Asymmetric effects of changes in the habitat‐forming algae Sargassum on different associated mobile faunas along São Paulo coast, Brazil

Abstract

Macroalgae constitute an important habitat for a wide variety of marine invertebrates in coastal ecosystems, which can obtain food, refuge against predators, protection against environmental stress and sites for reproduction, and/or larval settlement (Christie et al., 2009; Thomaz & Cunha, 2010). Those small-sized associated animals have great ecological importance, as they also serve as food items for other larger coastal species such as fishes, thus acting as energy links among different levels in marine trophic webs (Donadi et al., 2017;Dulvy et al., 2002).The southeastern coast of Brazil has a great diversity of macroalgae, with about 50 species of different groups and growth forms

Algal cover as a driver of diversity in communities associated with mussel assemblages across eastern Pacific ecoregions

“…Mussels have been described as “bioengineer species” with significant linkages to species richness and evenness based on shell size, age‐class, stratification of various age‐classes of mussels, and the presence of algal epibionts (Alvarado & Castilla, 1996; Firstater et al., 2011; Guiñez & Castilla, 1999; Prado & Castilla, 2006). In dynamic marine ecosystems such as intertidal and shallow subtidal areas, algal cover functions as macro‐scale habitat that defines community structure and provides a buffer from local climate extremes essential for a variety of intertidal species including mussels (Bulleri et al., 2002; Jenkins et al., 1999; Leite et al., 2021; Leonard, 1999; Stachowicz et al., 2008). It is in this extreme environment assemblages of intertidal mussels are exposed to the limits of their temperature thresholds (Helmuth et al., 2006; Szathmary et al., 2009; Williams et al., 2008).…”

“…algal cover functions as macro-scale habitat that defines community structure and provides a buffer from local climate extremes essential for a variety of intertidal species including mussels (Bulleri et al, 2002;Jenkins et al, 1999;Leite et al, 2021;Leonard, 1999;Stachowicz et al, 2008). It is in this extreme environment assemblages of intertidal mussels are exposed to the limits of their temperature thresholds (Helmuth et al, 2006;Szathmary et al, 2009;Williams et al, 2008).…”