Associational resistance of fouled blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) against starfish (Asterias rubens) predation: relative importance of structural and chemical properties of the epibionts

Laudien, Jürgen; Wahl, Martin

doi:10.1007/s10152-004-0181-7

Cited by 38 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Kautsky & van der Maarel 1990, Reusch & Chapman 1997. Adult crabs and sea stars, however, consume mussels only to the threshold size of 48 mm shell length, beyond which size refuge is obtained (Sommer et al 1999, Enderlein et al 2003, Laudien & Wahl 2004. The protective effect could be due to large size, strong adductor muscles and/or more robust shells.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sour times: seawater acidification effects on growth, feeding behaviour and acid–base status of Asterias rubens and Carcinus maenas

Appelhans¹,

Thomsen²,

Pansch³

et al. 2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

100

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The impact of seawater acidification on calcifying organisms varies at the species level. If the impact differs between predator and prey in strength and/or sign, trophic interactions may be altered. In the present study, we investigated the impact of 3 different seawater pCO 2 levels (650, 1250 and 3500 µatm) on the acid -base status or the growth of 2 predatory species, the common sea star Asterias rubens and the shore crab Carcinus maenas, and tested whether the quantity or size of prey consumed is affected. We exposed both the predators and their prey, the blue mussel Mytilus edulis, over a time span of 10 wk and subsequently performed feeding experiments. Intermediate acidification levels had no significant effect on growth or consumption in either predator species. The highest acidification level reduced feeding and growth rates in sea stars by 56%, while in crabs a 41% decrease in consumption rates of mussels could be demonstrated over the 10 wk experimental period but not in the subsequent shorter feeding assays.Because only a few crabs moulted in the experiment, acidification effects on crab growth could not be investigated. Active extracellular pH compensation by means of bicarbonate accumulation was observed in C. maenas, whereas the coelomic fluid pH in A. rubens remained uncompensated. Acidification did not provoke a measurable shift in prey size preferred by either predator. Mussels exposed to elevated pCO 2 were preferred by previously untreated A. rubens but not by C. maenas. The observed effects on species interactions were weak even at the high acidification levels expected in the future in marginal marine habitats such as the Baltic Sea. Our results indicate that when stress effects are similar (and weak) on interacting species, biotic interactions may remain unaffected.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sour times: seawater acidification effects on growth, feeding behaviour and acid–base status of Asterias rubens and Carcinus maenas

Appelhans¹,

Thomsen²,

Pansch³

et al. 2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

100

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show abstract

“…In comparison to sponge encrustation, barnacle encrustation can be seen as a case of ''shared doom'' since predation risk increased for scallops with one or more large barnacles. The mechanism by which this occurs is different than those previously described in the literature however (see Laudien & Wahl, 2004). Shared doom often occurs when an epibiont attracts predators either optically or chemically, making predation on its host more likely.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…In contrast, Laudien & Wahl (2004) found that epibiont chemical deterrence, rather than structural/mechanical properties, was the primary mechanism protecting blue mussels from predation by Asterias rubens. This could reflect a difference in the motile vs. sessile lifestyles of scallops compared to mussels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Associational resistance occurs when an epibiont decreases predation on its host due to the alteration of the host's exterior such that it is not consumed as readily by the predator. Associational resistance can be conferred in a variety of ways including chemical defense, chemical or tactile camouflage, or tactile-mechanical protection (Laudien & Wahl, 2004). In the case of C. hastata, there appears to be a combination of effects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of sponge and barnacle encrustation on survival of the scallop Chlamys hastata

Farren

Donovan

2007

Hydrobiologia

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The scallop Chlamys hastata frequently carries epibionts such as sponges and barnacles on its shells. Although the scallop-sponge relationship has been characterized as a mutualism, little is known about the scallop-barnacle relationship. This study investigated the effects of sponge and barnacle encrustation on the ability of C. hastata to avoid predation by the sea star Pycnopodia helianthoides. In feeding trials, P. helianthoides caught and consumed significantly more barnacle-encrusted scallops (7.7 ± 0.8 out of 20 scallops) than scallops encrusted by either of the sponges Myxilla incrustans (4.1 ± 0.9) or Mycale adhaerens (3.0 ± 0.5). Epibiont-free scallops (5.7 ± 0.5) formed an intermediate treatment between barnacle-encrusted and sponge-encrusted scallops. Possible mechanisms by which the sponges protected the scallops were investigated in two ways: two feeding trials were videotaped to allow qualitative analysis of sea star and scallop behavior and sea star feeding responses to scallop and sponge homogenates were determined to investigate if sea stars accept scallops and sponges as prey. Sea stars displayed positive feeding responses to scallop puree 97.5% ± 1.6 of the time while only displaying positive responses to Mycale adhaerens homogenate 4.4% ± 2.0 of the time and to Myxilla incrustans homogenate 4.4% ± 2.9 of the time. The videotaped feeding trials indicated that interference with tube feet adhesion by the sponge deterred predation. Observations of both sea stars that were videotaped showed that neither avoided trying to capture sponge-encrusted scallops, and at no time was a captured scallop willingly released by the sea stars. Thus, it appears that sponges provide tactile-mechanical protection and possibly chemical or tactile camouflage in this predator/prey relationship. Finally, the effects of sponge encrustation on barnacle settlement were determined. Field experiments showed that barnacle larvae settled more frequently on epibiont-free scallops than on those with either of the two sponges, potentially protecting the scallops from an epibiont that increases the scallop's susceptibility to predation.

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“…Indirect interactions occur via two basic ways (Wootton 1993): (1) due to linked direct interactions between species pairs (i.e., interaction chain) and (2) when a third species change how a pair of other species interact (i.e., interaction modification). By modifying the body surface properties of an organisms through tactile, visual, or chemical cues, epibionts can attract or repel predators, modulating in this way consumer-prey interactions (e.g., Wahl and Hay 1995;Wahl et al 1997;Laudien and Wahl 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macroalgal fouling on the intertidal mole crab Emerita analoga facilitates bird predation

et al. 2010

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In this work, we studied the effects of predation by birds on the intertidal mole crab Emerita analoga fouled by macroalgae in a sandy beach of central Peru (11°S). The epibiosis affected mostly the larger animals, especially adult females. Epibiosis prevalence for the entire intertidal population was relatively low (1-2%), however, within the size range affected by epibiosis in the intertidal zone (18-23 mm in carapace length), 20-38% of the animals were fouled. Focal observations of birds showed that fouled animals are preferred over those non-fouled of the same size class and hence the same sex, being consumed at a higher rate than their proportion in the intertidal (Chesson's alpha index of prey selection[0.96), and estimations of mortality rates indicated that more than 35% of the intertidal fouled animals are removed everyday by birds. The effect of epibiosis may be mainly attributed to a higher burrowing time or an increased visual attractive effect of the algae, which make fouled animals more conspicuous to predatory birds, or because of fouling enhances profitability of the animals.The results show that epibiosis has negative effects on E. analoga through increasing predation by birds, which in turn restricts the distribution and abundance of fouled E. analoga in the intertidal zone.

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Associational resistance of fouled blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) against starfish (Asterias rubens) predation: relative importance of structural and chemical properties of the epibionts

Cited by 38 publications

References 39 publications

Sour times: seawater acidification effects on growth, feeding behaviour and acid–base status of Asterias rubens and Carcinus maenas

Sour times: seawater acidification effects on growth, feeding behaviour and acid–base status of Asterias rubens and Carcinus maenas

Effects of sponge and barnacle encrustation on survival of the scallop Chlamys hastata

Macroalgal fouling on the intertidal mole crab Emerita analoga facilitates bird predation

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