When the tiny help the mighty: facilitation between two introduced species, a solitary ascidian and a macroalga in northern Patagonia, Argentina

Pereyra, Patricio Javier; Barra, Paula María de la; Gastaldi, Marianela; Saad, Juan Francisco; Firstater, Fausto Nahuel; Narvarte, Maite Andrea

doi:10.1007/s00227-017-3202-1

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Our study reveals a higher proportion of dead individuals occurred when Undaria's holdfast covered Styela completely. Despite this, in view of the low proportion of dead Styela found, we conclude that the ascidian tolerates being covered by the Undaria holdfast, contrary to what was 16 originally hypothesized by Pereyra et al (2017). As result, we propose that, with respect to lethality, the outcome of the interaction for Styela was essentially neutral.…”

Section: Undaria Pinnatifida Holdfast Coverage On Styela Clavacontrasting

confidence: 81%

“…Ascidians, however, have received less attention as facilitators, despite being capable of providing refuge and resources to other species (Rimondino et al 2015). On Argentine rocky shores, an interaction occurs between the solitary ascidian Styela clava (Herdman 1881)-hereafter Styela-and the macroalga Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringerhereafter Undaria-in which the latter uses the former as basibiont (Pereyra et al 2017). Through a short-term experiment, Pereyra et al (2017) provided evidence for facilitation at the start of the sporophytic phase, but in the present work we aimed at discovering if shifts in this interaction take place over time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seasonal changes in facilitation between an ascidian and a kelp in Patagonia

Arcángel

Rodríguez

Barra

et al. 2022

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Positive interactions between species may change in outcome over time and may differ for the two interacting species. We explored the seasonal patterns of facilitation between an ascidian (Styela clava) and a macroalga (Undaria pinnatifida) by following their association for a complete sporophytic phase. In addition, we investigated how the relationship affected the morphometric parameters of U. pinnatifida, and whether the association had a negative outcome for S. clava. We performed monthly surveys in San Antonio Bay (Argentina) for nearly 1 yr to evaluate U. pinnatifida density (both the total and mature individuals exclusively) on different substrates to determine whether U. pinnatifida was more closely associated with S. clava than with inert substrates (i.e. consolidated and nonconsolidated). Moreover, we compared the morphometry of U. pinnatifida between substrates (S. clava vs. rock) and collected S. clava individuals overgrown by U. pinnatifida and classified them by their holdfast coverage to assess their condition (dead or alive). A higher total density of U. pinnatifida was associated with S. clava than with other substrates from autumn to spring. U. pinnatifida individuals growing on S. clava were smaller than those growing on rock. Finally, the probability of S. clava dying increased for individuals with higher holdfast coverage, although the scarcity of dead individuals found suggested a negligible influence. Our findings indicate that whereas U. pinnatifida clearly benefitted from this interaction by appearing earlier in the field and presenting higher densities that could benefit the population when associated with S. clava, for S. clava the relationship appeared more neutral.

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Section: Undaria Pinnatifida Holdfast Coverage On Styela Clavacontrasting

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal changes in facilitation between an ascidian and a kelp in Patagonia

Arcángel

Rodríguez

Barra

et al. 2022

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Most previous studies have not considered the association of U. pinnatifida with invertebrates as an influential variable in the population dynamics of this macroalgae, but Thomsen et al (2018) documented that this kind of interspecific interactions can modify U. pinnatifida's seasonal patterns of density or abundance. In North Patagonia, U. pinnatifida is usually observed growing on the solitary ascidia Styela clava (Arcángel et al, 2022;Pereyra et al, 2017). Styela clava increases the density of U. pinnatifida recruits at the beginning of the sporophytic cycle and the density of mature individuals (stage 3) by the end of the cycle (Arcángel et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Undaria pinnatifida was introduced in Puerto Madryn (42°46′ S, 65°03′ W; Argentina) in the 1990s (Casas et al, 2004). Since then, it has dispersed to the south and north of the Argentinian coast (Dellatorre et al, 2014;Meretta et al, 2012), arriving in northern Patagonia (San Matías Gulf) around 2010 (Pereyra et al, 2014)., Most studies of this species in these ecosystems have evaluated either U. pinnatifida's effect on other macroalgae (Casas et al, 2004;Raffo et al, 2009) and benthic macrofauna (Irigoyen et al, 2011) or its association with other introduced species (Arcángel et al, 2022;Pereyra et al, 2017). In addition, the population features of U. pinnatifida in Argentina have been described mainly in relation to subtidal or artificial habitats (Casas et al, 2008;Martin & Bastida, 2008;Meretta et al, 2012), and little is known about these features in intertidal habitats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Same species, different population dynamics: Spatio‐temporal differences of Undaria pinnatifida (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae) in the intertidal of North Patagonia, Argentina

