A decline in the abundance and condition of a native bivalve associated with Caulerpa taxifolia invasion

Wright, Jeffrey T.; McKenzie, Louise A.; Gribben, Paul E.

doi:10.1071/mf06150

Cited by 35 publications

(59 citation statements)

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“…Research into C. taxifolia has focused largely on its range expansion (e.g. Meinesz et al 2001) and effects of the live alga on local seagrass populations (Ceccherelli & Cinelli 1997, Ceccherelli & Sechi 2002, Holmer et al 2009), epi-and in-fauna (Gollan & Wright 2006, Wright et al 2007, McKinnon et al 2009) and fish assemblages (York et al 2006). Also, C. taxifolia also has the potential to markedly alter detrital pools.…”

Section: Resale or Republication Not Permitted Without Written Consenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of detritus from the invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia on a soft sediment community

Taylor¹,

Bishop²,

Kelaher³

et al. 2010

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Invasive primary producers can dramatically reorganize food webs through detrital subsidies. This study assessed (1) contributions of the invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia to detrital resources of temperate Australian estuaries, and (2) effects of these contributions on sedimentdwelling invertebrates. In an invaded estuary, sampling of an intertidal shore indicated C. taxifolia fragments were consistently present in organic matter deposits and were particularly abundant following storms. Sampling of the alga across 6 invaded estuaries showed that the ratio of organic carbon to nitrogen (C:N) in fresh tissue varied between 7 and 16. To determine how C. taxifolia detritus influences benthic macrofaunal assemblages and whether this influence depends on the quantity and C:N ratio of C. taxifolia detritus, a manipulative field experiment was performed. On a sheltered intertidal mudflat, 0.25 m 2 plots of sediment were experimentally enriched with either a high (90 g DW) or low (30 g) loading of high C:N (14) or low C:N (7) C. taxifolia detritus. Experimental enrichment negatively affected the total abundance and species richness of macroinvertebrates relative to controls, and these effects increased with detrital loading. For some macrofauna, reducing the C:N ratio tended to exacerbate negative effects on abundances, whereas it moderated these effects for other species. Given that organic matter derived from invasive species can be transported beyond the distribution of live invaders, greater consideration should be given to the potential broad-scale effects of invasive primary producers on detrital pathways. KEY WORDS: Detritus · Caulerpa taxifolia · Food quality · Invasion · Nitrogen content · Spatial subsidy Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherMar Ecol Prog Ser 420: [73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81] 2010 sources, typically degrades rapidly and produces a short-term nutritional source to fast growing consumers (Tenore 1977). Although the C:N ratio of detritus can change during degradation (Anderson 1973, Suberkropp et al. 1976, the starting C:N ratio is a good predictor of decomposition rate (Enriquez et al. 1993).Invasive primary producers are an increasingly large component of detrital pools (Kennedy & Hobbie 2004, Rodil et al. 2008 and have the potential to markedly alter their value. Many successful invaders have rapid individual growth, early maturity, a short life span, high fecundity, minimal structural defence and extensive dispersal capacity (Lodge 1993, Schaffelke et al. 2006. Consequently, invasive primary producers tend to generate large amounts of labile detritus with a low C:N ratio, which is more readily decomposed than is litter from native species (Vitousek et al. 1987, Ashton et al. 2005. Whereas small amounts of refractory detritus may fuel productivity, large quantities of labile detritus may induce sediment anoxia (Pearson & Rosenberg 1978). This phenomenon may be exacerbated in areas of nutrient enrichment where invasive primary producer...

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Section: Resale or Republication Not Permitted Without Written Consenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of detritus from the invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia on a soft sediment community

Taylor¹,

Bishop²,

Kelaher³

et al. 2010

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…A number of studies have identified changes in ecological communities such as seagrass (DeVille and Verlaque 1995;Ceccherelli and Sechi 2002), fish (York et al 2006), bivalves (Wright et al 2007), and soft-sediment macroinvertebrates (McKinnon et al 2009) following C. taxifolia invasion. Water column and sediment properties and physical processes are also modified by C. taxifolia colonization.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in benthic metabolism, nutrient fluxes, and denitrification in Caulerpa taxifolia communities compared to uninvaded bare sediment and seagrass (Zostera capricorni) habitats

Eyre

Maher

Oakes

et al. 2011

Limnology & Oceanography

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Benthic metabolism, nutrient fluxes, and denitrification were measured in Caulerpa taxifolia communities that had recently invaded (between 2003 and 2008) bare sediments following the loss of Zostera capricorni (prior to 2003), and in adjacent Z. capricorni communities and bare sediments, to determine the likely changes in ecosystem function following C. taxifolia colonization. Areas colonized by C. taxifolia had higher gross primary production (GPP), net primary production (NPP), and dark benthic N 2 effluxes than adjacent bare sediments, but lower dark benthic NH z 4 effluxes. C. taxifolia invasion of bare sediments had a beneficial role in removing excess nitrogen from the system through enhanced denitrification. In contrast, areas occupied by C. taxifolia had similar GPP and NPP relative to Z. capricorni beds and similar benthic N 2 and NH z 4 effluxes. Thus, C. taxifolia appears to play a comparable role to Z. capricorni in terms of some ecosystem functions, although the degree of similarity is likely to be affected by the relative densities of the two macrophytes. However, replacement of Z. capricorni communities by C. taxifolia appears to significantly alter the quantity and quality (higher ratio) of benthic dissolved organic carbon and dissolved organic nitrogen fluxes.

