat Toxicol 2011; 104:73-79. [PMID: 21536012 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2011.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2010] [Revised: 03/30/2011] [Accepted: 04/01/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Seagrasses have declined at a global scale due to light reduction and toxicity events, caused by eutrophication and increased sediment loading. Although several studies have tested effects of light reduction and toxicants on seagrasses, there is at present no information available on their interacting effects. In a full-factorial 5-day laboratory experiment, we studied short-term interactive effects of light conditions, pH and reduced nitrogen (NH(x)) in the water layer, mimicking pulses of river discharge, on the tropical early successional species Halodule uninervis and the late successional species Thalassia hemprichii. In contrast to recent results reported for the temperate species Zostera marina, increased NH(x) supply did not affect leaf mortality or photochemical efficiency in H. uninervis and in 7 out of 8 treatments for T. hemprichii. However, both tropical species demonstrated striking differences in nitrogen accumulation, free amino acid composition and free NH₃ accumulation. The increase in tissue nitrogen content was two times higher for H. uninervis than for T. hemprichii. Nitrogen stored as free amino acids (especially asparagine) only increased in H. uninervis. High pH only affected T. hemprichii, but only when not shaded, by doubling its free NH₃ concentrations, concomitantly decreasing its photosynthetic efficiency. Our results indicate that the early successional H. uninervis has higher tolerance to high NH(x) loads as compared to the late successional T. hemprichii. H. uninervis was better able to avoid toxic internal NH(x) levels by further assimilating glutamine into asparagine in contrast to T. hemprichii. Moreover, both tropical species seem to cope much better with high NH(x) than the temperate Z. marina. The implications for the distribution and succession of seagrass species under high nutrient loads are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J A Christianen
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Faculty of Science, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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