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

Buschbaum, Christian; Chapman, Annelise S.; Saier, Bettina

doi:10.1007/s00227-005-0128-9

Cited by 122 publications

(102 citation statements)

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“…Communities supported by ecosystem engineers are typically specific to the created habitat, such as mussel or kelp beds, oyster reefs and seagrass meadows, because of the innate differences between the foundation species (Buschbaum et al, 2006;Hosack et al, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benthic assemblages associated with native and non-native oysters are similar

Zwerschke

Emmerson

Roberts

et al. 2016

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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Invasive species can impact native species and alter assemblage structure, which affects associated ecosystem functioning. The pervasive Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, has been shown to affect the diversity and composition of many host ecosystems. We tested for effects of the presence of the invasive C. gigas on native assemblages by comparing them directly to assemblages associated with the declining native European oyster, Ostrea edulis. The presence of both oyster species was manipulated in intertidal and subtidal habitats and reefs were constructed at horizontal and vertical orientation to the substratum. After 12 months, species diversity and benthic assemblage structure between assemblages with C. gigas and O. edulis were similar, but differed between habitats and orientation, suggesting that both oyster species were functionally similar in terms of biodiversity facilitation. These findings support evidence, that non-native species could play an important role in maintaining biodiversity in systems with declining populations of native species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benthic assemblages associated with native and non-native oysters are similar

Zwerschke

Emmerson

Roberts

et al. 2016

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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“…Since the growth of Sargassum muticum in the Wadden Sea is pseudo-perennial, the algal biomass decreases drastically during late summer and early fall, when lateral branches detach (Jephson & Gray 1977, Buschbaum et al 2006. Therefore, S. muticum habitats are only temporarily available and do not support a resident fish fauna.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, depending on the capacity of ecological niches in the receptor system, it is also possible that introduced, habitat-forming organisms may promote the diversity of native communities instead of harming them. Buschbaum et al (2006) found 60 species of epibionts associated with Sargassum muticum in the Wadden Sea, and a high number of them were originally rare in the area. However, there is also evidence of negative effects, e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, during the last 3 yr, they have become increasingly invaded by the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas (Diederich 2006), leading to a shift in landscape from mussel beds to oyster reefs. Introduced by oyster aquaculture, Sargassum muticum has spread in the shallow subtidal zone since 1993 in the range of mussel beds, oyster reefs and breakwaters (Kornmann & Sahling 1994, Buschbaum 2005, Buschbaum et al 2006. Studies were conducted in a S. muticum bed located in the subtidal zone on the northern side of Koenigshafen Bay (a shallow subsystem of the SyltRømø Bight) and on unvegetated soft sediments located about 3.5 km south, in the reach of a sheltering breakwater (List Breakwater), off the village of List (Fig.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this area, S. muticum grows in the shallow subtidal zone at the particular tidal level where eelgrass Zostera marina occurred before stocks vanished. In the sedimentary environment of the Wadden Sea, S. muticum preferentially settles on epibenthic molluscs such as native blue mussels Mytilus edulis and the introduced Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas (Buschbaum 2005, Buschbaum et al 2006. In cold waters S. muticum is pseudo-perennial.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Native pipefish Entelurus aequoreus are promoted by the introduced seaweed Sargassum muticum in the northern Wadden Sea, North Sea

Polte¹,

Buschbaum²

2008

Aquat. Biol.

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After the major loss of eelgrass habitats in the 1930s the snake pipefish Entelurus aequoreus was considered to be rare in the Wadden Sea (south-eastern North Sea, German Bight). We hypothesize that a sudden increase in pipefish abundance observed in the area since 2004 is related to new habitats provided by the introduced Japanese seaweed Sargassum muticum. SCUBA observations conducted near the Island of Sylt during July 2006 showed that approximately every second S. muticum thallus was inhabited by E. aequoreus, whereas no pipefish could be found on sedimentary areas dominating the Wadden Sea. In a field experiment, we removed thalli from a S. muticum bed and transplanted them to an unvegetated site and to the donor S. muticum bed, respectively. Nine days after the transplantation, abundances of pipefish per thallus were almost equally high within all transplanted S. muticum units at vegetated and originally unvegetated sites. Abundances of E. aequoreus in transplanted thalli did not significantly differ from those found in unaffected control thalli located in the donor S. muticum bed. To explain high pipefish densities within S. muticum beds we sampled the zooplankton community inside and outside the S. muticum bed and compared it with gut contents of pipefish. Zooplankton densities were significantly higher inside the S. muticum bed. Harpacticoid copepods were the dominant group associated with S. muticum and also represented the major prey of E. aequoreus. We conclude that stocks of E. aequoreus are promoted by S. muticum beds since they benefit from higher food supply during the spawning season, probably in addition to increased shelter by habitat complexity. Results of the present study suggest that introductions of habitat-forming species such as S. muticum may cause beneficial effects on abundance and diversity of native species.

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

Cited by 122 publications

References 50 publications

Benthic assemblages associated with native and non-native oysters are similar

Benthic assemblages associated with native and non-native oysters are similar

Native pipefish Entelurus aequoreus are promoted by the introduced seaweed Sargassum muticum in the northern Wadden Sea, North Sea

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

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