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“…Caulerpa was first discovered in Lake Conjola in 2000 (Creese et al 2004) and within eight years spread to cover .25% of the benthos, including nearly all of the benthos in shallow water (0.25-3 m; State of New South Wales, Department of Primary Industries 2005). At our study site, Anadara occurs in increasingly rare patches of unvegetated sediments and in Caulerpa-invaded sediments, although at lower densities (Wright et al 2007). Native seagrasses are present in Lake Conjola but they are sparse and restricted to shallow areas fringing the bay.…”

Section: Species and Study Locationmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Recruitment of Anadara is significantly greater to Caulerpa habitat (Gribben and Wright 2006b), perhaps due to enhanced capture and retention of particles resulting from its reduction of water velocities (Gribben et al 2009b). However, ultimately Anadara populations are very negatively affected by Caulerpa, with the higher recruit densities inside Caulerpa driven to equally low levels within a year (Gribben et al 2009b) and adult densities in Caulerpa as low as one-fifth of those in unvegetated areas (Wright et al 2007). However, the manner in which Anadara populations are reduced is unclear.…”

Section: Study Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In several bays Anadara co-occurs in patches with the native seagrasses Zostera capricorni and Halophila ovalis. Anadara densities within native seagrasses are roughly intermediate between unvegetated and Caulerpa habitats (Wright et al 2007). Physical variables within native seagrasses, especially redox potential, are much more similar to unvegetated habitat than to Caulerpa habitat (McKinnon et al 2009).…”

Section: Study Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Variable direct and indirect effects of a habitat‐modifying invasive species on mortality of native fauna

Byers

Wright

Gribben

2010

Ecology

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Habitat-modifying invasive species can influence rates of predation on native prey either directly by providing protective structure or indirectly by modifying traits of prey species responding to the habitat. The alga Caulerpa taxifolia is one of the most successful invasive species of shallow-water marine systems globally, often provisioning habitat in areas previously lacking in vegetated structure. We experimentally evaluated the direct effect of Caulerpa to provide refuge for the native clam Anadara trapezia and how this balances with its influence on two trait-mediated indirect interactions that may increase Anadara's susceptibility to predators. Specifically, Caulerpa's alteration of physical and chemical properties of the surrounding water and sediment deteriorate Anadara's condition and predator resistance properties and also cause Anadara, though normally buried, to project from beneath the sediment, exposing it to predators. Our results show that Anadara are somewhat (but not consistently) protected from predators by living among Caulerpa. Shallow burial depth did not counteract this protective effect. However at times of year when predator activity diminishes and conducive environmental conditions develop, negative effects of Caulerpa habitat such as hypoxia and lowered flow may dominate. Under such situations, poor clam condition accentuates Anadara's susceptibility to mortality. Ultimately, a slight and inconsistent positive effect of Caulerpa to protect Anadara from predators is exceeded by the strong negative effect of Caulerpa on clam mortality, which is heightened by clams' weakened condition produced by chronic exposure to Caulerpa. Our results show that invasive habitatmodifying species can affect mortality of native species not simply through obvious positive direct effects of their protective structure, but indirectly through contrasting negative modification of the traits of prey species responding to the habitat. Abstract. Habitat-modifying invasive species can influence rates of predation on native prey either directly by providing protective structure or indirectly by modifying traits of prey species responding to the habitat. The alga Caulerpa taxifolia is one of the most successful invasive species of shallow-water marine systems globally, often provisioning habitat in areas previously lacking in vegetated structure. We experimentally evaluated the direct effect of Caulerpa to provide refuge for the native clam Anadara trapezia and how this balances with its influence on two trait-mediated indirect interactions that may increase Anadara's susceptibility to predators. Specifically, Caulerpa's alteration of physical and chemical properties of the surrounding water and sediment deteriorate Anadara's condition and predator resistance properties and also cause Anadara, though normally buried, to project from beneath the sediment, exposing it to predators. Our results show that Anadara are somewhat (but not consistently) protected from predators by living among Caulerpa. Shallow bu...

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A decline in the abundance and condition of a native bivalve associated with Caulerpa taxifolia invasion

Cited by 35 publications

References 53 publications

Impacts of detritus from the invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia on a soft sediment community

Impacts of detritus from the invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia on a soft sediment community

Differences in benthic metabolism, nutrient fluxes, and denitrification in Caulerpa taxifolia communities compared to uninvaded bare sediment and seagrass (Zostera capricorni) habitats

Variable direct and indirect effects of a habitat‐modifying invasive species on mortality of native fauna

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