Density‐Dependent Feedbacks, Hysteresis, and Demography of Overgrazing Sea Urchins

Ling, Scott D.; Kriegisch, Nina; Woolley, Bailee; Reeves, Simon

doi:10.1002/bes2.1516

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Besides their ecological importance (Willoughby, 2018; Ling et al ., 2019), sea urchins are of commercial importance (Lauzon-Guay & Scheibling, 2007; Rahman et al ., 2014). Sea urchins have been overfished around the world because of the increasing market requirements (Cirino et al ., 2017), leading to a reduction in supply.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of flow velocity on fitness-related behaviours of the sea urchin Mesocentrotus nudus: new information on stock enhancement

et al. 2020

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The effects of flow velocity on the fitness-related behaviours of Mesocentrotus nudus remain largely unknown, greatly hampering the efficiency of stock enhancement. To explore the appropriate velocities for stock enhancement, we investigated dislodgement and immobilization velocities up to 90 cm s−1. The experimental results showed that M. nudus (test diameter of ~30 mm) were dislodged at 73.50 ± 7.7 cm s−1 and that M. nudus movement occurred only when the flow velocity was less than 33.40 ± 2.7 cm s−1. Three flow velocities less than 33.40 ± 2.7 cm s−1 (2, 10 and 20 cm s−1) were subsequently used to study the effects of flow velocities on covering behaviour and the righting response time of M. nudus. The downstream movement velocity of M. nudus was significantly larger than that upstream at 2 cm s−1 (P = 0.016) and 10 cm s−1 (P = 0.008), but not at 20 cm s−1 (P = 0.222). The righting response time of M. nudus was significantly longer at 20 cm s−1 than that at 2 cm s−1 (P = 0.015). The present study indicates that a flow velocity less than 20 cm s−1, preferably 2–10 cm s−1, is probably appropriate for the stock enhancement of M. nudus. Notably, the current study is a laboratory investigation without considering the hydrographic complexity in the field. Further studies should be carried out to investigate the long-term effects of water flow on feeding and growth of M. nudus both in the laboratory and the field.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of flow velocity on fitness-related behaviours of the sea urchin Mesocentrotus nudus: new information on stock enhancement

et al. 2020

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“…Likewise, the kelp patches could also be reduced through exploitation of other organisms, decreasing the predator diversity and their cascading (top‐down) effects upon herbivores in the community (Byrnes et al, 2006; Christie et al, 2019). In short, the ecological persistence of barrens in coastal benthic ecosystems could increase through self‐determination of their own short and more locally stable successional transient states (pathway), eventually having negative consequences (delays) in the recovery of kelp beds (Marzloff et al, 2013; Filbee‐Dexter & Scheibling, 2014; Christie et al, 2019; Filbee‐Dexter et al, 2019; Ling et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…and resistance are related system properties (Levins, 1998). Likewise, the barrens could also be considered in a degraded state compared to that of kelp beds (Suding, Gross & Houseman, 2004; Ortiz, 2008a; Ling et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing the stability of successional transient models in kelp forests and barrens (south‐east Pacific): Implications for conservation monitoring

Ortiz

Uribe

2021

Aquatic Conservation

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Ecological stability based on statistical variability was contrasted with the asymptotical local stability of transient states during successional changes in community structure in kelp forests and barren grounds. Simplified semi‐quantitative ecological models with different levels of complexity were constructed to represent transient successional states in kelp and barrens, and Routh–Hurwitz's criteria and Levins' criterion of local stability were also estimated. The results suggest that ecological stability based on statistical variation does not match local (mathematical) stability, since although successional changes in kelp exhibited less variability (measured as percentage coefficient of variation), barren beds were more locally stable. The local stability criteria used in the current work could be a suitable technique for evaluating the likelihood of transient ecological states to resist or change, since it considers states at equilibrium to maintain their properties only against small disturbances. These outcomes are relevant because the natural alternation between kelp and barrens could be disrupted by the intensive harvest of kelp species carried out over the last 10 years on the central‐north Chilean coast and in other temperate ecosystems. Additionally, the negative effects of harvesting kelp species could have a synergetic relationship with other drivers such as climate change and coastal pollution. Thus, strict policy managements to limit the kelp harvest are deeply encouraged. A monitoring programme for assessing the current conditions of benthic–pelagic ecosystems along the Chilean coast is also required.

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“…Barrens are typically created by the large diadematid urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii, which grazes on brown algae (Andrew & Byrne, 2007 ; Fletcher, 1987 ; Hill et al., 2003 ). Smaller patches of barrens can also be created by large densities of the echinometrid urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma , one of the most common herbivores along the Great Southern Reef (Bennett et al., 2016 ; Keesing, 2020 ) particularly in shallower, more sheltered waters (Connell & Irving, 2008 ; Ling et al., 2019 ; Wright et al., 2005 ). In smaller densities, H. erythrogramma may not create barrens but can still remove canopy‐forming algae such as Ecklonia radiata, Sargassum spp., and Cystophora spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sublethal effects of a rapidly spreading native alga on a key herbivore

Bradley

Boada

Gladstone

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Multiple anthropogenic stressors are causing a global decline in foundation species, including macrophytes, often resulting in the expansion of functionally different, more stressor‐tolerant macrophytes. Previously subdominant species may experience further positive demographic feedback if they are exposed to weaker plant–herbivore interactions, possibly via decreased palatability or being structurally different from the species they are replacing. However, the consequences of the spread of opportunistic macrophytes for the local distribution and life history of herbivores are unknown. The green alga, Caulerpa filiformis, previously a subdominant macrophyte on low intertidal‐shallow subtidal rock shores, is becoming locally more abundant and has spread into warmer waters across the coast of New South Wales, Australia. In this study, we measured (a) the distribution and abundance of a key consumer, the sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma, across a seascape at sites where C. filiformis has become dominant, (b) performed behavioral field experiments to test the role of habitat selection in determining the local distribution of H. erythrogramma, and (c) consumer experiments to test differential palatability between previously dominant higher quality species like Ecklonia radiata and Sargassum sp. and C. filiformis and the physiological consequences of consuming it. At all sites, urchin densities were positively correlated with distance away from C. filiformis beds, and they actively moved away from beds. Feeding experiments showed that, while urchins consumed C. filiformis, sometimes in equal amounts to higher quality algae, there were strong sublethal consequences associated with C. filiformis consumption, mainly on reproductive potential (gonad size). Specifically, the gonad size of urchins that fed on C. filiformis was equivalent to that in starved urchins. There was also a tendency for urchin mortality to be greater when fed C. filiformis. Overall, strong negative effects on herbivore life‐history traits and potentially their survivorship may establish further positive feedback on C. filiformis abundance that contributes to its spread and may mediate shifts from top‐down to bottom‐up control at locations where C. filiformis has become dominant.

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Density‐Dependent Feedbacks, Hysteresis, and Demography of Overgrazing Sea Urchins

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Effects of flow velocity on fitness-related behaviours of the sea urchin Mesocentrotus nudus: new information on stock enhancement

Effects of flow velocity on fitness-related behaviours of the sea urchin Mesocentrotus nudus: new information on stock enhancement

Comparing the stability of successional transient models in kelp forests and barrens (south‐east Pacific): Implications for conservation monitoring

Sublethal effects of a rapidly spreading native alga on a key herbivore

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