Competition and Predation in Marine Soft-Sediment Communities

Wilson, W. Herbert

doi:10.1146/annurev.es.21.110190.001253

Cited by 310 publications

(221 citation statements)

References 116 publications

(109 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

198

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The latter pattern is often observed in areas severely disturbed (glacial sedimentation: Wlodarska-Kowalczuk et al 2005 Ingole et al 2001). Therefore, species richness of the Kongsfjorden soft bottom community is highest at intermediate levels of scouring impact assuming that at medium depth the competition for space and food (Wilson 1991) of dominating species is moderated by the disturbance, which reduces the depression of sub-ordinate species. Thus, species of a lower level in the competitive hierarchy would reemerge (Valdivia et al 2005).…”

Section: ¡1mentioning

confidence: 95%

Soft bottom species richness and diversity as a function of depth and iceberg scour in Arctic glacial Kongsfjorden (Svalbard)

2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Macrozoobenthic soft-sediment communities of central Arctic Kongsfjorden inhabiting six depth zones between 5 and 30 m were sampled using SCUBA-diving during June-August 2003 and analysed comparatively. About 63 taxa were found, nine of which had not been reported for Kongsfjorden and four for Svalbard. Suspension feeding or surface and sub-surface detritivorous polychaetes and deposit-feeding amphipods were dominant. Only 11 of the 63 taxa (45 species and additional 18 families not further identiWed) inhabited the complete depth range. Biomass ranged from 3.5 to 25.0 g ash free dry mass m ¡2 and mean Shannon diversity (Log e) was 2.06. Similarity clustering from abundance and biomass data showed a signiWcant diVerence between the shallow station (5 m) and the rest. The latter formed two sub-groups (10-20 and 25-30 m). Depth is irrevocably correlated with icescouring. Thus the diVerences in diversity together with the predicted iceberg scour intensity support the 'intermediate disturbance hypothesis' indicating that habitats impacted by moderate iceberg scouring enable higher diversity. In contrast, biotopes frequently aVected only host pioneer communities, while mature, less diverse assemblages dominate depths of low impact.

show abstract

Section: ¡1mentioning

confidence: 95%

Soft bottom species richness and diversity as a function of depth and iceberg scour in Arctic glacial Kongsfjorden (Svalbard)

2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Several studies refer to the existence of intraspecific competition, mostly between larvae and adults, in which larval settlement contributes to the different depth distribution of juveniles and adults (Ansell and Lagardère, 1980;Woodin, 1986;Wilson, 1991).…”

Section: Length Frequency Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Depth segregation phenomenon in <i>Donax trunculus</i> (Bivalvia: Donacidae) populations of the Algarve coast (southern Portugal)

Gaspar¹,

Chı́charo²,

Vasconcelos³

et al. 2002

Sci. Mar.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SUMMARY: A study was undertaken to evaluate the existence of depth segregation between size classes of Donax trunculus populations that occur along the Algarve coast (southern Portugal). Five collecting areas were sampled in the Ria Formosa barrier islands, namely in the Culatra, Barreta and Armona Islands, between March and June 1998. The study was based on size frequency distribution analysis and shell biometric relationships. The size frequency distribution showed the predominance of smaller individuals (<25 mm) in the renewal area (0.5-1.0 m depth) and the prevalence of larger individuals (≥25 mm) at greater depths (4.0-6.0 m depth). The biometric study revealed the existence of significant differences in the type of growth between size classes in relation to depth distribution and burrowing activity. On the basis of these results, some specific management measures were proposed for this important bivalve fishery, taking into account the distinct fishing strategies and operations (manual and boat-operated dredging) performed at different depths.

show abstract

“…Marine invertebrates living in soft-sediment habitats such as mud flats can experience heavy predation (Peterson 1979;Quammen 1984;Wilson 1990), which could select for anticonsumer traits such as chemical defenses. As a possible example, brominated phenolics and pyrroles are commonly produced by invertebrates living in temperate mud flat or sand flat habitats, and this phenomenon is geographically and taxonomically widespread.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Do brominated natural products defend marine worms from consumers? Some do, most don’t

Kicklighter

Kubanek

Hay

2004

Limnology & Oceanography

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Worms and other marine invertebrates living in soft sediments commonly produce brominated natural products that have been hypothesized to function as defenses against consumers, but this hypothesis has not been tested directly. When 16 species of worms from a Georgia mud flat were fed to two sympatric fishes (Fundulus heteroclitus, Leiostomus xanthurus) and a crab (Callinectes similis), 15 species (94%) were palatable to all three predators. Only the hemichordate Saccoglossus kowalevskii was unpalatable to both fishes, but even it was readily consumed by the crab. Bioassay-guided chemical investigations demonstrated that Saccoglossus kowalevskii was rejected by fishes because it contained 2,3,4-tribromopyrrole at 0.2% of worm dry mass. This is the first direct test of brominated worm metabolites as defenses against sympatric consumers. The deterrence of 2,3,4-tribromopyrrole in S. kowalevskii may explain why densities of this worm increase 40-fold during seasons when predation is high and densities of palatable worms decline sharply. To more broadly examine the effects of brominated metabolites on worm palatability, we collected from North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida 14 species reported to produce brominated metabolites. These species were fed to sympatric consumers to assess palatability and also analyzed for brominated metabolites by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Nine of the fourteen species contained brominated metabolites, but only two were unpalatable. In a final test, five additional brominated metabolites produced by marine worms were added to palatable foods at natural concentrations and at up to 20ϫ natural concentrations. None deterred feeding at natural concentrations, one was deterrent at 5-15ϫ natural concentration, and four had no effect at even 20ϫ natural concentration. Thus, while one worm was defended by a brominated compound, most worms containing brominated metabolites were palatable, and brominated natural products seldom functioned as chemical defenses against consumers.

show abstract

Competition and Predation in Marine Soft-Sediment Communities

Cited by 310 publications

References 116 publications

Soft bottom species richness and diversity as a function of depth and iceberg scour in Arctic glacial Kongsfjorden (Svalbard)

Soft bottom species richness and diversity as a function of depth and iceberg scour in Arctic glacial Kongsfjorden (Svalbard)

Depth segregation phenomenon in <i>Donax trunculus</i> (Bivalvia: Donacidae) populations of the Algarve coast (southern Portugal)

Do brominated natural products defend marine worms from consumers? Some do, most don’t

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About