Foundation Species Abundance Influences Food Web Topology on Glass Sponge Reefs

Archer, Stephanie K.; Kahn, A; Thiess, M. E.; Law, Lauren; Leys, Sally P.; Johannessen, Sophia C.; Layman, Craig A.; Burke, Lily; Dunham, Anya

doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.549478

Cited by 15 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…4 d) 19 , 63 . Given the tremendous ecological importance of bioherms 19 , 45 , future research should delineate separate hotspot distributions for bioherms and sponge gardens (i.e., where live sponges grow on rocks).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As sessile foundation species vulnerable to bottom contact fishing gear, structural corals and large-bodied sponges also are suited for hotspot delineation at small spatial scales. In addition to forming biogenic habitats for other species 20 , 43 , 44 , corals and sponges influence ecosystems through water filtration, carbon sequestration and basal support for food webs 19 , 45 – 47 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hotspots for rockfishes, structural corals, and large-bodied sponges along the central coast of Pacific Canada

Frid

McGreer²,

Wilson³

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Biological hotspots are places with outstanding biodiversity features, and their delineation is essential to the design of marine protected areas (MPAs). For the Central Coast of Canada’s Northern Shelf Bioregion, where an MPA network is being developed, we identified hotspots for structural corals and large-bodied sponges, which are foundation species vulnerable to bottom contact fisheries, and for Sebastidae, a fish family which includes species that are long-lived (> 100 years), overexploited, evolutionary distinctive, and at high trophic levels. Using 11 years of survey data that spanned from inland fjords to oceanic waters, we derived hotspot indices that accounted for species characteristics and abundances and examined hotspot distribution across depths and oceanographic subregions. The results highlight previously undocumented hotspot distributions, thereby informing the placement of MPAs for which high levels of protection are warranted. Given the vulnerability of the taxa that we examined to cumulative fishery impacts, prospective MPAs derived from our data should be considered for interim protection measures during the protracted period between final network design and the enactment of MPA legislations. These recommendations reflect our scientific data, which are only one way of understanding the seascape. Our surveys did not cover many locations known to Indigenous peoples as biologically important. Consequently, Indigenous knowledge should also contribute substantially to the design of the MPA network.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hotspots for rockfishes, structural corals, and large-bodied sponges along the central coast of Pacific Canada

Frid

McGreer²,

Wilson³

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…4a), but these records were too infrequent to generate a positive relationship between depth and the probability of hotspot occurrence. Given the tremendous ecological importance of bioherms 19,44,60 , future research should delineate separate hotspot distributions for bioherms and sponge gardens.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As sessile foundation species vulnerable to bottom contact fishing gear 18,42 , structural corals and large-bodied sponges also are suited for hotspot delineation at small spatial scales. In addition to forming biogenic habitats used by other species 43 , corals and sponges influence ecosystems through water filtration, carbon sequestration and basal support for food webs 19,[44][45][46] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hotspots for rockfishes, structural corals, and large-bodied sponges along the central coast of Pacific Canada

Frid¹,

McGreer²,

Preez

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Biological hotspots are places with outstanding biodiversity features, and their delineation is essential to the design of marine protected area networks (MPANs). For the Central Coast of Canada’s Northern Shelf Bioregion, where a MPAN is being developed, we identified hotspots for structural corals and large-bodied sponges, which are foundation species vulnerable to bottom contact fisheries, and for Sebastidae, a fish family that includes long-lived (> 100 years) and overexploited species with high trophic positions. Using 10 years of survey data that spanned from inland fjords to oceanic waters, we derived hotspot indices that accounted for species characteristics and abundances, and examined hotspot distributions across depths and oceanographic subregions. The results highlighted previously undocumented hotspot locations for each species group, thereby informing the placement of MPAs for which high levels of protection are warranted. Given the vulnerability of the species groups that we examined to cumulative fishery impacts, prospective MPAs derived from our data should be considered for interim protection measures during the protracted period between final network design and the enactment of MPA legislations. These recommendations reflect our scientific data, which are only one way of understanding the seascape. Our extensive surveys did not cover many locations known to Indigenous peoples as biologically important. Consequently, it is paramount that Indigenous knowledge also contributes substantially to the design of the MPAN.

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“…Positive interactions, or facilitation between species, are particularly important in shaping ecosystems formed by foundation species (Bruno et al 2003;Bulleri 2009;Zhang and Silliman 2019). Traditionally, research has focused on the mechanisms by which foundation species facilitate other species and the consequences for community-level diversity and ecosystem services (e.g., Hughes et al 2014;Borst et al 2018;Archer et al 2020). However, a foundation species can also be the beneficiary of facilitation by members of their assemblages (Peterson et al 2013;Ellison et al 1996;Gagnon et al 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sponges facilitate primary producers in a Bahamas seagrass system

et al. 2021

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Seagrass beds are important coastal ecosystems worldwide that are shaped by facilitative interactions. Recent theoretical work has emphasized the potential for facilitative interactions involving foundation species to be destabilized in the face of anthropogenic change.Consequently, it is important to identify which taxa facilitate seagrasses. In other ecosystems, sponges contribute to the maintenance of diverse and productive systems through their facilitation of foundation species (e.g., mangroves) and the retention and recycling of energy and nutrients. Sponges are common in tropical and subtropical seagrass beds, yet we know little about how their presence impacts these communities. Here, we examine the impact of the sponge Ircinia felix on primary producers in a Thalassia testudinum dominated seagrass bed using a long-term field experiment in The Bahamas. We transplanted live sponges into the center of 5 m x 5 m plots and monitored the response of seagrasses and macroalgae. Sponge presence increased seagrass nutrient content and growth, as well as the abundance of macroalgae and nondominant seagrass species (Syringodium filiforme and Halodule wrightii). These changes were not seen in the control (unmanipulated) or structure (where we placed a polypropylene sponge replica) plots. We conclude that I. felix facilitates seagrass bed primary producers in oligotrophic systems, likely due to nutrients supplied by the sponge. Our study shows that sponges can have a positive influence on seagrass bed foundation species. Further work is needed to understand how this facilitation impacts the stability of seagrass beds in areas where human activities have increased ambient nutrient levels.

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Foundation Species Abundance Influences Food Web Topology on Glass Sponge Reefs

Cited by 15 publications

References 70 publications

Hotspots for rockfishes, structural corals, and large-bodied sponges along the central coast of Pacific Canada

Hotspots for rockfishes, structural corals, and large-bodied sponges along the central coast of Pacific Canada

Hotspots for rockfishes, structural corals, and large-bodied sponges along the central coast of Pacific Canada

Sponges facilitate primary producers in a Bahamas seagrass system

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