The role of epiphytic algae and different species of Sargassum in the distribution and feeding of herbivorous amphipods

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The presence of particular algal species can directly influence the distribution and abundance of mesoherbivores. The aim of this study was to answer the following questions: Do Sargassum beds of different localities show variation in the load of epiphytic algae? Do Sargassum beds of different localities show variation in the density of herbivore amphipods? Does the density of these amphipods in the same algal bed vary with epiphyte load? Are species of Sargassum and their epiphytes equally consumed by amphipods? The collections were carried out in three infralitoral algal beds in southeastern Brazil. Fronds of Sargassum were collected at each algal bed and the associated ampithoid and hyalid amphipods were separated, identified and counted. Sargassum fronds and epiphytes were identified, dryed and weighted. Experiments were carried out to determine the consumption of Sargassum species and epiphytes by amphipods. The weight of the epiphytes Hypnea musciformis and Dyctiopteris delicatula and the density of amphipods were different among sampling sites. There was a relationship between amphipod density and epiphyte weight at two sampling sites. The four amphipod species tested consumed algae, but showed different patterns of consumption. Despite consuming the epiphytes, the ampithoids preferentially feed on the three species of Sargassum, while Hyale nigra had a preference for Hypnea musciformis.

Communities and Attachment Networks Associated with Primary, Secondary and Alternative Foundation Species; A Case Study of Stressed and Disturbed Stands of Southern Bull Kelp

“…Large host organisms, such as trees, corals and canopy-forming macroalgae (seaweeds), are sometimes considered 'primary' (or basal) foundation species because they control biodiversity and abiotic conditions, and can provide attachment space for epiphytes [13]. However, the epiphytes themselves can also be foundation species when and where they increase biodiversity and alter species interactions [36][37][38][39][40]. Epiphytes can therefore sometimes be considered 'secondary' (or intermediate) foundation species, because their 'foundation-species-effect' requires the presence of the primary foundation species [13,[41][42][43][44][45].…”

Dimensão fractal e métodos quantitativos aplicados ao estudo de comunidades do macrobentos marinhos

“…A dominância dessas espécies já foi descrita por outros autores em bancos de Sargassum para a região de Ubatuba (JACOBUCCI & LEITE, 2014;MACHADO et al, 2017). De acordo com esses autores, essas espécies tendem a se alimentar preferencialmente da alga hospedeira, Sargassum, ao invés das algas epífitas.…”

“…Tais estudos utilizavam apenas a biomassa da macroalga (peso seco ou peso úmido) para mensurar a complexidade das macroalgas para evidenciar como essa variável influenciava a estruturação das referidas comunidades (WAKABARA et al, 1983;LEITE et al, 2007;CUNHA et al, 2008;JACOBUCCI et al, 2009a;JACOBUCCI et al, 2014). O uso da dimensão fractal como medida de complexidade morfológica em macroalgas é uma abordagem importante que tem sido foco de muita pesquisa no mundo todo (GEE & WARWICK, 1994a, b;McABENDROTH et al, 2005;DIBBLE & THOMAZ, 2009;FERREIRO et al, 2011).…”

“…Próximo desse local está a Praia do Saco da Ribeira, que apresenta um complexo de pequenas marinas e armazéns, e a desembocadura do Rio Perequê-Mirim, sendo estes as principais fontes de influê nc ia antropogênica para a região (ALBERGARIA-BARBOSA et al, 2011;STRADIOTTO, 2013;JACOBUCCI & LEITE, 2014).…”

Efeito do estresse térmico sobre respostas fisiológicas, composição química e potencial antioxidante de Sargassum stenophyllum (Fucales, Ochrophyta) e Pyropia spiralis (Bangiales, Rhodophyta)

“…(Paula, 1988). Um aspecto de importância ecológica do gênero é o papel como refúgio de ampla diversidade de invertebrados marinhos, os quais utilizam os talos como substrato, crescendo como epífitos (Buzá-Jacobucci & Pereira-Leite, 2014). Como importância econômica, são fonte de minerais, carboidratos e alguns aminoácidos essenciais, com aplicações nas indústrias cosmética e farmacêutica Balboa et al, 2013).…”