Magnification of Secondary Production by Kelp Detritus in Coastal Marine Ecosystems

Duggins, David O.; Simenstad, C. A.; Estes, James A.

doi:10.1126/science.245.4914.170

Cited by 587 publications

(431 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The loss of kelp production will also affect food chains in the adjacent coastal ecosystems, because kelp forests are export systems that provide primary and secondary production for ecosystems on deep and shallow waters (Field et al 1980;Branch & Griffiths 1988;Duggins et al 1989;Vetter 1995;. In Norwegian waters, kelp forests are also feeding areas for a number of seabirds (Bustnes et al 1997;Fredriksen 2003).…”

Section: Consequences Of Deforestation the Importance Of The Kelp Fomentioning

confidence: 99%

Sea urchin grazing and kelp re-vegetation in the NE Atlantic

Norderhaug

Christie

2009

Marine Biology Research

125

114

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Small-scale grazing events where sea urchins have grazed kelp forests to barren grounds have been reported all along the NE Atlantic coast. One large-scale event has been reported where kelp forests along the Norwegian and Russian coast were grazed by sea urchins during the early 1970s. The barren ground area has persisted since. Different theories to explain the grazing event have been presented. This paper seeks to sort and summarize earlier published papers and national reports and to critically examine the most important theories presented to explain the grazing event. The conclusion is that the reason for the event is unknown and it is too late to find causes 40 years after it took place. However, new data and new geographical analysis tools provide insight into the extent and consequences of this dramatic event, and show re-vegetation of kelp forests in the southernmost area. Emphasis in future studies should be given to understand the reasons for shifts between the two ecosystem states and take advantage of the ongoing shift. Such basic ecological knowledge could provide an important basis for better understanding the system and further, to understand the extent to which other observed largescale changes (e.g. climatic changes, fish stock reductions) affect kelp forestÁsea urchin interaction.

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Section: Consequences Of Deforestation the Importance Of The Kelp Fomentioning

confidence: 99%

Sea urchin grazing and kelp re-vegetation in the NE Atlantic

Norderhaug

Christie

2009

Marine Biology Research

125

114

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“…They dominate most subtidal rocky shores in temperate latitudes but also occur in upwelling zones in the tropics (Graham et al, 2007) and in the arctic (for example Dunton et al (1982)). Kelp forest ecosystems are characterized by extraordinary biodiversity and productivity (Mann, 1973;Duggins et al, 1989) and provide important ecosystem services, for example as feeding grounds for commercially important fish (Norderhaug et al, 2005). They sustain rich communities of invertebrates (Coyer, 1984;Christie et al, 2003) and epiphytic seaweeds (Tokida, 1960).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bacterial diversity in relation to secondary production and succession on surfaces of the kelp Laminaria hyperborea

et al. 2012

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Kelp forests worldwide are known as hotspots for macroscopic biodiversity and primary production, yet very little is known about the biodiversity and roles of microorganisms in these ecosystems. Secondary production by heterotrophic bacteria associated to kelp is important in the food web as a link between kelp primary production and kelp forest consumers. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between bacterial diversity and two important processes in this ecosystem; bacterial secondary production and primary succession on kelp surfaces. To address this, kelp, Laminaria hyperborea, from southwestern Norway was sampled at different geographical locations and during an annual cycle. Pyrosequencing (454-sequencing) of amplicons of the 16S rRNA gene of bacteria was used to study bacterial diversity. Incorporation of tritiated thymidine was used as a measure of bacterial production. Our data show that bacterial diversity (richness and evenness) increases with the age of the kelp surface, which corresponds to the primary succession of its bacterial communities. Higher evenness of bacterial operational taxonomical units (OTUs) is linked to higher bacterial production. Owing to the dominance of a few abundant OTUs, kelp surface biofilm communities may be characterized as low-diversity habitats. This is the first detailed study of kelp-associated bacterial communities using high-throughput sequencing and it extends current knowledge on microbial community assembly and dynamics on living surfaces.

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“…Present only on the western coast in the North Atlantic, Laminaria digitata is the dominant species of the dense and continuous kelp stands on the English Channel and Atlantic coasts of France (Kain 1979). These large brown seaweeds are ecologically important in coastal environments as primary producers, important contributors to food webs and as shelters to a wide range of invertebrates (Duggins et al 1989, Norton et al 1996, Walker & Kendrick 1998. Kelps are not only important ecosystem engineers (Kain 1979, Coleman & Williams 2002), but they are also a main marine commercial resource for various (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current patterns, habitat discontinuities and population genetic structure: the case of the kelp Laminaria digitata in the English Channel

Billot¹,

Engel²,

Rousvoal³

et al. 2003

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

118

119

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Laminaria digitata is the dominant species of the dense, continuous kelp stands in the English Channel and on the Atlantic coasts of France, where it is harvested for its high quality alginates. However, in spite of its ecological and economic importance, our knowledge of the level and organisation of genetic diversity in this species is scant. Here, using comprehensive hierarchical sampling and 7 microsatellite loci, we explored the roles of dispersal strategies, current regimes and habitat discontinuities in shaping genetic structure of L. digitata populations. Our results show that continuous, non-fragmented forests of L. digitata were genetically differentiated at distances greater than 10 km, despite the absence of clear population boundaries. Furthermore, a pattern of isolationby-distance indicated that gene flow occurred preferentially among adjacent populations following a stepping-stone model. In addition, we analysed the direction of migration using assignment tests and found that currents appeared to play a minor role in orienting gene flow, except in the Gulf of Saint Malo gyre. In contrast, habitat discontinuities were found to accentuate genetic differentiation and resulted in reduced genetic variation of isolated stands. In the context of a potential over-exploitation of kelp stands in Brittany, this study suggests that the existence of neighbouring populations can be vital to maintaining high levels of gene flow and thus, genetic diversity in this species.

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Magnification of Secondary Production by Kelp Detritus in Coastal Marine Ecosystems

Cited by 587 publications

References 11 publications

Sea urchin grazing and kelp re-vegetation in the NE Atlantic

Sea urchin grazing and kelp re-vegetation in the NE Atlantic

Bacterial diversity in relation to secondary production and succession on surfaces of the kelp Laminaria hyperborea

Current patterns, habitat discontinuities and population genetic structure: the case of the kelp Laminaria digitata in the English Channel

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