Structure of epibiontic and sediment meiofauna in the area invaded by invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia

Cvitković, Ivan; Despalatović, Marija; Žuljević, Ante; Matijević, Slavica; Bogner, Danijela; Lušić, Jelena; Travizi, Ana

doi:10.1007/s00227-016-3034-4

Cited by 11 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…It belongs to a group of middle Adriatic islands, influenced by the open sea in the west and south and by the proximity of the coast in the east and north (Koletić et al, 2012). Stari Grad Bay is a semi-enclosed bay, with the prevailing cyclonic currents mainly driven by seasonal winds (Cvitković et al, 2017). More information on the sampling site H is available in the reports of Žuljević et al (1998), Antolić et al (2001), Žuljević (2001), Žuljević & Antolić ( , 2002, Cvitković et al (2017), and references therein.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Epilithic diatom communities from areas of invasive Caulerpa species (Caulerpa taxifolia and Caulerpa cylindracea) in the Adriatic Sea, NE Mediterranean

et al. 2019

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Epilithic diatom community structures are compared among three locations of the eastern Adriatic Sea coast (Croatia), in the presence of two different invasive Caulerpa species, C. taxifolia and C. cylindracea, which have spread rapidly in the Mediterranean in the last decades. Forty samples were taken seasonally at three sites (island of Hvar, island of Mljet, and Dubrovnik) between November 2008 and October 2010. Light and electron microscopy examinations were used for qualitative analysis. Altogether 310 epilithic taxa belonging to 65 genera were identified. The highest number of these taxa belonged to Mastogloia (48) and Amphora (32), followed by Diploneis (24), Nitzschia (23), Navicula (22), and Cocconeis (19). A similar seasonal shift in growth form structure was observed for epilithic communities at the three sampling sites, where the number of erect group diatoms doubled (Hvar, Mljet) and tripled (Dubrovnik) in spring. Apart from erect forms, Dubrovnik and Mljet were characterised by adnate forms, while Hvar was characterised by tube-dwelling forms. The highest values of the Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index were recorded in autumn and ranged from 5.26 to 5.34. ANOSIM tests performed on species relative abundance data confirmed that the diatom communities differed significantly between the sampling sites, and that the differences were correlated with the presence of the two species of invasive macroalgae (Hvar – area of C. taxifolia; Mljet and Dubrovnik – areas of C. cylindracea). As revealed by SIMPER analyses, the group of taxa contributing the most to variance between diatom assemblages from sites of different invasive alga included Cocconeis scutellum var. scutellum, Rhopalodia pacifica, Navicula ramosissima, and Berkeleya rutilans. Although the spatial variation in communities may also reflect the effects of unmeasured environmental variables, the results suggest the possible influence of invasive seaweeds of the genus Caulerpa which may affect the habitat by competing with autochthonous algae. This study contributes to the knowledge of diatom diversity both at regional and at broader scales in these challenged environments.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Epilithic diatom communities from areas of invasive Caulerpa species (Caulerpa taxifolia and Caulerpa cylindracea) in the Adriatic Sea, NE Mediterranean

et al. 2019

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“…This phenomenon is referred to the “meiofauna paradox” or “everything is everywhere hypothesis” (Giere 2009; Fontaneto 2011). Such wide distribution patterns have been explained or hypothesized by the stepping stone hypothesis (George 2013; Packmor and Riedl 2016), artificial dispersal (artificial invasion) (Herranz and Leander 2016; Pardos et al 2016; Cvitković et al 2017), or long range dispersal using currents and/or drifting (Walters and Bell 1994; Neuhaus and Sørensen 2013; Neuhaus et al 2014; Yamasaki et al 2014). Some are even regarded as a pseudo-wide distribution via the detection of cryptic species (Jörger et al 2012; Leasi et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Echinoderes pterus sp. n. showing a geographically and bathymetrically wide distribution pattern on seamounts and on the deep-sea floor in the Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea (Kinorhyncha, Cyclorhagida)

