Faunal Communities in Seagrass Beds: A Review of the Influence of Plant Structure and Prey Characteristics on Predator: Prey Relationships

Orth, Robert J.; Heck, Kenneth L.; Montfrans, Jacques van

doi:10.2307/1351618

Cited by 898 publications

(603 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Seagrass meadows make significant contributions to coastal productivity worldwide (Orth et al, 1984) and their primary production ranks amongst the highest recorded for marine ecosystems (Hillman et al, 1989). They also support dis-proportionately high levels of biodiversity (Hemminga and Duarte, 2000) providing habitat, food and shelter to a diverse array of organisms (Beck et al, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of the impact of ‘seagrass-friendly’ boat mooring systems on Posidonia australis

Demers

Davis

Knott³

2013

Marine Environmental Research

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Permanent boat moorings have contributed to the decline of seagrasses worldwide, prompting the development of 'seagrass-friendly' moorings. We contrasted seagrass cover and density (predominantly Posidonia australis) in the vicinity of three mooring types and nearby reference areas lacking moorings in Jervis Bay, Australia. We examined two types of 'seagrass-friendly' mooring and a conventional 'swing' mooring. 'Swing' moorings produced significant seagrass scour, denuding patches of ∼9 m radius. Seagrassfriendly 'cyclone' moorings produced extensive denuded patches (average radius of ∼18 m). Seagrass-friendly 'screw' moorings, conversely, had similar seagrass cover to nearby reference areas. Our findings reinforce previous work highlighting the negative effects of 'swing' and 'cyclone' moorings. In contrast, the previously unstudied 'screw' moorings were highly effective. We conclude that regular maintenance of moorings and the monitoring of surrounding seagrass are required to ensure that 'seagrass-friendly' moorings are operating effectively. This is important, as following damage Posidonia will take many decades to recover. AbstractPermanent boat moorings have contributed to the decline of seagrasses worldwide, prompting the development of 'seagrass-friendly' moorings. We contrasted seagrass cover and density (predominantly Posidonia australis) in the vicinity of three mooring types and nearby reference areas lacking moorings in Jervis Bay, Australia. We examined two types of 'seagrass-friendly' mooring and a conventional 'swing' mooring. 'Swing' moorings produced significant seagrass scour, denuding patches of ~9 m radius. Seagrass-friendly 'cyclone' moorings produced extensive denuded patches (average radius of ~18 m). Seagrass-friendly 'screw' moorings, conversely, had similar seagrass cover to nearby reference areas. Our findings reinforce previous work highlighting the negative effects of 'swing' and 'cyclone' moorings. In contrast, the previously unstudied 'screw' moorings were highly effective. We conclude that regular maintenance of moorings and the monitoring of surrounding seagrass are required to ensure that 'seagrass-friendly' moorings are operating effectively. This is important, as following damage Posidonia will take many decades to recover.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of the impact of ‘seagrass-friendly’ boat mooring systems on Posidonia australis

Demers

Davis

Knott³

2013

Marine Environmental Research

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“…It is well established that fish will reliably flock to structure of many forms, ranging from artificial reefs and other fish attraction devices to floating algae (Orth et al, 1984;Holbrook and Schmitt, 1984;Robertson and Lenanton, 1984;Walsh, 1985;Diamant et al, 1986;Jara and Cespedes, 1994;Basset, 1994;Brandon et al, 1994;West et al, 1994). Thus, it may be that the aerial roots, tree trunks and overhanging branches of mangrove forests actively attract fish independent of the secondary effects of structure such as reduced predation and increased food availability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Alternatively, fish may be more abundant in mangrove habitats in the presence of predators because the increased structural complexity affords greater shelter and therefore reduced risk of predation. Certainly there is a striking relationship between increased complexity and decreased incidence of predation on invertebrates and some fish in other vegetated aquatic habitats (Ware, 1972;Heck Jr. and Thoman, 1981;Stoner, 1982;Crowder and Cooper, 1982;Savino and Stein, 1982;Bickerstaff et al, 1984;Robertson, 1984;Orth et al, 1984;Leber, 1985). Observations that complex habitats are used only during daylight hours, when risk from predation by visual predators is greatest, is also supportive of the protective function of structural complexity and suggest that some prey actively seek shelter when they are vulnerable to predators (Walsh, 1985;Schlosser, 1988;James and Heck Jr., 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many vegetated areas are a rich source of invertebrates (Harrington and Harrington, 1961;Stoner, 1982;Heck Jr. and Thoman, 1984;Orth et al, 1984;Bell and Westoby, 1986;Lubbers et al, 1990) that are suitable prey for small planktivorous fish. However, if the vegetation is too dense, fish may be hampered in their capture of prey, so that intermediate levels of structure of some seagrass and marsh plants effects the most profitable food returns (Vince et al, 1976;Crowder and Cooper, 1982;Stoner, 1982).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Why do juvenile fish utilise mangrove habitats?

