Decoupling seasonal and temporal dynamics of macroalgal canopy cover in seagrass beds

Camacho, Rodney; Houk, Peter

doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2019.151310

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“… spicifera to monitor the ecological progress of the expansion process, understand the environmental preferences at annual and interannual scales and, finally, the epiphytes’ role in La Paz Bay biodiversity. Considering that the SST has been an explanatory variable in the response to its non-native distribution in the Pacific Ocean ( Camacho and Houk 2020 , Chávez-Sánchez et al 2022 , Ward et al 2023 ), as well as the presence of precipitation that favours its distribution in both native Atlantic ( Kilar and McLachlan 1986 ) and non-native Pacific areas ( Camacho and Houk 2020 ), which it is limited by the aridity of La Paz Bay ( Obeso-Nieblas et al 2004 ), however, could be compensated by anthropogenic nutrient inputs in the area and the high capacity of this macroalgae to absorb nutrients ( Dulai et al 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Records of the non‐native alga Acanthophora spicifera (Rhodophyta) and their colonial epibionts in La Paz Bay, Gulf of California

Mendoza-Becerril,

Pedroche,

Estrada-González

et al. 2023

BDJ

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Acanthophora spicifera, a red alga considered an alien species, was discovered for the first time on the Pacific coast of Mexico in 2006 from a locality inside La Paz Bay, Gulf of California. Since then, more records have shown its presence, 17 localities having been added up to 2015. A two-year field study (2020-2022) visiting 31 sites along the coast of La Paz Bay, complemented with data from literature and citizen science, resulted in a database of 709 entries that spans the data from 2004 to 2023. These data showed a distribution that goes from Punta Coyote, close to Boca Grande, the northern entrance to the Bay to Playa Tecolote in the south, more than 100 km of coastline, including Espiritu Santo Archipelago, an area considered a natural reserve since 2007. Anthropogenic activity and environmental variables did not present statistical differences that explain A. spicifera spreading. It represents a naturalised alien species without evidence of a negative impact. Still, it soon could acquire the status of invasive species together with its epibionts Bryozoa and Hydrozoa detected in this study.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Records of the non‐native alga Acanthophora spicifera (Rhodophyta) and their colonial epibionts in La Paz Bay, Gulf of California

Mendoza-Becerril,

Pedroche,

Estrada-González

et al. 2023

BDJ

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“…Also, rainfall in Jamaica and on the south coast is seasonal; therefore, we likely captured the overall response of SAVs to rainfall irrespective of season, that is, before, after, or during one or more wet and/or dry seasons. Nevertheless, seagrass meadows/beds have been found to be nutrient-limited [76,77], and therefore, moderate increases in nutrients are beneficial [78]; high inputs, however, are detrimental, as it promotes the growth and dominance of competing macroalgae [78,79]. Additionally, although there have been reported declines in seagrass percentage cover during wet seasons, this can be followed by rapid recovery during the following dry season [70].…”

Section: Spatial Pattern Predictors Of Sav Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Long-Term Spatial Pattern Predictors (Historically Low Rainfall, Benthic Topography, and Hurricanes) of Seagrass Cover Change (1984 to 2021) in a Jamaican Marine Protected Area

McLaren,

Sedman,

McIntyre

et al. 2024

Remote Sensing

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Climate change and other anthropogenic factors have caused a significant decline in seagrass cover globally. Identifying the specific causes of this decline is paramount if they are to be addressed. Consequently, we identified the causes of long-term change in seagrass/submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) percentage cover and extent in a marine protected area on Jamaica’s southern coast. Two random forest regression (RFr) models were built using 2013 hydroacoustic survey SAV percentage cover data (dependent variable), and auxiliary and 2013 Landsat 7 and 8 reflectance data as the predictors. These were used to generate 24 SAV percentage cover and benthic feature maps (SAV present, absent, and coral reef) for the period 1984–2021 (37 years) from Landsat satellite series reflectance data. These maps and rainfall data were used to determine if SAV extent/area (km2) and average percentage cover and annual rainfall changed significantly over time and to evaluate the influence of rainfall. Additionally, rainfall impact on the overall spatial patterns of SAV loss, gain, and percentage cover change was assessed. Finally, the most important spatial pattern predictors of SAV loss, gain, and percentage cover change during 23 successive 1-to-4-year periods were identified. Predictors included rainfall proxies (distance and direction from river mouth), benthic topography, depth, and hurricane exposure (a measure of hurricane disturbance). SAV area/extent was largely stable, with >70% mean percentage cover for multiple years. However, Hurricane Ivan (in 2004) caused a significant decline in SAV area/extent (by 1.62 km2, or 13%) during 2002–2006, and a second hurricane (Dean) in 2007 delayed recovery until 2015. Additionally, rainfall declined significantly by >1000 mm since 1901, and mean monthly rainfall positively influenced SAV percentage cover change and had a positive overall effect on the spatial pattern of SAV cover percentage change (across the entire bay) and gain (close to the mouth of a river). The most important spatial pattern predictors were the two rainfall proxies (areas closer to the river mouth were more likely to experience SAV loss and gain) and depth, with shallow areas generally having a higher probability of SAV loss and gain. Three hurricanes had significant but different impacts depending on their distance from the southern coastline. Specifically, a hurricane that made landfall in 1988 (Gilbert), resulted in higher SAV percentage cover loss in 1987–1988. Benthic locations with a northwestern/northern facing aspect (the predominant direction of Ivan’s leading edge wind bands) experienced higher SAV losses during 2002–2006. Additionally, exposure to Ivan explained percentage cover loss during 2006–2008 and average exposure to (the cumulative impact of) Ivan and Dean (both with tracks close to the southern coastline) explained SAV loss during 2013–2015. Therefore, despite historic lows in annual rainfall, overall, higher rainfall was beneficial, multiple hurricanes impacted the site, and despite two hurricanes in three years, SAV recovered within a decade. Hurricanes and a further reduction in rainfall may pose a serious threat to SAV persistence in the future.

