Changes in a benthic community associated with dense beds of a burrowing deposit feeder, Callianassa californiensis

Posey, Martin H.

doi:10.3354/meps031015

Cited by 156 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Experimental evidence to support this has been provided from both field-and laboratory-based studies, which have demonstrated strong links between individual bioturbating species and their associated communities (e.g. Posey 1986, Warwick et al 1986, 1990, Posey et al 1991, Widdicombe et al 2000. Whilst the primary effects of trawling, such as the direct mortality of species due to damage from the fishing gear, has been well studied (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Importance of bioturbators for biodiversity maintenance: indirect effects of fishing disturbance

Widdicombe¹,

Austen²,

Kendall³

et al. 2004

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The relative impact on macrofaunal diversity of 7 naturally co-occurring bioturbators has been examined in a benthic mesocosm experiment. The bioturbators chosen were selected because of their potential vulnerability to the disturbances associated with demersal trawling. The experiment was conducted at the Solbergstrand mesocosm (Norwegian Institute for Water Research) using subtidal sediment collected from Bjørnehodebukta, a small sheltered bay in the Oslofjord. For 3 of the bioturbating species (Brissopsis lyrifera, Aphrodita aculeata and Amphiura chiajei) a positive, linear relationship was demonstrated between bioturbator abundance and measures of species richness (number of species and Margalef species richness). It was suggested that the presence of these bioturbating species increased oxygen penetration into the sediment, leading to an enhancement in the ability of benthic systems to process organic material. This had a beneficial effect on the associated fauna in terms of maintaining levels of diversity. For Nephtys caeca, highest species diversity was seen in the low abundance treatments. Predation by N. caeca on small polychaetes is proposed as a possible explanation of the lower diversity in high-density treatments. It is concluded that B. lyrifera, A. aculeata, A. chiajei and N. caeca are functionally similar with respect to setting the diversity of the associated macrobenthic community and may therefore fulfill the same role within the benthic ecosystem. The presence of Calocaris macandreae, Nuculana minuta and Astarte sulcata had no detectable effect on diversity. Trawling has been shown to reduce the abundance of bioturbating species, and the current study demonstrates important implications of this loss on the maintenance of diversity. In addition, the interactions between bioturbation, diversity and organic enrichment highlight the need for management of anthropogenic impacts within the coastal environment in a holistic way rather than by isolation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Importance of bioturbators for biodiversity maintenance: indirect effects of fishing disturbance

Widdicombe¹,

Austen²,

Kendall³

et al. 2004

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Already Posey (1986) and Thrush (1988), finding the exclusion of the same feeding modes, reject the apphcabihty of trophic group amensalism. Trophic group amensalism means that one trophic group (deposit-feeders, inhibitors) exclude another trophic group and epifaunal sessiles (suspension-feeders, amensals).…”

Section: Trophic Group Responsementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Predatory crabs and polychaetes, grazing snails and amphipods as well as suspension-feeding barnacles and polychaetes were found on the mussels, in their algal cover, on sponges or in shell debris entangled in byssus threads. Tsuchiya & Nishihira (1985, 1986) studied the community of experimental mussel patches on rocky substrates and found diverse feeding habits associated with them.…”

Section: Epifaunal Distribution Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the r01e of mussel beds as a habitat for intertidal organisms has never been completely investigated. On rocky substrates they increase habitat heterogeneity and are inhabited by a species rich and diverse fauna (Tsuchiya & Nishihira, 1985, 1986Suchanek, 1980). Species diversity of fauna in the sediment accumulating under mussel cultures decreases in comparison with adjacent mussel-free areas and shifts in trophic structure to a domination of deposit-feeders (Mattson & Linden, 1983;Roman & Perez, 1982;Rosenberg & Loo, 1983;Tenore & Gonzales, 1976).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mussel beds — amensalism or amelioration for intertidal fauna?

