Ecological interactions between the brown seaweed Sargassum muticum and its associated fauna

Norton, Trevor A.; Benson, Manetta R.

doi:10.1007/bf00405999

Cited by 95 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…In the laboratory, samples were transferred into buckets with filtered seawater and shaken vigorously. A repetition of this process effectively removed the majority of all motile species (Norton and Benson 1983). Then, the water was sieved (500 lm mesh size).…”

Section: Sampling Of Algae and Associated Organismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Jephson and Gray 1977;Critchley et al 1987;Ferna´ndez 1999). Thus, each year the associated species community is lost with the branches shed, and an annual re-colonisation of the alga is necessary because only few species stay attached to the basal system, maintaining their presence over winter (Norton and Benson 1983;Jephson and Gray 1977). This may explain why species communities in both environments differ so clearly from one another, and why almost all species found associated with S. muticum on Helgoland and Sylt originate from the regional species pool of the respective environments.…”

Section: Epibiota Of Sargassum Muticum In Different Coastal Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How an introduced seaweed can affect epibiota diversity in different coastal systems

2005

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Invasions by non-indigenous species have the potential to alter the biodiversity of recipient systems. The magnitude of this effect often depends on the nature of the invaded communities and the ecology of the invader. We investigated the impacts of the Japanese seaweed Sargassum muticum (Phaeophyceae, Fucales) on biodiversity in a rocky and sedimentary environment on two islands in the North Sea. In each case, we compared the epibiota of non-indigenous S. muticum with epibiota communities on taxonomically related and structurally similar native seaweed hosts. Total and average species richness on S. muticum were similar on the rocky shore (60 species and 22±6 species, respectively) and the sandy shore (64 species and 20±3 species, respectively). However, community structure and species composition differed significantly between the environments. On the rocky shore, another native fucoid seaweed, Halidrys siliquosa, supported an epibiota community very similar to that of the invader. On the sandy shore, the only other abundant native habitat-providing algal species was Fucus vesiculosus. This species supported a different and less diverse assemblage of associated taxa. We conclude that S. muticum enhances epibiota diversity in the sedimentary environment, probably by increasing the substratum availability and habitat heterogeneity. In contrast, it has negligible impacts on epibiota diversity in the rocky shore environment, where it does not represent a fundamentally new habitat component. We conclude that even within the same region, the consequences of non-indigenous species on biodiversity cannot be generalised but depend on the composition and structural complexity of the species in the recipient community.

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Section: Sampling Of Algae and Associated Organismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Epibiota Of Sargassum Muticum In Different Coastal Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How an introduced seaweed can affect epibiota diversity in different coastal systems

2005

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“…Scuba divers haphazardly collected four to six individuals of each of S. muticum and H. siliquosa by carefully, but swiftly, placing a 1 mm mesh bag over the thallus of each alga (Norton and Benson 1983;Connolly 1995). The thallus was then detached from the substratum and brought ashore to be preserved in 70% ethanol.…”

Section: Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…is a close relative of S. muticum (Jensen 1974;Rousseau et al 1997) and one of only a few large (>15 cm) erect indigenous macroalgae in Limfjorden. S. muticum and H. siliquosa both have coarsely branched thalli that create a relatively large canopy which may be a suitable habitat for a wide variety of fauna and flora (Mukai 1971;Withers et al 1975;Haage 1976;Norton and Benson 1983;Aguilar-Rosas and Galindo 1990;Taylor and Cole 1994). During the course of a year, however, the habit of S. muticum is characterised by dramatic variation whereas the habit of H. siliquosa is much more constant (Wernberg et al 2001): in spring, S. muticum grows from a small (10-15 cm) perennial basal structure into a large (100-120 cm) erect canopy before it senesces back in autumn, whereas H. siliquosa retains an erect canopy of intermediate size (~35 cm) throughout the year.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epibiota communities of the introduced and indigenous macroalgal relatives Sargassum muticum and Halidrys siliquosa in Limfjorden (Denmark)

et al. 2004

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Sargassum muticum (Phaeophyceae, Fucales) has recently been introduced to Limfjorden (Denmark) where its closest relative is the indigenous Halidrys siliquosa. Previous studies have demonstrated large quantitative (canopy biomass) and qualitative (canopy persistence) differences in the habitat available to epibiota within the canopies of these two macroalgae. We therefore hypothesised that these algae would support different epibiota communities and tested this by sampling the epibiota of S. muticum and H. siliquosa on seven occasions throughout 1997 by enclosing entire thalli in mesh bags. We found 53 epibiota taxa and, with only one exception, they were all recorded on both host species. Species richness and abundance of epibiota exhibited clear seasonal variation on both host species, although epibiota biomass was seasonally constant on H. siliquosa but not on S. muticum. These patterns were consistent with the different life histories of the host species. There was a weakly negative correlation between thallus size and epibiota biomass for both host species. When taking species-specific seasonal variation in thallus size into consideration, S. muticum and H. siliquosa were found to support significantly different epibiota biomasses. Multivariate analyses showed that epibiota community structure was different, although highly overlapping, between the two species, whereas there was an almost parallel temporal development in epibiota community structure. We conclude that it is unlikely that the introduction of S. muticum to Limfjorden has caused major changes in local epibiota community structure. However, the standing stock of epibiota is likely to have increased.

