Long-term surveys reveal abrupt canopy loss with immediate changes in diversity and functional traits

Understanding the local drivers of beta‐diversity patterns under climate change: The case of seaweed communities in Galicia, North West of the Iberian Peninsula

“…For instance, a temperature increase may negatively affect coldadapted species while benefiting warm-adapted ones in the same location (eg. Mieszkowska & Sugden, 2016;Muguerza et al, 2020;. For this reason, recent research has shifted, and increasing attention is being paid to understanding the extent of change in communities' composition between localities or time instances (beta-diversity; Crabot et al, 2019;Fitzpatrick et al, 2013).…”

Functional diversity of habitat formers declines scale-dependently across an environmental stress gradient

“…The diversity of such traits—functional diversity—captures variation in the ecological roles of species (Tilman 2001 ; Violle et al 2007 ; Díaz et al 2020 ). Although ecologists have traditionally focused on taxonomy-based metrics of biodiversity, incorporating functional diversity allows a more complete view of how communities respond to environmental gradients and human pressures (Mouillot et al 2013 ; Teixidó et al 2018 ; Sol et al 2020 ; Muguerza et al 2020 ), elucidates the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (e.g. Griffin et al 2009 ; Lefcheck and Duffy 2015 ), and reveals the operation of niche-based processes during community assembly (Mcgill et al 2006 ).…”

Food source or refuge: What is behind amphipod choices for seaweeds?

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Seaweeds are important structuring components of coastal communities, as they are among the main primary producers in the trophic food web of coastal zones and are home to several associated organisms from all trophic levels (producers, consumers, and decomposers) (De Oliveira et al, 2016;Muguerza et al, 2020). In the coastal zones, both seaweeds and their associated fauna are under abiotic pressure (wave action, temperature, salinity, desiccation, and among others) and biotic pressure (predation and competition).

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“…Seaweeds are considered engineering species because they modify the environment physically, chemically, and biologically (Bueno et al, 2016;Bustamante et al, 2017;De Oliveira et al, 2016;Jones et al, 2010;Muguerza et al, 2020). These organisms form additional biogenic structures that increase heterogeneity and three-dimensionality.…”

“…Seaweeds also influence the community structure of associated organisms both directly and indirectly by providing a variety of ecosystem functions, such as retaining sediment and debris, and serving as a substrate, food source, and refuge from predators and stressful abiotic conditions (Bueno et al, 2016;Bustamante et al, 2017;De Oliveira et al, 2016;Gestoso et al, 2014;Muguerza et al, 2020). For example, herbivores could feed on their host seaweed and/or its debris while being sheltered from predators by the seaweed structure.…”