Dittmann

1990

Helgolander Meeresunters

121

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The faunal assemblages of a mussel bed (Mytilus edufis L.) and ambient sand_flat were compared to study how a bioherm of suspension feeding organisms affects benthic communities in a tidal flat. During a survey of mussel beds in the Wadden Sea at the island of Sylt {North Sea}, a total of 52 macrofaunal species and 44 meiobenthic plathelminth species were detected. They occupied different microhabitats in the mussel bed. 56 % of the macrofauna species were dwelling in the sediment beneath the mussels and 42 % were epibenthic or epiphytic. The latter were restricted in their occurrence to the mussel bed. Along a transect from the sandflat to the mussel bed the mean species densities of macrofauna did not differ significantly, while abundances were significantly lower in the mussel bed than in the sandflat. The composition of the assemblages shifted from a dominance of Polychaeta in the sandflat to Oligochaeta in the mussel bed. Surface filter-feeding polychaetes of the sandflat (Tharyx mariom) were displaced by deposit feeding polychaetes under the mussel cover (Capitella capitata, Heteromastus filiformis}. The total meiobenthic density was lower and single taxa (Ostracoda, Plathelminthes, Nematoda} were ~ignificantly less abundant in the mud of the mussel bed. The plathelminth assemblage was dominated by grazing species (Archaphanostoma agile}, and differed in community structure from a sandflat assemblage. An amensalistic relationship was found between the suspension-feeding mussels and suspensionfeeding infauna, while deposit-feeders were enhanced. The presence of epibenthic microhabitats results in a variety of trophic groups co-occurring in a mussel bed. This is hypothesized as trophic group amelioration and described as an attribute of heterotrophic reefs.

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“…Bioturbators modify physical as well as chemical characteristics of the sediment (e.g., Bertness, 1985;Levinton, 1989;Reise, 2002) and thus can affect other organisms sharing this habitat in various ways (Brenchley, 1981;Posey, 1986Posey, , 1987Posey et al, 1991). Large burrowing organisms such as shrimps, crabs and polychaetes are of particular significance, especially if they occur at high densities and/or construct extensive semi-permanent galleries (e.g., Peterson, 1977;Montague, 1980;Brenchley, 1981;Hoffman et al, 1984;Bertness, 1985;Brey, 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of the SW Atlantic burrowing crab Chasmagnathus granulatus on the intertidal razor clam Tagelus plebeius

Lomovasky

Casariego

Brey

et al. 2006

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

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The deposit feeding burrowing crab Chasmagnathus granulatus and the suspension feeding burrowing clam Tagelus plebeius occur sympatrically in the intertidal flats of the south western Atlantic estuarine environments. Common ecological theory predicts negative effects of deposit feeder bioturbation on co-occurring suspension feeders up to complete exclusion of the latter. By means of descriptive and experimental approaches performed at the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (37°32′S-57°19′W; Argentina) we show that within beds of C. granulatus (i) frequency of clam shell damage is higher, (ii) shell geometry shows proportionally shorter shells, (iii) clam condition is lower and, (iv) shell growth rates are lower. The negative effect of crabs increases towards lower tidal level. Changes in shell geometry are only detectable in damaged shells, suggesting that this pattern results from direct physical effects by crabs. The negative effect of crabs on clam condition and growth is mediated by indirect mechanisms. Burrowing and migrating of crabs may disrupt clam feeding and/or may force clams to invest more energy into escape movements and burrow rebuilding, thus leaving less energy for growth. Our study indicates that the adaptation of T. plebeius to a highly dynamic intertidal environment enables the clam to coexist with this strong bioturbator, too. The additional stress inflicted by C. granulatus does affect the clam negatively, but is not sufficiently high to eliminate it from the system.

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Changes in a benthic community associated with dense beds of a burrowing deposit feeder, Callianassa californiensis

Cited by 156 publications

References 16 publications

Importance of bioturbators for biodiversity maintenance: indirect effects of fishing disturbance

Importance of bioturbators for biodiversity maintenance: indirect effects of fishing disturbance

Mussel beds — amensalism or amelioration for intertidal fauna?

The effect of the SW Atlantic burrowing crab Chasmagnathus granulatus on the intertidal razor clam Tagelus plebeius

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