A review of subtidal kelp forests in Ireland: From first descriptions to new habitat monitoring techniques

Schoenrock, Kathryn M.; Chan, Kenan M.; O'Callaghan, Tony; O'Callaghan, Rory; Golden, A.; Krueger‐Hadfield, Stacy A.; Power, Anne Marie

doi:10.1002/ece3.6345

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…Despite clear differences in the functional traits of these species, the wider implications of climatedriven species replacements for the functioning of these ecosystems remains unresolved (but see Pessarrodona et al, 2018a). As kelp assemblages in the UK and Ireland comprise a mix of both warm and cold adapted species (Smale et al, 2013;Schoenrock et al, 2019), they provide a useful model system for examining indirect effects of ocean warming on ecological pattern and process.…”

Section: Accepted Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

Ocean warming and species range shifts affect rates of ecosystem functioning by altering consumer–resource interactions

Gilson¹,

Smale

O’Connor³

2021

Ecology

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Recent warming trends have driven widespread changes in the performance and distribution of species in many regions, with consequent shifts in assemblage structure and ecosystem functioning. However, as responses to warming vary across species and regions, novel communities are emerging, particularly where warm-affinity range-expanding species have rapidly colonised communities still dominated by cold-affinity species. Such community reconfiguration may alter core ecosystem processes, such as productivity or nutrient cycling, yet it remains unclear whether novel communities function similarly to those they have replaced, and how continued warming will alter functioning in the near future. Using simplified kelp forest communities as a model system, we compared rates of respiration, consumption and secondary productivity between current cold-affinity and future warm-affinity kelp assemblages under both present-day temperatures and near future warming in a series of mesocosm experiments. Overall, respiration rates of gastropods and amphipods increased with warming but did not differ between cold and warm affinity kelp assemblages. Consumption rates of three consumers (urchin, gastropod and amphipod) differed between kelp assemblages but only amphipod consumption rates increased with warming. A diet derived from warm-affinity kelp assemblages led to a decrease in growth and biomass of urchins, whereas the response of other consumers was variable depending on temperature treatment. These results suggest that climate-driven changes in assemblage structure of primary producers will alter per capita rates of ecosystem functioning, and that specific responses may vary in complex and unpredictable ways, with some mediated by warming more than others. Understanding how differences in life history and functional traits of dominant species will affect ecological interactions and, in turn, important ecosystem processes is crucial to understanding the wider implications of climate-driven community reconfiguration.

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Section: Accepted Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

Ocean warming and species range shifts affect rates of ecosystem functioning by altering consumer–resource interactions

Gilson¹,

Smale

O’Connor³

2021

Ecology

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“…Kelps occupy the low intertidal and subtidal rocky reefs of Ireland where 5 dominant species co-exist (Smale et al 2013, Schoenrock et al 2020. Highenergy subtidal habitats are dominated by the canopy-forming L. hyperborea down to a depth of up to ~30 m (Smale et al 2013 and references therein), while intertidal and shallow, subtidal, wave-exposed reef areas are dominated by L. digitata.…”

Section: Differences In Degradation Rates Of Kelp-derived Detritusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatio-temporal variability in the deposition of beach-cast kelp (wrack) and inter-specific differences in degradation rates

