Factors controlling the upper limits of fucoid algae on the shore

Schonbeck, Mark W.; Norton, Trevor A.

doi:10.1016/0022-0981(78)90065-5

Cited by 193 publications

(120 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Holdfast and stipes are not subject to temporal changes and frond length does not show a clear seasonal pattern. Seemingly, other factors such as extreme desiccation (Schonbeck & Norton 1978, Druehl & Green 1982, Hawkins & Hartnoll 1985, Cheshire & Hallam 1988a or mechanical damage during low tide could cause losses in the distal parts of the thallus. Another alternative explanation comes from recent studies on infection by slime moulds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population biology of Durvillaea antarctica and Lessonia nigrescens (Phaeophyta) on the rocky shores of southern Chile

Westermeier¹,

Muller²,

Gómez³

et al. 1994

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The Lessonia nigrescens-Durvdlaea antarctica belt is a characteristic feature of the lower intertidal zone along the Chilean coast. This study describes the dynamics of the Lessonja-Durvillaea assemblage in an exposed locality of southern Chile. Abundance, spatial and ten~poral distribution, reproductive penods and response to experimental pruning were quantified. The results revealed differences in population dynamics between species. L. nigrescens had low recruitment, but a longer life expectancy. In contrast, D. antarctica had great temporal fluctuations in abundance, which were associated to massive recruitment during the warmer seasons. It occupied zones where old L. nigrescens individuals were dislodged by wave action. Replacement of D. antarctica by L. nigrescens was not seen. Regeneration from pruned plants of the 2 species was evident during the first months, but subsequently, deterioration of the regenerated parts was seen, leading to the degeneration and detachment of the whole plant. Thus, for management plans, the total removal of old individuals would be preferable.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population biology of Durvillaea antarctica and Lessonia nigrescens (Phaeophyta) on the rocky shores of southern Chile

Westermeier¹,

Muller²,

Gómez³

et al. 1994

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…spread around all over the F, nteromorpha-zone showing that Fucus spp. is able to withstand constant stress caused by abiotic factors (see also Schonbeck & Norton, 1978, but dominance of Bnteromorpha spp. restricts the distribution of fucoids.…”

Section: Competition For Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

Biological interactions and their role in community structure in the rocky intertidal of Helgoland (German Bight, North Sea)

Janke

1990

Helgolander Meeresunters

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Over 3 successive seasonal cycles (April 1986 to October 1988, field experiments were established within 3 intertidal levels in the sheltered rocky intertidal of Helgoland (North Sea, German Bight). Competitors for space (A4ytilus edulis, macroalgae), herbivores (iittorina spp.) and predators (Carcinus maenas) were either excluded from areas (0.25 m 2) covered by undisturbed communities or enclosed at natural densities on areas that were cleared before of animals and plants. All the experimental fields (each 0.25 m 2) were covered by cages with 4 mm gauze at the sides and a plexiglas top. The results of the experiments in the u p p e r i n t e r t i d a 1 (occupied by Littorina spp. and Enteromorpha) showed that a natural density of herbivores could not prevent algal settlement and had only little influence on algal growth. Instead, abiotic factors (storms, algae washed ashore) decreased the stock of the green algae. Experiments in the m i d i n t e r t i d a 1, dominated by Myfilus (50 % cover), Fucus spp. (20 %) and grazing L. littorea (100 ind. m -2) showed that community structure was directly changed both by grazing periwinkles and by competition for space between mussels and macroalgae. Whenever Littorina was excluded, the canopy of Fucus spp. increased continuously and reached total cover within two years. In addition to the increase of Fucus spp., the rock surface and the mussel shells were overgrown by Ulva pseudocurvata, which covered the experimental fields during parts of the summer in the absence of herbivores. As soon as perennial species (fucoids) covered most of the experimental areas, the seasonal growth of Ulva decreased drastically. Presence and growth of macroalgae were also controlled by serious competition for space with mussels. Established Nfytilus prevented the growth of all perennial and ephemeral algae on the rocks. However, the shells of the mussels provided free space for a new settlement of Fucus and Ulva. In the 1 o w e r i n t e r t i d a I (dominated by total algal cover of it:. serratus, herbivores such as L. littorea and L. mariae, and increasing number of predators such as Carcinus), the feeding activity of herbivores can neither prevent the settlement of the fucoid sporelings nor reduce the growth of macroalgae. F. serratus achieved a total canopy on the rock within one year. Doubled density of herbivores prevented the settlement of Pucus and most of the undercover algae. Predation by Carcinus on Littorina spp. had little influence on the herbivore community patterns. However, the crabs supported the establishment of macroalgae by excluding the mussels from the lower intertidal. In summary, the community organization and maintenance in the mid and lower intertidal is influenced to a high degree by biological interactions. Whereas both the relatively important herbivory by L. littorea and competition for space between mussels and macroalgae dominate in the mid intertidal, predation reaches it s highest relative degree of importance for community structure in the lowe...

