Effects of sedimentation on subtidal macroalgal assemblages: an experimental study from a mediterranean rocky shore

Airoldi, Laura; Cinelli, Francesco

doi:10.1016/s0022-0981(96)02770-0

Cited by 150 publications

(97 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…This temporal variability in the responses of algae to disturbance suggests that it might be possible to predict yearly patterns of abundance of some species from annual variations in the timing of disturbance (see also Turner 1983). For Dictyota dichotoma this hypothesis was supported by consistency of results of this study with results of previous experiments on the same assemblage (Airoldi & Cinelli 1997, Airoldi 1998). In such experiments, when patches of bare rock were cleared in June and December 1992 and 1994, respectively, recruitment of D. dichotoma was always significantly greater in patches cleared in June than in those cleared in December, as also observed in this study.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Moreover, erect algae were outcompeted by turf-forming algae, while encrusting algae were able to grow and dominate primary substrata despite a cover of turf-forming algae. Overall, success of different species was suggested to be potentially related to temporal variability in rates of colonisation following disturbance (Airoldi & Cinelli 1997, Airoldi 1998. Limited temporal replication of previous experiments, however, did not allow quantitative predictions of colonisation of patches disturbed at different times of the year.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

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Responses of algae with different life histories to temporal and spatial variability of disturbance in subtidal reefs

Airoldi¹

2000

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Colonisation of patches disturbed at different times of the year and at d~fferent locations was investigated from November 1995 to August 1997 in subtidal, rocky-shore, algal assemblages (Mediterranean Sea. Italy). A field experiment tested specifically: (1) whether and how the success of turf-forming, encrusting and erect algae are influenced by the timing of disturbance and (2) whether recovery of these species is cons~stent across space (from about 1 m to 100s of metres). Clearings were made at 8 different times within 1 year, in order to identify possible temporal trends in responses of algae to disturbance. Reproductive traits of the most abundant algae were also investigated. Encrusting, turf-forming and erect algae responded differently to spatial and temporal variation in disturbance, depending on their varylng abilities to colonise available space and on spatlal and temporal differences in rates of recruitment and growth. Turf-forming algae colonised space by vegetative propagation and quickly regained spatial dominance in patches cleared at all times of the year and at all locations. Conversely, encrusting and erect species occupied space mostly by colonisation of propagules; their recruitment was influenced by the timing and location of disturbance, probably depending on the concomitant availabil~ty of bare rock, viable propagules and favourable environmental conditions. A regime of d~sturbance adverse to recruitment of erect algae was identified as the probable cause of their low abundance in the study area. Overall, results suggested that while recruitment by sexual propagules can be highly variable through space and time, recovery by vegetative propagation can be constant and highly predictable over a range of environmental conditions, and that vegetative reproduction is likely to be fundamental to spatial dominance in a variety of habitats.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Responses of algae with different life histories to temporal and spatial variability of disturbance in subtidal reefs

Airoldi¹

2000

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…This would suggest that the distribution and dynamics of these assemblages may be influenced by variations in the quantity and composition of settling material. Observations on turfs of filamentous algae were consistent with this model (Adey & Goertrniller 1987, Kendrlck 1991, Airoldi & Cinelli 1997. Predictions of the effects of sedimentation on algal abundance, however, have been variable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 65%

“…They also hypothesised that the effects of deposition of sediment may be different if examined from the perspective of shores or microhabitats. So far, however, few experimental stud~es have been performed to investigate the role of sedimentation as a structuring factor in rocky shores (Kendrick 1991, Airoldi & Cinelli 1997, and scarce quantitative information is available concerning the responses of algal assemblages to spatial and temporal variations in the characteristics of the depositional environment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of turf-forming algae to spatial variations in the deposition of sediments

Airoldi¹,

Virgilio²

1998

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

126

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Responses of a turf-forming, filamentous, algal assemblage to spatial variation in the deposition of sediments were investigated from September 1994 to September 1996 on a rocky subtidal reef south of Livorno (Mediterranean Sea) Large-and small-scale spatial differences in the amount and size of sed~ment settling on and accumulating in the turf were investigated over 1 yr in relation to meteorological conditions and to patterns of abundance of the turf. A multifactorial manipulat~on of the deposition of sediment was used to test the hypotheses that (1) different amounts and grain-sizes of settling material affect the cover and biomass of the filamentous algae, (2) any effects of sedimentation are independent of the stage of development of the turf and (3) patterns are consistent at different spatial scales, ranging from a few centimetres to several metres. During the investigation, the reglme of sed~mentation fluctuated greatly over time and among s~t e s The distribution of the turf across diiferent sites was, however, not apparently related to large-scale variations in the deposition of sediment Within sites, accumulation of sediment in the turf was patchy. The results of the experiment indicated that patchiness may affect the local biomass of established turf-forming algae, the abundance of which significantly decreased in quadrats which had higher deposition of sediments. On a scale of centimetres, high accumulation of sediment decreased variability of algal biomass within individual quadrats. The effects of sediment on biomass were also significantly influenced by the stage of development of the turf. No effects were observed on the cover of the filamentous algae. These results suggest that the responses of the turf to variations in the characteristics of the depositional environment may vary with changes in spatial scale and may be dependent on the concomitant action of other physical and biological factors.

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“…However, while Roos et al (in press) studied relatively exposed hard bottom communities, our results are from very sheltered communities dominated by soft bottoms. Rocky-shore macroalgae are dependent on bare substrate for attachment, and negative effects of sedimentation on the establishment and development of macroalgal communities have been demonstrated in both the Mediterranean (Airoldi and Cinelli, 1997) and the Baltic Sea (Eriksson, 2002). Rooted flowering plants and charophytes that normally occur in sheltered locations with easily disturbed loose bottoms, should be more sensitive to drag and tear from artificial exposure and more tolerant to sedimentation compared to rocky-shore macroalgae.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of boating activities on aquatic vegetation in the Stockholm archipelago, Baltic Sea

Eriksson

Sandström

Isæus

et al. 2004

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

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Effects of sedimentation on subtidal macroalgal assemblages: an experimental study from a mediterranean rocky shore

Cited by 150 publications

References 33 publications

Responses of algae with different life histories to temporal and spatial variability of disturbance in subtidal reefs

Responses of algae with different life histories to temporal and spatial variability of disturbance in subtidal reefs

Responses of turf-forming algae to spatial variations in the deposition of sediments

Effects of boating activities on aquatic vegetation in the Stockholm archipelago, Baltic Sea

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