Arcángel,

Rodríguez,

Saad

et al. 2023

Journal of Phycology

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Population dynamics can be influenced by physical and biological factors, particularly in stressful environments. Introduced species usually have great physiological plasticity, resulting in populations with different traits. Undaria pinnatifida, a macroalga originally described from northeast Asia, was introduced in Northern Patagonia, Argentina (San Matías Gulf) around 2010. To describe the spatio‐temporal variability in population structure and morphometry of U. pinnatifida, we conducted monthly field samplings for 2 years at the intertidal area of two contrasting sites in the San Matías Gulf. Individuals of U. pinnatifida were classified by developmental stage, and their morpho‐gravimetric variables were measured. In both intertidal sites juveniles were found in higher proportion during austral autumn and grew and matured during the autumn‐winter months (from May onwards), and individuals senesced during early austral summer (December and January). Conversely, density and biomass were largely different between sites, and individuals showed slight morphological variability between sites. Environmental (e.g., nutrient concentration, available substrate) and biological factors (e.g., facilitation, competition) may explain the observed differences. Since there is not a macroalga with U. pinnatifida morphometrical characteristics in the intertidal environments of San Matías Gulf, studying this recent introduction gives us a better understanding of its potential ecological effects.

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“…The southern tip of South America (and the Magellan Province) has been poorly studied (Orensanz et al 2002) until now. However, the area has been highlighted as vulnerable to marine invasion, including that of ascidians (Orensanz et al 2002;Castilla et al 2005;Tatián et al 2010;Schwindt et al 2014;Pereyra et al 2015Pereyra et al , 2017.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ascidian distribution provides new insights to help define the biogeographic provinces in the South American Region

et al. 2018

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The validity and size of the biogeographic Magellan Province of marine organisms have been the focus of discussion of many authors. The distribution of fish and other organisms has revealed a lack of homogeneity in the area, which has also been interpreted as comprising four different Provinces: Southern Chile (SCH), Tierra del Fuego (TDF), Southern Argentina (SAR), and the Malvinas/Falkland Islands (MAI). For the first time, we assess the ascidian fauna of this region to determine if the distribution of benthic sessile filter feeders corresponds to these biogeographic provinces. Ascidian species richness and percentages of endemism for these four areas were estimated using data from the literature and new sampling. Biogeographic affinities among SCH, TDF, SAR, and MAI were also calculated. The species Pyura pilosa, Molgula malvinensis, and Molgula manhattensis, the latter frequently considered as invasive, were found for the first time on the TDF shelf. The highest ascidian species richness was found in TDF (70 species), while the percentages of endemism greater than 10% (the minimum to qualify an area as a province) were found in TDF (15.7%) and SCH (11.1%). SAR and MAI showed the lowest percentages of endemism and the strongest affinity. Based on percentages of endemism, faunal affinities, and differences among the four provinces, we propose a separation of the South American Region into three Provinces: SCH, TDF, and SAR/MAI. Continued sampling of ascidians is considered to be particularly important, given the potential spread of invasive species throughout this region.

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When the tiny help the mighty: facilitation between two introduced species, a solitary ascidian and a macroalga in northern Patagonia, Argentina

Cited by 12 publications

References 40 publications

Seasonal changes in facilitation between an ascidian and a kelp in Patagonia

Seasonal changes in facilitation between an ascidian and a kelp in Patagonia

Same species, different population dynamics: Spatio‐temporal differences of Undaria pinnatifida (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae) in the intertidal of North Patagonia, Argentina

Ascidian distribution provides new insights to help define the biogeographic provinces in the South American Region

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