Gilson

Smale

Burrows

et al. 2021

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Coastal habitats dominated by marine macroalgae typically exhibit high rates of primary productivity and play a key role in local and regional carbon cycles and stores. In temperate regions, large brown algae (i.e. kelps and fucoids) contribute significantly to macroalgal primary production, most of which is exported from source habitats as detritus. The ultimate fate of this detritus and the processes controlling detrital pathways into food webs and carbon cycles remain poorly understood. Based on field surveys, we quantified the biomass of kelp-derived detritus (wrack) at sandy and pebble-dominated shores in Ireland and conducted a manipulative field experiment to test for inter-specific differences in detritus degradation rates and the effect of macroinvertebrate detritivores. Overall, accumulated wrack biomass was similar on all shores but varied temporally depending on habitat type. Degradation rates and the nutritional (C:N) and chemical (polyphenol concentrations) properties differed among kelp species. Interestingly, exclusion of macroinvertebrate detritivores did not affect kelp degradation rates, C:N ratios or polyphenol content. Our findings show that rates of macroalgal breakdown differ among kelp species and that, in contrast to other aquatic systems, macroinvertebrates appear to play a very limited role in the breakdown of these marine detrital subsidies, suggesting a key role for meiofauna and microbes in detritus processing. Increasing recognition for the role of detritus in coastal food webs and carbon cycles warrants a better understanding of the mechanisms underpinning degradation rates.

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“…Previous estimations of macroalgal contributions to coastal carbon cycles have generally focused on intertidal fucoids and subtidal populations of kelp (Pessarrodona et al, 2022 ). It is important to note, however, that the rate estimates presented here were obtained from a limited number of sites within a region where such information is very scarce (Schoenrock et al, 2020 , 2021 ). For L. digitata , population densities were at the higher end of previous estimates, and individual size far exceeded previously reported values, resulting in very high estimates of productivity and detrital production.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous estimations of macroalgal contributions to coastal carbon cycles have generally focused on intertidal fucoids and subtidal populations of kelp . It is important to note, however, that the rate estimates presented here were obtained from a limited number of sites within a region where such information is very scarce (Schoenrock et al, 2020(Schoenrock et al, , 2021. For L.…”

Section: Moorementioning

confidence: 96%

Seasonal and spatial variability in rates of primary production and detritus release by intertidal stands of Laminaria digitata and Saccharina latissima on wave‐exposed shores in the northeast Atlantic

Gilson

White

Burrows

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Coastal habitats are increasingly recognized as fundamentally important components of global carbon cycles, but the rates of carbon flow associated with marine macrophytes are not well resolved for many species in many regions. We quantified density, rates of primary productivity, and detritus production of intertidal stands of two common intertidal kelp species-Laminaria digitata (oarweed) and Saccharina latissima (sugar kelp)-on four NE Atlantic rocky shores over 22 months. The density of L. digitata was greater at exposed compared to moderately exposed shores but remained consistently low for S. latissima throughout the survey period. Individual productivity and erosion rates of L. digitata did not differ between exposed and moderately exposed shores but differed across exposure levels throughout the year at moderately exposed sites only. Productivity and erosion of S. latissima remained low on moderately exposed shores and showed no clear seasonal pattern. Patterns of productivity and total detrital production (erosion and dislodgement) per m 2 of both L. digitata and S. latissima followed closely that of densities per m 2 , peaking in May during both survey years. Temperature and light were key factors affecting the productivity rates of L. digitata and S. latissima. Erosion rates of L. digitata were affected by wave exposure, temperature, light, grazing, and epiphyte cover, but only temperature-affected erosion of S. latissima. Production of biomass and detritus was greater in L. digitata than in S. latissima and exceeded previous estimates for subtidal and warmer-water affinity kelp populations (e.g., Laminaria ochroleuca). These biogenic habitats are clearly important contributors to the coastal carbon cycle that have been overlooked previously and should be included in future ecosystem models. Further work is required to determine the areal extent of kelp stands in intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats, which is needed to scale up local production estimates to entire coastlines.

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A review of subtidal kelp forests in Ireland: From first descriptions to new habitat monitoring techniques

Cited by 7 publications

References 73 publications

Ocean warming and species range shifts affect rates of ecosystem functioning by altering consumer–resource interactions

Ocean warming and species range shifts affect rates of ecosystem functioning by altering consumer–resource interactions

Spatio-temporal variability in the deposition of beach-cast kelp (wrack) and inter-specific differences in degradation rates

Seasonal and spatial variability in rates of primary production and detritus release by intertidal stands of Laminaria digitata and Saccharina latissima on wave‐exposed shores in the northeast Atlantic

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