Salt Marsh Fucoid Algae: Overlooked Ecosystem Engineers of North Temperate Salt Marshes

Tyrrell, Megan C.; Dionne, Michele; Eberhardt, Sarah A.

doi:10.1007/s12237-011-9472-9

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…However, in a manipulative experiment in New England, removal of a dense cover of fucoids (principally Ascophyllum nodosum ), had little effect on live density or cover of Spartina alterniflora , but did change the composition of epifaunal and infaunal animals (Tyrrell et al. ). Wetland microalgae too might affect vascular plants: microalgal exopolymer secretions may stabilize sediments along the lower boundary of tidal marshes promoting plant colonization (Coles ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The algal flora of tidal wetlands including emergent marshes consists of a phylogenetically diverse assemblage of diatoms, cyanobacteria, green algae, red seaweeds, Vaucheria , and other macroalgae (Sullivan and Currin , Janousek , Tyrrell et al. ). Benthic microalgae are usually embedded in a matrix of inorganic particles and organic material in the top few millimeters of sediment.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Removing fucoid cover in New England marshes altered sediment surface temperature and affected infaunal and epifaunal species densities (Tyrrell et al. ). Negative macroalgal–seagrass interactions are well documented for estuaries and other shallow marine habitats (Thomsen et al.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Patterns of Distribution and Environmental Correlates of Macroalgal Assemblages and Sediment Chlorophyll A in Oregon Tidal Wetlands

Janousek

Folger

2012

Journal of Phycology

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Algae have important functional roles in estuarine wetlands. We quantified differences in macroalgal abundance, composition and diversity, and sediment chl a and pheophytin a (pheo a) among three National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) emergent marsh classes in four Oregon estuaries spanning a range of riverine to marine dominance. We also assessed the strength of macroalgal-vascular plant associations and the degree to which environmental variables correlated with algal community metrics in marsh and woody wetlands. The frequency of occurrence of most macroalgal genera, total benthic macroalgal cover, macroalgal diversity, and sediment chl a content were several times higher in low emergent marsh than in high marsh or palustrine tidal marsh. Conversely, pheo a: chl a ratios were highest in high and palustrine marsh. Attached macroalgae (Fucus and Vaucheria) were strongly associated with plants common at lower tidal elevations such as Sarcocornia perennis and Jaumea carnosa; Ulva (an unattached alga) was not strongly associated with any common low marsh plants. In structural equation models, intertidal elevation was the most influential predictor of macroalgal cover and richness and chl a; light availability and soil salinity played secondary roles. Although common taxa such as Ulva spp. occurred across a broad range of salinities, wetlands with oligohaline soils (salinity < 5) had the lowest macroalgal diversity and lower sediment chl a. These types of baseline data on algal distributions are critical for evaluating the structural and functional impacts of future changes to coastal estuaries including sea-level rise (SLR), altered salinity dynamics, and habitat modification.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Patterns of Distribution and Environmental Correlates of Macroalgal Assemblages and Sediment Chlorophyll A in Oregon Tidal Wetlands

Janousek

Folger

2012

Journal of Phycology

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“…Ecads also are known in the closely related fucoid Ascophyllum nodosum (Chock and Mathieson, 1976;Chock and Mathieson, 1979;. All fucoid ecads are characterized by the absence of a holdfast; a dwarf morphology; asexual reproduction; and curled, proliferating thalli (see also references in Wallace et al, 2004) and may be a major source of biomass and productivity in these habitats (Tyrrell et al, 2012;Tyrrell et al, 2015).…”

Section: Ecadsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of reproduction in the seaweed genus Fucus (Ochrophyta, Fucales): Background for renewed consideration as a model organism

et al. 2022

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The genus Fucus dominates the intertidal and shallow subtidal rocky reefs of the North Atlantic and also is commonly found in the intertidal of the North Pacific. It likely diversified 12.2-2.7 mya into two genetically distinct lineages: Lineage 1 with one species in the North Pacific and two in the North Atlantic; and Lineage 2 found only in the North Atlantic (one species recently introduced into the North Pacific). With 10 accepted species, Fucus spp. (and the Fucales) are unique among algae in having a diplontic life cycle, whereby the only haploid stage is the single-celled gamete. Further, Fucus spp. produce eight eggs in each oogonium; have hermaphroditic and dioecious species in each lineage; display sperm:egg ratios differing by more than one order of magnitude; have synchronized and predictable release of gametes; are capable of self- and/or cross- fertilization and asexual (fragmentation via adventitious branching) reproduction; readily hybridize in culture, as well as the field; and form ecads (free-living individuals with morphological variability linked to habitat) by hybridization or polyploidy. Consequently, the genus is an excellent model for a variety of studies in reproductive biology, employing laboratory and field manipulations as well as detailed genetic studies using the molecular ‘omics’. We review here the relevant literature in order to fully understand and appreciate the unique opportunities that Fucus spp. provide as model organisms for future studies of reproduction.

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“…Her efforts also went into garnering a trust that provides funds for a post-doctoral fellow to perform high-level research in conservation ecology. Michele, her students, and post-doctoral fellows performed a variety of research activities that included studying the utilization of marsh ecosystems by fish (Dionne et al 1999;MacKenzie and Dionne 2008), coastal restoration (Burdick and Dionne 1994;Burdick et al 1997;Koniski et al 2006), assessing human and climate threats on coastal systems (Chen et al 2009;Crain et al 2009;Dijkstra et al 2013;Eberhardt et al 2011), and investigating species-specific interactions in marsh ecosystems (Dijkstra et al 2012;Tyrrell et al 2012). She was a proponent of long-term monitoring that could provide effective baseline data sets to determine the conditions of these ecosystems (Neckles and Dionne 2000).…”

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confidence: 99%

Dedication: Dr. Michele L. Dionne (1954–2012)

MacKenzie

Chen

Dijkstra

2015

Estuaries and Coasts

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Salt Marsh Fucoid Algae: Overlooked Ecosystem Engineers of North Temperate Salt Marshes

Cited by 7 publications

References 31 publications

Patterns of Distribution and Environmental Correlates of Macroalgal Assemblages and Sediment Chlorophyll A in Oregon Tidal Wetlands

Patterns of Distribution and Environmental Correlates of Macroalgal Assemblages and Sediment Chlorophyll A in Oregon Tidal Wetlands

A review of reproduction in the seaweed genus Fucus (Ochrophyta, Fucales): Background for renewed consideration as a model organism

Dedication: Dr. Michele L. Dionne (1954–2012)

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