Impacts of an abundant introduced ecosystem engineer within mudflats of the southeastern US coast

Byers, James E.; Gribben, Paul E.; Yeager, Caitlin; Sotka, Erik E.

doi:10.1007/s10530-012-0254-5

Cited by 94 publications

(104 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Through the establishment and spread of an exotic species, the ecosystem is therefore becoming more efficient at supporting a diverse suite of marine and estuarine species than in the absence of eelgrass habitat (e.g. Thomsen et al 2010, Byers et al 2012.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Its spores attach to natural or anthropogenic substrates in estuaries and bays, and it may form extensive beds in the intertidal and shallow sublittoral zones (Bellorin et al 2004, Freshwater et al 2006. Although high macroalgal biomass >100 g m −2 can lead to anoxia beneath dense mats and subsequent reductions in diversity and faunal biomass (Thomsen et al 2006b), intermediate levels of G. vermiculophylla biomass may benefit shelterdependent species by adding complexity to unvegetated habitats such as mud and sand flats , Byers et al 2012.…”

Section: Exotic Species and Novel Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is in keeping with the hypothesis that shelter-seeking species use structural complexity rather than evolutionary familiarity to determine their use of habitat-forming vegetation (Duffy & Baltz 1998, Jackson & Hobbs 2009, Martin & Valentine 2011, Schlaepfer et al 2011). In addition, prey items occurring in macroalgae such as G. vermiculophylla provide the necessary food quality to support juvenile crab growth (Epifanio et al 2003, Thomsen et al 2009, Byers et al 2012.…”

Section: Suitability Of Gracilaria Vermiculophylla As Nursery Habitatmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exotic macroalga Gracilaria vermiculophylla provides superior nursery habitat for native blue crab in Chesapeake Bay

Johnston¹,

Lipcius²

2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Exotic species often reduce the abundance or diversity of species in marine ecosystems, but some exotics may benefit native species, such as when habitat is enhanced. In Chesapeake Bay, the exotic macroalga Gracilaria vermiculophylla (Rhodophyta) has flourished and dispersed widely, yet the consequences for native species diversity and abundance are not well known. We experimentally examined the capacity of the structurally complex G. vermiculophylla to provide nursery habitat for the blue crab Callinectes sapidus in Chesapeake Bay, where native eelgrass nursery habitat has dwindled. We also examined ontogenetic shifts in survival across alternative nursery habitats. In field surveys, juvenile density was similar in macroalgae and eelgrass, but lower in unvegetated mud habitat. In field experiments, juvenile survival was positively related to crab size in mud but negatively in eelgrass, confirming the paradigm of a predationinduced ontogenetic shift from seagrass to unvegetated habitat. In contrast, irrespective of crab size, survival was higher in macroalgae than in either native habitat. Thus, exotic habitat-forming macroalgae can compensate for severe declines in seagrass nurseries, and facilitate the emergence of a novel ecosystem.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Exotic Species and Novel Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Suitability Of Gracilaria Vermiculophylla As Nursery Habitatmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Exotic macroalga Gracilaria vermiculophylla provides superior nursery habitat for native blue crab in Chesapeake Bay

Johnston¹,

Lipcius²

2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Global trade and the construction of land or water corridors to facilitate trade or human migration are causing the breakdown of biogeographic barriers leading to an increasing homogenization of the biota [3] in such a way that the occurrence of NIS is altering marine ecosystems all over the world. Some NIS may even become invasive in the recepient environment and when it happens they might displace native species and reduce biodiversity, thus modifying community structures, physical properties of the habitat, food webs and ecosystem function [4,5]. In extreme cases, this process can lead to financial losses due to fishery decreases and to irreversible damage to vessels, water pipes, piers and other port and canalization infrastructures by fouling organisms [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-indigenous species (NIS) of polychaetes (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of the Iberian Peninsula: an annotated checklist

López

Richter

2017

Helgol Mar Res

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This study provides an updated catalogue of non-indigenous species (NIS) of polychaetes reported from the continental coasts of the Iberian Peninsula based on the available literature. A list of 23 introduced species were regarded as established and other 11 were reported as casual, with 11 established and nine casual NIS in the Atlantic coast of the studied area and 14 established species and seven casual ones in the Mediterranean side. The most frequent way of transport was shipping (ballast water or hull fouling), which according to literature likely accounted for the introductions of 14 established species and for the presence of another casual one. To a much lesser extent aquaculture (three established and two casual species) and bait importation (one established species) were also recorded, but for a large number of species the translocation pathway was unknown. About 25% of the reported NIS originated in the Warm Western Atlantic region, followed by the Tropical Indo West-Pacific region (18%) and the Warm Eastern Atlantic (12%). In the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula, nearly all the reported NIS originated from warm or tropical regions, but less than half of the species recorded from the Atlantic side were native of these areas. The effects of these introductions in native marine fauna are largely unknown, except for one species (Ficopomatus enigmaticus) which was reported to cause serious environmental impacts. In other cases, the displacement of native species or economic damages are suspected.

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“…The native sediment dwelling polychaete Diopatra cuprea in the mid-Atlantic U.S. incorporates the invasive red alga Gracilaria vermiculophylla into its decorated tube caps (Thomsen and McGlathery 2005). The non-native alga is also found unattached, but the stable attachment point of Diopatra tube caps increases its longevity and growth rate (Thomsen et al 2009) and biomass (Byers et al 2012). Although the nature of the reciprocal benefits of G. vermiculophylla to D. cuprea have not been investigated, D. cuprea generally receives shelter and food from the algae it hosts and favors attaching G. vermiculophylla over other native algal species (Thomsen and McGlathery 2005).…”

Section: Novel Mutualisms As Examples Of Early Mutualism Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on mutualisms between native and non-native partners can contribute critical ecological insights

Aslan¹,

Sikes²,

Gedan³

2015

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Citation: Aslan CE, Sikes BA, Gedan KB (2015) Research on mutualisms between native and non-native partners can contribute critical ecological insights. NeoBiota 26: 39-54. doi: 10.3897/neobiota.26.8837 AbstractMutualisms are important structuring forces in ecological communities, influencing ecosystem functions, diversity, and evolutionary trajectories. New interactions, particularly between native and non-native species, are globally increasing in biotic communities as species introductions accelerate. Positive interactions such as novel mutualisms can affect the fitness of organisms in invaded communities. Non-natives can augment native mutualism networks, replace extinct native partners, or disrupt native mutualisms. Because they are actively forming or newly formed, novel mutualisms offer a unique opportunity to examine in real time the factors governing early mutualism formation and stability, including frequency-dependent processes and those relying on specific traits or functions. These central ecological questions have been inferred from long-formed mutualisms, but novel mutualisms may allow a glimpse of successes and failures in ecological time with insights into the relative importance of these factors as ecological systems shift. To this end, this commentary addresses how novel mutualisms inform our understanding of mutualism formation, stability, the importance of functional traits, and niche vs. neutral processes, using examples across multiple systems. Novel mutualism research thus far has been largely limited in both questions and ecosystems, but if more broadly applied could benefit both theoretical and applied ecology.

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Impacts of an abundant introduced ecosystem engineer within mudflats of the southeastern US coast

Cited by 94 publications

References 37 publications

Exotic macroalga Gracilaria vermiculophylla provides superior nursery habitat for native blue crab in Chesapeake Bay

Exotic macroalga Gracilaria vermiculophylla provides superior nursery habitat for native blue crab in Chesapeake Bay

Non-indigenous species (NIS) of polychaetes (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of the Iberian Peninsula: an annotated checklist

Research on mutualisms between native and non-native partners can contribute critical ecological insights

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