Physical disturbance by recovering sea otter populations increases eelgrass genetic diversity

Foster, Erin U.; Watson, Jane C.; Lemay, Matthew A.; Tinker, M. Tim; Estes, James A.; Piercey, Rebecca S.; Henson, Lauren H.; Ritland, Carol; Miscampbell, Allyson E.; Nichol, Linda M.; Hessing‐Lewis, Margot; Salomon, Anne K.; Darimont, Chris T.

doi:10.1126/science.abf2343

Cited by 13 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…The observation of enhanced colonization in the absence of disturbance was also surprising, especially given that disturbance facilitating colonization is the cornerstone of multiple hypotheses predicting the relationship between disturbance and diversity (Connell, 1978; Goodsell & Connell, 2005; Sousa, 1979). This result also contrasts with previous studies suggesting that physical disturbance increases eelgrass genotypic diversity by facilitating seedling recruitment (Foster et al, 2021; Reusch, 2006; Zipperle et al, 2010). The reductions in flowering effort we observed in clipped treatments (see also Shaughnessy et al [2021]) might partially explain reductions in colonization if the colonizing genets are new seedlings, especially given that contributions to the seed bank come from both local and distant sources (Furman et al, 2015; Harwell & Orth, 2002; Ruckelshaus, 1998; Zipperle et al, 2010).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…The shape of the relationship between disturbance and genotypic diversity also varies considerably among systems. For example, correlative studies show that sites with intensive disturbance histories can have higher (Hunter 1993, McMahon et al 2017, Foster et al 2021, lower (Hangelbroek et al 2002, Rusterholz et al 2009 or indistinguishable (Diaz-Almela et al 2007) genotypic richness values relative to undisturbed sites. Manipulative experiments also show mixed results in that while some studies demonstrate that variation in the strength of selection drives diversity differences between disturbed and undisturbed plots (Herrera andBazaga 2011, Whitney et al 2019), other studies show no effect (Reusch 2006, Larkin et al 2010, Hidding et al 2014 or increased richness under moderately disturbed regimes (Peng et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Disturbance decreases genotypic diversity by reducing colonization: Implications for disturbance–diversity feedbacks

Kollars

Stachowicz

2022

Ecology

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One objective of eco‐evolutionary dynamics is to understand how the interplay between ecology and evolution on contemporary timescales contributes to the maintenance of biodiversity. Disturbance is an ecological process that can alter species diversity through both ecological and evolutionary effects on colonization and extinction dynamics. While analogous mechanisms likely operate among genotypes within a population, empirical evidence demonstrating the relationship between disturbance and genotypic diversity remains limited. We experimentally tested how disturbance altered the colonization (gain) and extinction (loss) of genets within a population of the marine angiosperm Zostera marina (eelgrass). In a 2‐year field experiment conducted in northern California, we mimicked grazing disturbance by migratory geese by clipping leaves at varying frequencies during the winter months. Surprisingly, we found the greatest rates of new colonization in the absence of disturbance and that clipping had negligible effects on extinction. We hypothesize that genet extinction was not driven by selective mortality from clipping or from any stochastic loss resulting from the reduced shoot densities in clipped plots. We also hypothesize that increased flowering effort and facilitation within and among clones drove the increased colonization of new genets in the undisturbed treatment. This balance between colonization and extinction resulted in a negative relationship between clipping frequency and net changes in genotypic richness. We interpret our results in light of prior work showing that genotypic diversity increased resistance to grazing disturbance. We suggest that both directions of a feedback between disturbance and diversity occur in this system with consequences for the maintenance of eelgrass genotypic diversity.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Disturbance decreases genotypic diversity by reducing colonization: Implications for disturbance–diversity feedbacks

Kollars

Stachowicz

2022

Ecology

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“…Ultimately, reduced urchin population size decreases density-dependent transmission of bacterial pathogens among urchins (Table 1, Lafferty 2004). Further, conservation of predators (sea otters) promotes natural ecosystem filter resilience (eelgrass), which could increase filtering of pathogenic bacteria (Foster et al 2021, Lamb et al . 2017.…”

