Epiphyte-seagrass relationships with an emphasis on the role of micrograzing: A review

Orth, Robert J.; Montfrans, Jacques van

doi:10.1016/0304-3770(84)90080-9

Cited by 246 publications

(124 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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“…Structure significantly reduced epiphytic shading, while nutrient significantly increased light reduction by epiphytes. The role of epiphytes in attenuation of light has been well demonstrated (for review see Orth & van Montfrans 1984, Neckles et al 1993. Although structure had no significant effect on Thalassia testudinum productivity in this experiment, the dramatic decrease in epiphytic biomass and consequent % light reduction by epiphytes resulting from the structure treatment suggests that the presence of mussels could play a significant role in increasing seagrass productivity where epiphytic loads are greater than those observed in St. Joseph Bay.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

An experimental test of the mechanism by which suspension feeding bivalves elevate seagrass productivity

Peterson

Heck²

2001

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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A field experiment utilizing mussel mimics and sediment nutrient enrichment was conducted to examine the effect of the mussel Modilous americanus on meadows of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum. The experimental design tested the separate factors of increased habitat structure and increased nutrient enrichment resulting from the presence of the mussels. Nutrient enrichment had a significantly positive effect on sediment porewater nutrient concentrations and a significantly negative effect on leaf tissue C:N, C:P and N:P ratios. Increased habitat structure had a significantly positive effect on epiphytic grazer densities and a significantly negative effect on epiphytic biomass. In addition, calculated % light reduction by epiphytes was significantly reduced by structure and significantly increased by nutrient enrichment. This study showed that the direct effect of nutrient enrichment by mussel biodeposition produced the greatest positive response in productivity of T. testudinum in the seagrass meadows of St. Joseph Bay, Florida. In other systems experiencing eutrophication, however, it is possible that increased habitat complexity may have the greater effect on seagrass productivity.KEY WORDS: Bentho-pelagic couple · Habitat complexity · Plant-animal interactions · Seagrass · Thalassia testudinum · Suspension feeding bivalves · Modiolus americanus Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherMar Ecol Prog Ser 218: [115][116][117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124][125] 2001 filter feeding bivalves transfer planktonic production from the water column to the benthos via feces and pseudofeces, they elevate seagrass productivity by increasing nutrient availability. However, the presence of filter feeding bivalves does more than add feces and psuedofeces to the benthos. A recent study investigating the positive interactions between suspension feeding bivalves and seagrass demonstrated that the presence of the mussel Modiolus americanus significantly increased the sediment nutrient pool available to seagrasses, as well as substantially reducing epiphytic biomass on the seagrass leaves (Peterson & Heck 2001). There are 3 alternative hypotheses as to why seagrasses associated with suspension feeding bivalves may have reduced epiphytic loads: (1) mussels may consume the epiphyte propogules in the water column before they attach to the plant, (2) the elevated productivity of the seagrasses increases blade production rates so that the leaves have less time to accumulate epiphytes, or (3) the presence of suspension feeding bivalves increases the structural complexity of the habitat, reducing predation pressures on epiphytic grazer species such as small gastropods and amphipods. This increased habitat complexity may result in elevated numbers of epiphytic grazers and consequently increased levels of epiphytic grazing. Regardless, the combination of increased sediment nutrient levels and reduced epiphytic loads significantly elevated the productivity of the seagrass Thalassia test...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

An experimental test of the mechanism by which suspension feeding bivalves elevate seagrass productivity

Peterson

Heck²

2001

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Grazing can be a major organizing force for littoral seaweed communities (e.g. Southward & Southward 1978, Lubchenco 1982, 1983, Petraitis 1987, Williams 1990a, Worm & Chapman 1998, but interaction patterns can be complicated by epiphytic macroalgae growing on host seaweeds (D'Antonio 1985, Pavia et al 1999 or seagrasses (Williams & Ruckelshaus 1993, reviews, e.g., by Orth & van Montfrans 1984, Mazzalla et al 1992, Jernakoff et al 1996. Macroepiphytes have increased in abundance on many marine shores due to anthropogenic eutrophication (Rönnberg et al 1992, Philippart 1995, Wear et al 1999.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Macroepiphytes have increased in abundance on many marine shores due to anthropogenic eutrophication (Rönnberg et al 1992, Philippart 1995, Wear et al 1999. Epiphytes are mainly believed to have a detrimental influence on the host's fitness because of competition for light (Neckles et al 1993, Short et al 1995, Cebrian et al 1999) and for CO 2 (Sand-Jensen 1977, Sand-Jensen et al 1985 or by enhancing drag (D'Antonio 1985) and decreasing the reproductive output of the host (Orth & van Montfrans 1984, D'Antonio 1985. While hosts are commonly thick, slow-growing and long-lived perennial macrophytes with a low surface:volume ratio, macroepiphytes generally have a finer structure, higher surface: volume ratio, faster growth (Nielsen & Sand-Jensen 1990) and higher nutrient uptake (Hein et al 1995, Pedersen & Borum 1997.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co-consumption and protective coating: two new proposed effects of epiphytes on their macroalgal hosts in mesograzer-epiphyte-host interactions