Laegdsgaard

Johnson

2001

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

457

298

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Three hypotheses to discern the strong positive association between juvenile fish and mangrove habitat were tested with field and laboratory experiments. Artificial mangrove structure in the field attracted slightly more juvenile fish than areas without structure. Artificial structure left to accumulate fouling algae attracted four-times the total number of juvenile fish than areas without structure or areas with clean structure. Community composition of fish attracted to structure with fouling algae was different when compared with areas with no structure or clean structure; five species were attracted by structure with fouling algae whilst two species were associated with structure regardless of fouling algae. Algae were linked to increased food availability and it is suggested that this is an important selection criteria for some species. Other species were apparently attracted to structure for different reasons, and provision of shelter appears to be important. Predation pressure influenced habitat choice in small juvenile fish in laboratory experiments. In the absence of predators, small juveniles of four out of five species avoided shelter but when predators were introduced all species actively sought shelter. Large fish were apparently less vulnerable to predators and did not seek shelter when predators were added to their tank. Feeding rate was increased in the mangrove habitat for small and medium-sized fish compared with seagrass beds and mudflats indicating increased food availability or foraging efficiency within this habitat. Larger fish fed more effectively on the mudflats with an increased feeding rate in this habitat compared with adjacent habitats. The most important aspect of the mangrove habitat for small juvenile fish is the complex structure that provides maximum food availability and minimises the incidence of predation. As fish grow a shift in habitat from mangroves to mudflat is a response to changes in diet, foraging efficiency and vulnerability to predators.

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“…The presence of habitat such as vegetative structure or complex rocky bottom substrata can provide aquatic prey a refuge while inhibiting the foraging ability and success of predators (Orth et al 1984;Gotceitas and Colgan 1989;Savino and Stein 1989). Aquatic organisms may display adaptive swimming behavior or activity depending on the presence of predators as well as differential habitat structure (Savino and Stein 1982;Dupuch et al 2009;Tait and Hovel 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactive effects of pesticide exposure and habitat structure on behavior and predation of a marine larval fish

et al. 2014

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Coastal development has generated multiple stressors in marine and estuarine ecosystems, including habitat degradation and pollutant exposure, but the effects of these stressors on the ecology of fishes remain poorly understood. We studied the separate and combined effects of an acute 4 h sublethal exposure of the pyrethroid pesticide esfenvalerate and structural habitat complexity on behavior and predation risk of larval topsmelt (Atherinops affinis). Larvae were exposed to four nominal esfenvalerate concentrations (control, 0.12, 0.59, 1.18 lg/L), before placement into 12 L mesocosms with a three-spine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) predator. Five treatments of artificial eelgrass included a (1) uniform and (2) patchy distribution of eelgrass at a low density (500 shoots per m 2 ), a (3) uniform and (4) patchy distribution of eelgrass at a high density (1,000 shoots per m 2 ), and (5) the absence of eelgrass. The capture success of predators and aggregative behavior of prey were observed in each mesocosm for 10 min of each trial, and mortality of prey was recorded after 60 min. Exposure to esfenvalerate increased the proportion of larvae with swimming abnormalities. Surprisingly, prey mortality did not increase linearly with pesticide exposure but increased with habitat structure (density of eelgrass), which may have been a consequence of compensating predator behavior. The degree of prey aggregation decreased with both habitat structure and pesticide exposure, suggesting that anti-predator behaviors by prey may have been hampered by the interactive effects of both of these factors.

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Faunal Communities in Seagrass Beds: A Review of the Influence of Plant Structure and Prey Characteristics on Predator: Prey Relationships

Cited by 898 publications

References 54 publications

A comparison of the impact of ‘seagrass-friendly’ boat mooring systems on Posidonia australis

A comparison of the impact of ‘seagrass-friendly’ boat mooring systems on Posidonia australis

Why do juvenile fish utilise mangrove habitats?

Interactive effects of pesticide exposure and habitat structure on behavior and predation of a marine larval fish

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