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“…Os táxons mais importantes encontrados em algas calcárias e consumidos por comunidades de peixes bentívoros carnívoros são Crustacea e Polychaeta (Norton & Benson 1983, De Grave et al 2000, Foster 2001), fato confirmado no presente estudo. Os gamarídeos tiveram a maior ocorrência no conteúdo estomacal, o que ocorre, provavelmente, devido à grande representatividade desses crustáceos em comunidades associadas a algas bentônicas (Nakamura 1971, Tararam & Wakabara 1981, Jacobucci & Leite 2002, incluindo-se substratos dominados por algas calcárias (Masunari 1983, Metri 2006.…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Dieta e comportamento alimentar de Malacoctenus delalandii (Perciformes: Labrisomidae)

Pereira

Jacobucci

2008

Biota Neotrop.

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This work analyzed the diet composition and the feeding behavior of Malacoctenus delalandii, a carnivorous species, with diurnal habit, that lives in holes and crevices of rock areas in tropical waters. For diet evaluation, 31 individuals were collected during diving using hand nets, in the Fortaleza beach, Ubatuba. The feeding offer was analyzed comparing the stomach contents of the collected individuals with ten samples of the Amphiroa beauvoisii calcareous algal phytal, the species foraging site. To describe the feeding behavior of M. delalandii 44 observation sections were performed using ad libitum and focal animal methods. The food items considered constant were crustaceans belonging to the order Isopoda (75.8%) and the suborder Gammaridea (86.2%), confirming the species carnivorous feeding habit. There was a significant difference (G = 278.89, df = 70, p < 0.01) between the availability of items in the substrate and the occurrence in the stomachs. A total of 410 minutes (6.8 hours) of direct underwater observations were performed, and we concluded that the individuals use the grubber excavation while moving feeding strategy. The species presented a foraging rate of 0.74 ± 0.164 bites per minutes (average ± standard deviation), evidencing low feeding activity and cryptobenthic habit. Resumo: O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a composição da dieta e o comportamento alimentar de Malacoctenus delalandii, uma espécie carnívora, de hábitos diurnos, que habita tocas e frestas de ambientes rochosos de águas tropicais. Para avaliação da dieta, foram coletados 31 indivíduos utilizando puçás, na praia da Fortaleza, município de Ubatuba. A oferta alimentar foi analisada comparando-se o conteúdo estomacal dos indivíduos com dez amostras do fital da alga calcária Amphiroa beauvoisii, local de forrageio da espécie. Para descrever o comportamento alimentar de M. delalandii foram realizadas 44 sessões de observação usando técnicas ad libitum e animal focal. Os itens alimentares considerados constantes foram os crustáceos pertencentes à ordem Isopoda (75,8%) e à subordem Gammaridea (86,2%), confirmando o hábito alimentar carnívoro da espécie. Houve uma diferença significativa (G = 278,89, g.L. = 70, p < 0,01) entre a disponibilidade de itens no substrato e a ocorrência destes nos estômagos. Foram realizados 410 minutos (6,8 horas) de observações subaquáticas diretas e concluiu-se que os indivíduos utilizam a estratégia alimentar de especulação do substrato ("grubber excavation while moving"). A espécie apresentou uma taxa de forrageamento de 0,74 ± 0,164 mordicadas per minutes (média ± desvio padrão), evidenciando baixa atividade alimentar e hábito criptobêntico. Palavras-chave: blênio, ecologia trófica, conteúdos estomacais, atividade de forrageamento, sudeste do Brasil.

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Ecological interactions between the brown seaweed Sargassum muticum and its associated fauna

Cited by 95 publications

References 21 publications

How an introduced seaweed can affect epibiota diversity in different coastal systems

How an introduced seaweed can affect epibiota diversity in different coastal systems

Epibiota communities of the introduced and indigenous macroalgal relatives Sargassum muticum and Halidrys siliquosa in Limfjorden (Denmark)

Dieta e comportamento alimentar de Malacoctenus delalandii (Perciformes: Labrisomidae)

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