Karez¹,

Engelbert²,

Sommer³

2000

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

111

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Multiple-choice feeding experiments were performed with the isopod Idotea granulosa and the amphipod Gammarus locusta as consumers. In a first experiment, 2 different types of tissues of the brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus and its main macroepiphytes, Ulva lactuca and Elachista fucicola, were offered. I. granulosa rejected apices of F. vesiculosus and preferred E. fucicola, while G. locusta clearly preferred F. vesiculosus tissue, especially the meristematic apices. In a second experiment, F. vesiculosus tissue with and without E. fucicola was offered together. For I. granulosa, the consumption of F. vesiculosus was enhanced by the presence of the epiphyte, while for G. locusta there was no difference in consumed F. vesiculosus mass. G. locusta, however, showed behavioural rejection of E. fucicola, and thus, the epiphyte acted as 'protective coating'. We conclude that host (F. vesiculosus) tissue could be 'co-consumed' by mesograzers ( I. granulosa) that were attracted by the presence of epiphytes and that these epiphytes therefore may have a 2-fold negative effect on the host (i.e. competion for light, nutrients etc. and attraction of consumers). 'Co-consumption' and 'protective coating' add 2 more facets to the very variable and case-dependent interrelationships of mesograzer-epiphyte-host systems; their relevance in nature, however, remains to be demonstrated.

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“…Epiphytic algae play an important trophic role in sustaining the grazing chain with a wide range of grazing organisms, among which gastropod molluscs play a very important role. Prosobranch species are the principal microalgal consumers of seagrass biofilm (Orth & Van Montfrans 1984) and are among the most important components of the vagile fauna of the leaf stratum, in terms of abundance and species richness (Mazzella & Russo 1989;Gambi et al 1992;Russo & Terlizzi 1997;Templado et al 2004;Albano & Sabelli 2012;Urra et al 2013). Though the prosobranch community ecology of P. oceanica beds has been widely studied (Idato et al 1983;Templado 1984;Russo et al 1984aRusso et al , 1984bRusso et al , 1985Russo et al 2002), little is known about the demography and the structure of populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population ecology ofGibbula umbilicarisandGibbula ardens(Gastropoda: Trochidae) in aPosidonia oceanicaseagrass bed

Donnarumma

Bruno

Terlizzi

et al. 2015

Italian Journal of Zoology

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Population structures of the gastropods Gibbula umbilicaris and Gibbula ardens (Trochidae), the two most common species of the genus Gibbula living in shallow beds of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica, were investigated in the seagrass bed off Lacco Ameno of Ischia (Gulf of Naples), at six stations along a depth gradient (1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 25 m). Sampling was performed on a monthly basis for 1 year. A total of 853 individuals were counted and measured. The two gastropod populations analysed show a rather similar distributional trend in all seasons and depths. Recruitment occurred at the shallowest stations (1-3 m depth), where the populations were characterised by higher values of abundance and biomass, confirming that G. umbilicaris and G. ardens are typical species of the shallow community of P. oceanica seagrass beds. Juveniles were exclusively found in 1 month of the whole year: G. umbilicaris in April, G. ardens in July. The survivorship curves of both Gibbula species, derived from the size-frequency distribution of shells, showed a very low mortality rate in the first months after settlement. Demographic analysis of G. umbilicaris suggests a rather slow growth rate and a polymorphic maturation strategy with a lifespan of 1 year for most individuals, but lifespan may also reach about 2 years in a few specimens. Gibbula ardens has a lifespan of about 1 year and a fast growth rate, especially during the first couple of months after settlement. Therefore, on the basis of lifespan and recruitment time, both species seem to be semelparous.

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Epiphyte-seagrass relationships with an emphasis on the role of micrograzing: A review

Cited by 246 publications

References 87 publications

An experimental test of the mechanism by which suspension feeding bivalves elevate seagrass productivity

An experimental test of the mechanism by which suspension feeding bivalves elevate seagrass productivity

Co-consumption and protective coating: two new proposed effects of epiphytes on their macroalgal hosts in mesograzer-epiphyte-host interactions

Population ecology ofGibbula umbilicarisandGibbula ardens(Gastropoda: Trochidae) in aPosidonia oceanicaseagrass bed

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