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“…The flushing of land-based nutrients into the sea by heavy rainfall in the wet season may impose stress on seagrasses [6]. The overgrowth of periphyton has long been reported to pose negative impacts on seagrasses [47,48]. La Nafie et al [45] indicated that the seagrass beds of Zostera noltii would decline in response to the joint effects of waves and high nutrient loads, which may decrease the mechanical properties and survival.…”

Section: Differential Response Of Seagrasses To Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-Resolution Mapping of Seagrass Biomass Dynamics Suggests Differential Response of Seagrasses to Fluctuating Environments

Chen

Lin

2022

Diversity

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Seagrass beds are major blue carbon ecosystems. Climate change-associated factors may change the seagrass community and affect the capacity of carbon sequestration. To explore the possible effects of warming, higher precipitation levels and/or sea level rise on seagrasses, the spatial and seasonal dynamics in shallow seagrass beds comprising the late-successional seagrass Thalassia hemprichii and the early-successional seagrass Halodule uninervis were tracked. The high-resolution mapping of seagrass biomass dynamics showed that T. hemprichii was the dominant species in the study sites year round, as the space occupation by the larger seagrass T. hemprichii was more efficient than that by the smaller seagrass H. uninervis. The space occupation by both species in the low-elevation site was more efficient than in the high-elevation site. In the low-elevation site, while the dominance of the faster growing seagrass H. uninervis was increasing, the dominance of T. hemprichii was decreasing. This suggested that the carbon sequestration capacity of the seagrass beds will decrease, as T. hemprichii was capable of storing more carbon in the sediments. In the high-elevation site, however, the distribution of both species was distinct and showed a clear seasonal succession. The dominance of H. uninervis moved to shallower water in the wet season and then moved back to deeper water in the dry season. Our observations suggested that four possible mechanisms might be involved in the dominance shift in the shallow seagrass beds: (1) the deeper water in the low-elevation site or the higher precipitation levels in the wet season might reduce the drought stress of H. uninervis at low tide and enhance the competition of H. uninervis over T. hemprichii; (2) the growth of H. uninervis might be stimulated more by the flushing of land-based nutrients caused by the higher precipitation rates in the wet season; (3) in the high-elevation site, the faster flow velocity and frequently disturbed sediments in the dry season might constrain the further expansion of H. uninervis to shallower water; (4) the faster flow velocity in the high-elevation site might reduce the impacts of periphyton overgrowth on T. hemprichii and maintain the dominance of T. hemprichii in the community. Our results suggest seagrasses will not necessarily respond to fluctuating environments in the same way in the coming decades.

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Decoupling seasonal and temporal dynamics of macroalgal canopy cover in seagrass beds

Cited by 7 publications

References 45 publications

Records of the non‐native alga Acanthophora spicifera (Rhodophyta) and their colonial epibionts in La Paz Bay, Gulf of California

Records of the non‐native alga Acanthophora spicifera (Rhodophyta) and their colonial epibionts in La Paz Bay, Gulf of California

Long-Term Spatial Pattern Predictors (Historically Low Rainfall, Benthic Topography, and Hurricanes) of Seagrass Cover Change (1984 to 2021) in a Jamaican Marine Protected Area

High-Resolution Mapping of Seagrass Biomass Dynamics Suggests Differential Response of Seagrasses to Fluctuating Environments

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