Section: Strategy 1d: Biodiversity and Habitat Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ultimately, reduced urchin population size decreases density‐dependent transmission of bacterial pathogens among urchins (Table 1 , Lafferty, 2004 ). Furthermore, conservation of predators (sea otters) promotes natural ecosystem filter resilience (eelgrass), which could increase filtering of pathogenic bacteria (Foster et al, 2021 ; Lamb, van de Water, Bourne, Altier, Hein, et al, 2017 ). In contrast, reducing lethal take and conserving habitats may cause overcrowding of a taxon, ultimately increasing disease transmission (Davies et al, 2015 ; Lebarbenchon et al, 2007 ; McCallum et al, 2005 ; Wood et al, 2010 ; Wootton et al, 2012 ).…”

Section: Management Strategies For Marine Disease Emergenciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strategies for managing marine disease

Glidden

Field

Bachhuber

et al. 2022

Ecological Applications

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The incidence of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) has increased in wildlife populations in recent years and is expected to continue to increase with global environmental change. Marine diseases are relatively understudied compared to terrestrial diseases but warrant parallel attention as they can disrupt ecosystems, cause economic loss, and threaten human livelihoods. While there are many existing tools to combat the direct and indirect consequences of EIDs, these management strategies are often insufficient or ineffective in marine habitats compared to their terrestrial counterparts, often due to fundamental differences between marine and terrestrial systems. Here, we first illustrate how the marine environment and marine organism life histories present challenges and opportunities for wildlife disease management. We then assess the application of common disease management strategies to marine versus terrestrial systems to identify those that may be most effective for marine disease outbreak prevention, response, and recovery. Finally, we recommend multiple actions that will enable more successful management of marine wildlife disease emergencies in the future. These include prioritizing marine disease research and understanding its links to climate change, improving marine ecosystem health, forming better monitoring and response networks, developing marine veterinary medicine programs, and enacting policy that addresses marine and other wildlife diseases. Overall, we encourage a more proactive rather than reactive approach to marine wildlife disease management and emphasize that multi-disciplinary collaborations are crucial to managing marine wildlife health.

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Calm after the storm? Similar patterns of genetic variation in a riverine foundation species before and after severe disturbance

Ngeve,

Engelhardt,

Gray

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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In summer 2011, Tropical storms Lee and Irene caused an estimated 90% decline of the submersed aquatic plant Vallisneria americana Michx. (Hydrocharitaceae) in the Hudson River of New York (USA). To understand the genetic impact of such large‐scale demographic losses, we compared diversity at 10 microsatellite loci in 135 samples collected from five sites just before the storms with 239 shoots collected from nine sites 4 years after. Although 80% of beds sampled in 2011 lacked V. americana in 2015, we found similar genotypic and genetic diversity and effective population sizes in pre‐storm versus post‐storm sites. These similarities suggest that despite local extirpations concentrated at the upstream end of the sampling area, V. americana was regionally resistant to genetic losses. Similar geographically based structure among sites in both sampling periods suggested that cryptic local refugia at previously occupied sites facilitated re‐expansion after the storms. However, this apparent resistance to disturbance may lead to a false sense of security. Low effective population sizes and high clonality in both time periods suggest that V. americana beds were already small and had high frequency of asexual reproduction before the storms. Dispersal was not sufficient to recolonize more isolated sites that had been extirpated. Chronic low diversity and reliance on asexual reproduction for persistence can be risky when more frequent and intense storms are paired with ongoing anthropogenic stressors. Monitoring genetic diversity along with extent and abundance of V. americana will give a more complete picture of long‐term potential for resilience.

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Physical disturbance by recovering sea otter populations increases eelgrass genetic diversity

Cited by 13 publications

References 67 publications

Disturbance decreases genotypic diversity by reducing colonization: Implications for disturbance–diversity feedbacks

Disturbance decreases genotypic diversity by reducing colonization: Implications for disturbance–diversity feedbacks

Strategies for managing marine disease

Calm after the storm? Similar patterns of genetic variation in a riverine foundation species before and after severe disturbance

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