Yamasaki

Grzelak

Sørensen

et al. 2018

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Kinorhynchs rarely show a wide distribution pattern, due to their putatively low dispersal capabilities and/or limited sampling efforts. In this study, a new kinorhynch species is described, Echinoderes pterus sp. n., which shows a geographically and bathymetrically wide distribution, occurring on the Karasik Seamount and off the Svalbard Islands (Arctic Ocean), on the Sedlo Seamount (northeast Atlantic Ocean), and on the deep-sea floor off Crete and on the Anaximenes Seamount (Mediterranean Sea), at a depth range of 675–4,403 m. The new species is characterized by a combination of middorsal acicular spines on segments 4–8, laterodorsal tubes on segment 10, lateroventral tubes on segment 5, lateroventral acicular spines on segments 6–9, tufts of long hairs rising from slits in a laterodorsal position on segment 9, truncated tergal extensions on segment 11, and the absence of any type-2 gland cell outlet. The specimens belonging to the populations from the Arctic Ocean, the Sedlo Seamount, and the Mediterranean Sea show morphological variation in the thickness and length of the spines as well as in the presence/absence of ventromedial sensory spots on segment 7. The different populations are regarded as belonging to a single species because of their overlapping variable characters.

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“…A similar meiofaunal diversity might occur in meadows dominated by different seagrass species (Sánchez-Jerez et al, 1999a;Cvitković et al, 2017). For example, surveys conducted in meadows of Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson, 1870 in the Canary Islands have revealed a large diversity of Gnathostomulida (Sterrer, 1997;Riera, 2012), Chaetognatha (Hernández et al, 2009, Kinorhyncha (Martínez, pers.…”

Section: Meiofaunal Diversity In P Oceanicamentioning

confidence: 94%

Meiofauna is an important, yet neglected, component of biodiversity ofPosidonia oceanica

García‐Gómez

García‐Herrero

Sánchez

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Posidonia oceanica meadows are biodiversity reservoirs and provide many ecosystem services in coastal Mediterranean regions. Marine meiofauna, on the other hand, not only represents a major component of regional marine biodiversity, but also a useful tool to address both theoretical and applied questions in ecology, evolution, and conservation. We review the meiofaunal diversity in the P. oceanica ecosystem combining a literature review and a case study. First, we gathered records of 664 species from 69 published studies as well as unpublished sources, including few species exclusive from this ecosystem. Eighteen of those studies quantified the spatial and temporal changes of species composition, highlighting habitat-specific assemblages that fluctuate following the annual changes experienced by P. oceanica. Hydrodynamics, habitat complexity, and food availability, all three inherently linked to the seagrass phenology, are recognised as the main factors at shaping the complex distribution patterns of meiofauna in the meadows. These drivers have been identified mainly from Copepoda and Nematoda, and depend ultimately on species-specific preferences. Second, we tested the generality of these observations using marine mites as a model group, showing that the same processes might be in place also for other less abundant meiofaunal groups. Overall, our study highlights an outstanding diversity of meiofauna in P. oceanica and shows its potential for future research, not only focused on exploring and describing new species of neglected meiofaunal organisms, but also providing a more complete understanding on the functioning of the iconic Mediterranean ecosystem created by P. oceanica.

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Structure of epibiontic and sediment meiofauna in the area invaded by invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia

Cited by 11 publications

References 45 publications

Epilithic diatom communities from areas of invasive Caulerpa species (Caulerpa taxifolia and Caulerpa cylindracea) in the Adriatic Sea, NE Mediterranean

Epilithic diatom communities from areas of invasive Caulerpa species (Caulerpa taxifolia and Caulerpa cylindracea) in the Adriatic Sea, NE Mediterranean

Echinoderes pterus sp. n. showing a geographically and bathymetrically wide distribution pattern on seamounts and on the deep-sea floor in the Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea (Kinorhyncha, Cyclorhagida)

Meiofauna is an important, yet neglected, component of biodiversity ofPosidonia oceanica

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