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“…Dayton 1971Dayton , 1975Chapman 1973Chapman , 1974Paine 1974;Lubchenco 1980;Underwood 1991). Although factors that influenced the upper (Schonbeck and Norton 1978;Maberly and Madsen 1990;Norton 1991) or lower (Suchanek 1978;Schonbeck and Norton 1980) limit of species were surveyed, no integrating model had been developed, until Chapman (1995) suggested that the 'competitive hierarchy model' of Keddy (1989aKeddy ( , 1990 could serve as an explanation for the observed patterns. One prediction of Keddy's model is that all species along a resource or environmental gradient are arranged with the best competitor occupying the most benign end of the gradient, the second best competitor occupying the zone next to the top-dominant species and less competitively dominant species following towards the unfavourable end of the gradient.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Competitive ranks of three Fucus spp. (Phaeophyta) in laboratory experiments?testing of Keddy's competitive hierarchy model

Karez

2003

Helgoland Marine Research

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Keddy's competitive hierarchy model describes species distribution patterns along gradients under equilibrium conditions and can potentially serve as an explanation for zonation patterns of intertidal seaweeds on rocky shores. One of the assumptions of the model is a competitive hierarchy with the top competitor occupying the benign end of the gradient. Another assumption is the consistency of competitive ranks of species in all environmental conditions included in the shared parts of species' fundamental niches. In laboratory replacement series experiments, the competitive ranks of pairs of Fucus species that occupy adjacent zones in the field were analysed and compared to ranks found in previous field experiments. Unattached thalli of Fucus serratus versus F. vesiculosus or F. vesiculosus versus F. spiralis, respectively, were held in aerated beakers to establish the competitive ranking of the three congeners. Each replacement series was conducted at three total densities. F. vesiculosus was clearly competitively dominant over F. serratus. In competition with F. spiralis, F. vesiculosus was only dominant at its lowest absolute input frequencies, but at higher frequencies dominance was reversed. At high densities, the total ranking was F. spiralis > F. vesiculosus > F. serratus, which is the opposite order to that which would be expected from Keddy's model. Although all three species thrived well under the laboratory conditions, the results did not reflect in situ competitive dominances, which may be an effect of nutrient competition in the laboratory. Keddy's assumption that competitive ranks are consistent over the whole range of fundamental niches cannot be supported for Fucus spp.

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Factors controlling the upper limits of fucoid algae on the shore

Cited by 193 publications

References 14 publications

Population biology of Durvillaea antarctica and Lessonia nigrescens (Phaeophyta) on the rocky shores of southern Chile

Population biology of Durvillaea antarctica and Lessonia nigrescens (Phaeophyta) on the rocky shores of southern Chile

Biological interactions and their role in community structure in the rocky intertidal of Helgoland (German Bight, North Sea)

Competitive ranks of three Fucus spp. (Phaeophyta) in laboratory experiments?testing of Keddy's competitive hierarchy model

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